Question 1

The Ptolemic system was the first comprehensive heliocentric model.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Which of the following did Galileo find most significant about his observations of the motions of the large moons of Jupiter?

Accepted Answer

A)  Their motions are counterclockwise (viewed from the north),just like the orbits of the planets. 
B)  Their orbits were elliptical,just like Kepler predicted. 
C)  Their orbits obeyed Kepler's second law. 
D)  The moons farther from Jupiter had longer periods,just as Copernicus had discovered for the planets around the Sun. 
A)  Their motions are counterclockwise (viewed from the north),just like the orbits of the planets. 
B)  Their orbits were elliptical,just like Kepler predicted. 
C)  Their orbits obeyed Kepler's second law. 
D)  The moons farther from Jupiter had longer periods,just as Copernicus had discovered for the planets around the Sun.

Question 3

According to Kepler's second law,an object in an elliptical orbit around the Sun is traveling fastest when it is at what position?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because it travels at a constant speed throughout its orbit,there is no such position. 
B)  When it is approaching the Sun,because attraction is greatest over this region 
C)  Aphelion,farthest from the Sun,because it has to move farther per day at that position 
D)  Perihelion,the closest point to the Sun 
A)  Because it travels at a constant speed throughout its orbit,there is no such position. 
B)  When it is approaching the Sun,because attraction is greatest over this region 
C)  Aphelion,farthest from the Sun,because it has to move farther per day at that position 
D)  Perihelion,the closest point to the Sun

Question 4

The farther a moon is from Jupiter,the slower it moves and the longer it takes to orbit around its orbit.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

In Ptolemy's description of the solar system,the deferent is a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  circular path (around the Sun)along which the center of a planet's epicycle moves. 
B)  circular path (around Earth)along which the center of a planet's epicycle moves. 
C)  elliptical path along which a planet moves around the Sun. 
D)  circular path along which a planet moves while the center of this circular path itself moves in a circle around Earth. 
A)  circular path (around the Sun)along which the center of a planet's epicycle moves. 
B)  circular path (around Earth)along which the center of a planet's epicycle moves. 
C)  elliptical path along which a planet moves around the Sun. 
D)  circular path along which a planet moves while the center of this circular path itself moves in a circle around Earth.

Question 6

The force of gravity between two objects is attractive and dependent only on the mass of the larger object,not of the smaller object.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The Kepler model of the solar system is

Accepted Answer

A)  Sun-centered,with planets moving in circles around it. 
B)  Earth-centered,with the Sun,Moon,and planets moving in ellipses in the sky. 
C)  Earth-centered,with planets describing epicycles in the sky. 
D)  Sun-centered,with elliptical planetary orbits. 
A)  Sun-centered,with planets moving in circles around it. 
B)  Earth-centered,with the Sun,Moon,and planets moving in ellipses in the sky. 
C)  Earth-centered,with planets describing epicycles in the sky. 
D)  Sun-centered,with elliptical planetary orbits.

Question 8

How many moons of Jupiter did Galileo see?

Accepted Answer

A)  4 
B)  12 
C)  1 
D)  0 
A)  4 
B)  12 
C)  1 
D)  0

Question 9

When a planet is in retrograde,it rises in the west and sets in the east.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

A planet appears exactly half-lit (looking like the first- or last-quarter moon)when it is

Accepted Answer

A)  in retrograde motion. 
B)  at inferior conjunction. 
C)  at greatest elongation. 
D)  at opposition. 
A)  in retrograde motion. 
B)  at inferior conjunction. 
C)  at greatest elongation. 
D)  at opposition.

Question 11

The word "planet" is derived from a Greek term meaning

Accepted Answer

A)  astrological sign. 
B)  non-twinkling star. 
C)  bright nighttime object. 
D)  wanderer. 
A)  astrological sign. 
B)  non-twinkling star. 
C)  bright nighttime object. 
D)  wanderer.

Question 12

What did Galileo see when he observed Venus through his telescope?

Accepted Answer

A)  Venus has phases like the Moon and has its largest angular diameter at gibbous phase. 
B)  Venus has an angular size that increases and decreases markedly,but it does not show phases (e.g. ,crescent,gibbous). 
C)  Like the Moon,Venus shows phases,and its angular size remains almost constant. 
D)  Venus has phases like the Moon and has its largest angular diameter at crescent phase. 
A)  Venus has phases like the Moon and has its largest angular diameter at gibbous phase. 
B)  Venus has an angular size that increases and decreases markedly,but it does not show phases (e.g. ,crescent,gibbous). 
C)  Like the Moon,Venus shows phases,and its angular size remains almost constant. 
D)  Venus has phases like the Moon and has its largest angular diameter at crescent phase.

Question 13

When observing planetary motions from Earth,the phrase "retrograde motion" refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  the motion of the planet away from Earth during part of its orbit. 
B)  a slow eastward motion of the planet from night to night against the background stars. 
C)  the apparent westward motion of the planet (along with the Sun,Moon,and stars)across the sky due to the rotation of Earth. 
D)  a slow westward motion of the planet from night to night against the background stars. 
A)  the motion of the planet away from Earth during part of its orbit. 
B)  a slow eastward motion of the planet from night to night against the background stars. 
C)  the apparent westward motion of the planet (along with the Sun,Moon,and stars)across the sky due to the rotation of Earth. 
D)  a slow westward motion of the planet from night to night against the background stars.

