Question 1

Kepler's second law states that a line joining a planet to the Sun

Accepted Answer

A)  sweeps through equal angles in equal times. 
B)  points in the same direction at all times. 
C)  sweeps out equal areas in equal times. 
D)  moves equal distances along the planet's orbit in equal times. 
A)  sweeps through equal angles in equal times. 
B)  points in the same direction at all times. 
C)  sweeps out equal areas in equal times. 
D)  moves equal distances along the planet's orbit in equal times.

Question 2

Which of the following most closely expresses the principle of Occam's razor as it applies to theoretical explanations of physical phenomena?

Accepted Answer

A)  The theory that has the longest history is the most likely explanation. 
B)  The theory requiring the most assumptions is the most likely explanation. 
C)  The newest theory is most likely to be the correct one. 
D)  The theory requiring the fewest assumptions is the most likely explanation. 
A)  The theory that has the longest history is the most likely explanation. 
B)  The theory requiring the most assumptions is the most likely explanation. 
C)  The newest theory is most likely to be the correct one. 
D)  The theory requiring the fewest assumptions is the most likely explanation.

Question 3

Which of the following conic sections can be considered to be a closed path in which an object could move in a stable long-term orbit around the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  Parabola 
B)  Straight line 
C)  Ellipse 
D)  Hyperbola 
A)  Parabola 
B)  Straight line 
C)  Ellipse 
D)  Hyperbola

Question 4

One major contribution of Ptolemy to the development of astronomy was to

Accepted Answer

A)  develop and expand on a mathematical model for the solar system,in which planets move in epicycles around centers that move in circles around Earth. 
B)  derive a mathematical model for the solar system,in which planets move around the Sun in circular orbits. 
C)  originate the idea of a geocentric (Earth-centered)cosmology in which planets move in circles around Earth,which was later developed mathematically by Aristarchus. 
D)  derive a mathematical model for the solar system,in which planets move around Earth in elliptical orbits,moving fastest when closest to Earth. 
A)  develop and expand on a mathematical model for the solar system,in which planets move in epicycles around centers that move in circles around Earth. 
B)  derive a mathematical model for the solar system,in which planets move around the Sun in circular orbits. 
C)  originate the idea of a geocentric (Earth-centered)cosmology in which planets move in circles around Earth,which was later developed mathematically by Aristarchus. 
D)  derive a mathematical model for the solar system,in which planets move around Earth in elliptical orbits,moving fastest when closest to Earth.

Question 5

The person who developed three laws of planetary orbits still used today was

Accepted Answer

A)  Kepler. 
B)  Newton. 
C)  Galileo. 
D)  Copernicus. 
A)  Kepler. 
B)  Newton. 
C)  Galileo. 
D)  Copernicus.

Question 6

In order for an object to have acceleration,a net force must act on that object.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

What are three different controls in a car that can cause acceleration?

Accepted Answer

The accelerator (or gas)pedal can be use

Question 8

The primary purpose of describing planetary orbits in terms of epicycles and deferents was to account for the

Accepted Answer

A)  generally eastward motion of a planet compared to background stars while the whole sky appeared to move westward. 
B)  variation of brightness of a planet with time. 
C)  difference between the sidereal period and the synodic period of a planet. 
D)  pattern of direct and retrograde motion of a planet as it moved slowly against the background of stars. 
A)  generally eastward motion of a planet compared to background stars while the whole sky appeared to move westward. 
B)  variation of brightness of a planet with time. 
C)  difference between the sidereal period and the synodic period of a planet. 
D)  pattern of direct and retrograde motion of a planet as it moved slowly against the background of stars.

Question 9

When Venus is at its farthest distance from Earth,it is at

Accepted Answer

A)  greatest elongation. 
B)  inferior conjunction. 
C)  superior conjunction. 
D)  opposition. 
A)  greatest elongation. 
B)  inferior conjunction. 
C)  superior conjunction. 
D)  opposition.

