Question 1

From the North Pole,

Accepted Answer

A)  only stars within 66.5° of the north celestial pole can be seen. 
B)  only half the celestial sphere can be seen on every clear night. 
C)  only stars 23.5° above the celestial equator can be seen. 
D)  the whole celestial sphere is visible at some time during the year. 
A)  only stars within 66.5° of the north celestial pole can be seen. 
B)  only half the celestial sphere can be seen on every clear night. 
C)  only stars 23.5° above the celestial equator can be seen. 
D)  the whole celestial sphere is visible at some time during the year. B

Question 2

How many arcseconds are there in a full circle?

Accepted Answer

A)  60 
B)  360 
C)  3600 
D)  360 × 3600 
A)  60 
B)  360 
C)  3600 
D)  360 × 3600 D

Question 3

If Earth's axis were not tilted,but rather was straight up and down compared with the path of Earth's orbit,what would occur?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Earth would not experience seasons. 
B)  Observers at the poles would not experience 6 months of darkness each year. 
C)  The Sun would rise and set every 12 hours all year long. 
D)  All of the above 
A)  The Earth would not experience seasons. 
B)  Observers at the poles would not experience 6 months of darkness each year. 
C)  The Sun would rise and set every 12 hours all year long. 
D)  All of the above D

Question 4

There are 60 arcseconds in 1 degree.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Without binoculars or a telescope,the unaided human eye can see millions of stars in the night sky.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

The summer triangle is an asterism that connects the brightest stars in three different constellations.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Forms of radiation that are not visible

Accepted Answer

A)  are,by definition,not part of scientific theories because they cannot be seen. 
B)  have been detected only since the 1970s. 
C)  probably hold great promise for the future,but we have not been able to make any scientific use of them with present technologies. 
D)  have allowed us to determine much of what we now know about the universe. 
A)  are,by definition,not part of scientific theories because they cannot be seen. 
B)  have been detected only since the 1970s. 
C)  probably hold great promise for the future,but we have not been able to make any scientific use of them with present technologies. 
D)  have allowed us to determine much of what we now know about the universe.

Question 8

What is the phase of the Moon during a total lunar eclipse?

Accepted Answer

A)  New 
B)  Gibbous 
C)  Full 
D)  First quarter 
A)  New 
B)  Gibbous 
C)  Full 
D)  First quarter

Question 9

Most of the stars in a constellation are nowhere near one other.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

A body of related and rigorously tested theories can be pieced together into a much larger description of nature called a hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

One important characteristic of a scientific theory is that it

Accepted Answer

A)  is mathematical. 
B)  consists of at least three separate hypotheses. 
C)  can be tested by observation. 
D)  need not have a connection with physical reality. 
A)  is mathematical. 
B)  consists of at least three separate hypotheses. 
C)  can be tested by observation. 
D)  need not have a connection with physical reality.

Question 12

Solar totality usually lasts

Accepted Answer

A)  a few seconds. 
B)  a few minutes. 
C)  about an hour. 
D)  several hours. 
A)  a few seconds. 
B)  a few minutes. 
C)  about an hour. 
D)  several hours.

Question 13

Which of the following statements correctly describes the relationship between stars and constellations?

Accepted Answer

A)  Only those stars that were visible to the ancient Greeks are located in constellations. 
B)  Only the brighter stars are in constellations. 
C)  Only stars within the zodiac close to the ecliptic,Earth's orbital plane,are located in constellations. 
D)  Every star is located in a constellation. 
A)  Only those stars that were visible to the ancient Greeks are located in constellations. 
B)  Only the brighter stars are in constellations. 
C)  Only stars within the zodiac close to the ecliptic,Earth's orbital plane,are located in constellations. 
D)  Every star is located in a constellation.

Question 14

Why do we not see a solar eclipse during each new moon and a lunar eclipse during each full moon?