Question 14

What observations did Galileo make that supported a heliocentric model?

Accepted Answer

He saw that Venus exhibits phases like t

Question 15

An orbit with an eccentricity approximately equal to 1 is almost a perfect circle.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

The force of gravity between two objects is proportional to the

Accepted Answer

A)  difference of their masses. 
B)  multiplication of their masses. 
C)  division of their masses. 
D)  addition of their masses. 
A)  difference of their masses. 
B)  multiplication of their masses. 
C)  division of their masses. 
D)  addition of their masses.

Question 17

Explain how Eratosthenes was able to determine the size of Earth.

Accepted Answer

It was known that on the date of the sum

Question 18

Before the invention of the telescope,the known planets were

Accepted Answer

A)  Mercury,Venus,Mars,Jupiter,and Saturn. 
B)  Mercury,Venus,Mars,Jupiter,and Uranus. 
C)  Jupiter,Venus,Neptune,Mars,and Saturn. 
D)  Mars,Neptune,Jupiter,Mercury,and Venus. 
A)  Mercury,Venus,Mars,Jupiter,and Saturn. 
B)  Mercury,Venus,Mars,Jupiter,and Uranus. 
C)  Jupiter,Venus,Neptune,Mars,and Saturn. 
D)  Mars,Neptune,Jupiter,Mercury,and Venus.

Question 19

The book describing Copernicus's revolutionary work on planetary motions was published

Accepted Answer

A)  in the year of his death. 
B)  when he was only a young man. 
C)  when he was in the prime of his life,age 45. 
D)  in the year that Newton was born. 
A)  in the year of his death. 
B)  when he was only a young man. 
C)  when he was in the prime of his life,age 45. 
D)  in the year that Newton was born.

Question 20

Retrograde motion of a planet when viewed from Earth is caused by

Accepted Answer

A)  the relative motions of Sun and planet. 
B)  its elliptical orbital path. 
C)  the relative motions of Earth and planet. 
D)  the inclination of its orbit to the ecliptic plane. 
A)  the relative motions of Sun and planet. 
B)  its elliptical orbital path. 
C)  the relative motions of Earth and planet. 
D)  the inclination of its orbit to the ecliptic plane.

The Ptolemic system was the first comprehensive heliocentric model.

Which of the following did Galileo find most significant about his observations of the motions of the large moons of Jupiter?

According to Kepler's second law,an object in an elliptical orbit around the Sun is traveling fastest when it is at what position?

The farther a moon is from Jupiter,the slower it moves and the longer it takes to orbit around its orbit.

In Ptolemy's description of the solar system,the deferent is a(n)

The force of gravity between two objects is attractive and dependent only on the mass of the larger object,not of the smaller object.

The Kepler model of the solar system is

How many moons of Jupiter did Galileo see?

When a planet is in retrograde,it rises in the west and sets in the east.

A planet appears exactly half-lit (looking like the first- or last-quarter moon)when it is

The word "planet" is derived from a Greek term meaning

What did Galileo see when he observed Venus through his telescope?

When observing planetary motions from Earth,the phrase "retrograde motion" refers to

What observations did Galileo make that supported a heliocentric model?

An orbit with an eccentricity approximately equal to 1 is almost a perfect circle.

The force of gravity between two objects is proportional to the

Explain how Eratosthenes was able to determine the size of Earth.

Before the invention of the telescope,the known planets were

The book describing Copernicus's revolutionary work on planetary motions was published

Retrograde motion of a planet when viewed from Earth is caused by

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

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Exam 3: Analyzing Scales and Motions of the Universe

The Ptolemic system was the first comprehensive heliocentric model.

Which of the following did Galileo find most significant about his observations of the motions of the large moons of Jupiter?

According to Kepler's second law,an object in an elliptical orbit around the Sun is traveling fastest when it is at what position?

The farther a moon is from Jupiter,the slower it moves and the longer it takes to orbit around its orbit.

In Ptolemy's description of the solar system,the deferent is a(n)

The force of gravity between two objects is attractive and dependent only on the mass of the larger object,not of the smaller object.

The Kepler model of the solar system is

How many moons of Jupiter did Galileo see?

When a planet is in retrograde,it rises in the west and sets in the east.

A planet appears exactly half-lit (looking like the first- or last-quarter moon)when it is

The word "planet" is derived from a Greek term meaning

What did Galileo see when he observed Venus through his telescope?

When observing planetary motions from Earth,the phrase "retrograde motion" refers to

What observations did Galileo make that supported a heliocentric model?

An orbit with an eccentricity approximately equal to 1 is almost a perfect circle.

The force of gravity between two objects is proportional to the

Explain how Eratosthenes was able to determine the size of Earth.

Before the invention of the telescope,the known planets were

The book describing Copernicus's revolutionary work on planetary motions was published

Retrograde motion of a planet when viewed from Earth is caused by

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