Question 10

Who was the first astronomer to use a telescope for viewing the sky?

Accepted Answer

A)  Newton 
B)  Brahe 
C)  Ptolemy 
D)  Galileo 
A)  Newton 
B)  Brahe 
C)  Ptolemy 
D)  Galileo

Question 11

Astronauts in an orbiting spacecraft feel "weightless" because

Accepted Answer

A)  they are also massless. 
B)  they are too far from Earth to experience its gravity. 
C)  the astronauts and the spacecraft are in free-fall around Earth. 
D)  All of the above 
A)  they are also massless. 
B)  they are too far from Earth to experience its gravity. 
C)  the astronauts and the spacecraft are in free-fall around Earth. 
D)  All of the above

Question 12

According to Newton's third law,if a force is acting on an object,then

Accepted Answer

A)  the object must accelerate. 
B)  the object must move in a circular path. 
C)  there must be some other force acting on a different object,with the same magnitude but in the opposite direction. 
D)  there must be some other force also acting on the object,with the same magnitude but in the opposite direction. 
A)  the object must accelerate. 
B)  the object must move in a circular path. 
C)  there must be some other force acting on a different object,with the same magnitude but in the opposite direction. 
D)  there must be some other force also acting on the object,with the same magnitude but in the opposite direction.

Question 13

Although Galileo did not invent the telescope,he was the first person to systematically make observations of astronomical objects using the telescope.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

The motions of the planets against the background stars in our sky can best be described as

Accepted Answer

A)  regular and uniform eastward motion. 
B)  general eastward motion interrupted by occasional stationary periods when planets do not appear to move with respect to the stars. 
C)  regular patterns,with general eastward motion interrupted by periods of westward motion. 
D)  regular patterns,with general westward motion interrupted by periods of eastward motion. 
A)  regular and uniform eastward motion. 
B)  general eastward motion interrupted by occasional stationary periods when planets do not appear to move with respect to the stars. 
C)  regular patterns,with general eastward motion interrupted by periods of westward motion. 
D)  regular patterns,with general westward motion interrupted by periods of eastward motion.

Question 15

Occam's razor is the idea that the most simple and most straightforward explanation of observations in nature is most likely to be the correct one.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Which of the following statements correctly describes why Copernicus decided that the orbits of Mercury and Venus were smaller than the orbit of Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  Both planets show a complete cycle of phases,like the Moon. 
B)  Both planets can sometimes be seen high in our sky at midnight. 
C)  Both planets occasionally pass through conjunction with the Sun,as seen from Earth. 
D)  Both planets stay fairly close to the Sun in our sky. 
A)  Both planets show a complete cycle of phases,like the Moon. 
B)  Both planets can sometimes be seen high in our sky at midnight. 
C)  Both planets occasionally pass through conjunction with the Sun,as seen from Earth. 
D)  Both planets stay fairly close to the Sun in our sky.

Question 17

How did the Roman Catholic Church of the day respond to Galileo's telescopic observations that strongly suggested a heliocentric theory?

Accepted Answer

Contradicting prevailing opinion and rel

Question 18

Explain the method that Aristarchus proposed to determine the relative distances to the Sun and the Moon.

Accepted Answer

Aristarchus knew that the Sun,Moon,and E

Question 19

When Jupiter is at opposition,it rises at

Accepted Answer

A)  midnight. 
B)  noon. 
C)  sunrise. 
D)  sunset. 
A)  midnight. 
B)  noon. 
C)  sunrise. 
D)  sunset.

Question 20

What was the significance of the development of Kepler's laws?

Accepted Answer

Kepler's laws were a landmark in the his

Kepler's second law states that a line joining a planet to the Sun

Which of the following most closely expresses the principle of Occam's razor as it applies to theoretical explanations of physical phenomena?

Which of the following conic sections can be considered to be a closed path in which an object could move in a stable long-term orbit around the Sun?

One major contribution of Ptolemy to the development of astronomy was to

The person who developed three laws of planetary orbits still used today was

In order for an object to have acceleration,a net force must act on that object.

What are three different controls in a car that can cause acceleration?

The primary purpose of describing planetary orbits in terms of epicycles and deferents was to account for the

When Venus is at its farthest distance from Earth,it is at

Who was the first astronomer to use a telescope for viewing the sky?

Astronauts in an orbiting spacecraft feel "weightless" because

According to Newton's third law,if a force is acting on an object,then

Although Galileo did not invent the telescope,he was the first person to systematically make observations of astronomical objects using the telescope.

The motions of the planets against the background stars in our sky can best be described as

Occam's razor is the idea that the most simple and most straightforward explanation of observations in nature is most likely to be the correct one.

Which of the following statements correctly describes why Copernicus decided that the orbits of Mercury and Venus were smaller than the orbit of Earth?

How did the Roman Catholic Church of the day respond to Galileo's telescopic observations that strongly suggested a heliocentric theory?

Explain the method that Aristarchus proposed to determine the relative distances to the Sun and the Moon.

When Jupiter is at opposition,it rises at

What was the significance of the development of Kepler's laws?

Predicting the Motions of the Stars, Sun, and Moon

Decoding the Hidden Messages in Starlight

Exploring Our Evolving Solar System

Uncovering Earths Systems

Exploring Terrestrial Surface Processes and Atmospheres

Observing the Dynamic Giant Planets

Looking for Life Beyond Earth

Probing the Dynamic Sun

Observing Properties of Distant Stars

Inferring Patterns in Star Life Cycles

Predicting the Violent End of the Largest Stars

Exploring Our Galaxy

Investigating Other Galaxies

Observing the Evolution of the Universe

Filters

Exam 3: Analyzing Scales and Motions of the Universe

Kepler's second law states that a line joining a planet to the Sun

Which of the following most closely expresses the principle of Occam's razor as it applies to theoretical explanations of physical phenomena?

Which of the following conic sections can be considered to be a closed path in which an object could move in a stable long-term orbit around the Sun?

One major contribution of Ptolemy to the development of astronomy was to

The person who developed three laws of planetary orbits still used today was

In order for an object to have acceleration,a net force must act on that object.

What are three different controls in a car that can cause acceleration?

The primary purpose of describing planetary orbits in terms of epicycles and deferents was to account for the

When Venus is at its farthest distance from Earth,it is at

Who was the first astronomer to use a telescope for viewing the sky?

Astronauts in an orbiting spacecraft feel "weightless" because

According to Newton's third law,if a force is acting on an object,then

Although Galileo did not invent the telescope,he was the first person to systematically make observations of astronomical objects using the telescope.

The motions of the planets against the background stars in our sky can best be described as

Occam's razor is the idea that the most simple and most straightforward explanation of observations in nature is most likely to be the correct one.

Which of the following statements correctly describes why Copernicus decided that the orbits of Mercury and Venus were smaller than the orbit of Earth?

How did the Roman Catholic Church of the day respond to Galileo's telescopic observations that strongly suggested a heliocentric theory?

Explain the method that Aristarchus proposed to determine the relative distances to the Sun and the Moon.

When Jupiter is at opposition,it rises at

What was the significance of the development of Kepler's laws?

Predicting the Motions of the Stars, Sun, and Moon

Decoding the Hidden Messages in Starlight

Exploring Our Evolving Solar System

Uncovering Earths Systems

Exploring Terrestrial Surface Processes and Atmospheres

Observing the Dynamic Giant Planets

Looking for Life Beyond Earth

Probing the Dynamic Sun

Observing Properties of Distant Stars

Inferring Patterns in Star Life Cycles

Predicting the Violent End of the Largest Stars

Exploring Our Galaxy

Investigating Other Galaxies

Observing the Evolution of the Universe

Filters