Accepted Answer

Solar and lunar eclipses are so infreque

Question 15

Which of the following statements best represents the overall rationale for scientific investigation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Reality is comprehensible,and a limited number of fundamental principles governs the nature and behavior of the universe. 
B)  There are certain patterns in nature from which future events can be predicted,but there are no underlying basic principles or laws. 
C)  The universe is a hodgepodge of unrelated things behaving in unpredictable ways,but we must continue to observe it in case this behavior threatens Earth. 
D)  The behavior of the whole universe is governed by our observation of it in such a way as to hide the fundamental truth. 
A)  Reality is comprehensible,and a limited number of fundamental principles governs the nature and behavior of the universe. 
B)  There are certain patterns in nature from which future events can be predicted,but there are no underlying basic principles or laws. 
C)  The universe is a hodgepodge of unrelated things behaving in unpredictable ways,but we must continue to observe it in case this behavior threatens Earth. 
D)  The behavior of the whole universe is governed by our observation of it in such a way as to hide the fundamental truth.

Question 16

During one complete year,an observer at the south pole would be able to see what fraction of the overall sky?

Accepted Answer

A)  50% 
B)  A variable amount,depending on the year 
C)  100% 
D)  A variable amount,depending on the observer's longitude 
A)  50% 
B)  A variable amount,depending on the year 
C)  100% 
D)  A variable amount,depending on the observer's longitude

Question 17

Even though astronomers know that the celestial sphere model is not correct,why is it still used?

Accepted Answer

The celestial sphere is still a useful f

Question 18

A solar eclipse occurs on Earth when the

Accepted Answer

A)  Sun passes in front of the Moon. 
B)  Moon passes behind the Sun. 
C)  Moon casts a shadow on Earth. 
D)  Earth casts a shadow on the Moon. 
A)  Sun passes in front of the Moon. 
B)  Moon passes behind the Sun. 
C)  Moon casts a shadow on Earth. 
D)  Earth casts a shadow on the Moon.

Question 19

Which of the following factors makes it far more likely that a person will have seen a total lunar eclipse than a total solar eclipse?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Moon appears brighter during a total lunar eclipse than does the Sun during a total solar eclipse. 
B)  A total lunar eclipse occurs at full Moon when the Moon is bright and high in the sky,whereas a total solar eclipse occurs at new moon when the Moon is dark and low in the sky. 
C)  Most people on the nighttime side of Earth can see a total lunar eclipse,whereas only people within a narrow strip of Earth's surface can see a specific total solar eclipse. 
D)  Total solar eclipses occur much less frequently than total lunar eclipses. 
A)  The Moon appears brighter during a total lunar eclipse than does the Sun during a total solar eclipse. 
B)  A total lunar eclipse occurs at full Moon when the Moon is bright and high in the sky,whereas a total solar eclipse occurs at new moon when the Moon is dark and low in the sky. 
C)  Most people on the nighttime side of Earth can see a total lunar eclipse,whereas only people within a narrow strip of Earth's surface can see a specific total solar eclipse. 
D)  Total solar eclipses occur much less frequently than total lunar eclipses.

Question 20

What is the reason why we have seasons on Earth?

Accepted Answer

Earth's axis of rotation is not perpendi

From the North Pole,

How many arcseconds are there in a full circle?

If Earth's axis were not tilted,but rather was straight up and down compared with the path of Earth's orbit,what would occur?

There are 60 arcseconds in 1 degree.

Without binoculars or a telescope,the unaided human eye can see millions of stars in the night sky.

The summer triangle is an asterism that connects the brightest stars in three different constellations.

Forms of radiation that are not visible

What is the phase of the Moon during a total lunar eclipse?

Most of the stars in a constellation are nowhere near one other.

A body of related and rigorously tested theories can be pieced together into a much larger description of nature called a hypothesis.

One important characteristic of a scientific theory is that it

Solar totality usually lasts

Which of the following statements correctly describes the relationship between stars and constellations?

Why do we not see a solar eclipse during each new moon and a lunar eclipse during each full moon?

Which of the following statements best represents the overall rationale for scientific investigation?

During one complete year,an observer at the south pole would be able to see what fraction of the overall sky?

Even though astronomers know that the celestial sphere model is not correct,why is it still used?

A solar eclipse occurs on Earth when the

Which of the following factors makes it far more likely that a person will have seen a total lunar eclipse than a total solar eclipse?

What is the reason why we have seasons on Earth?

Decoding the Hidden Messages in Starlight

Analyzing Scales and Motions of the Universe

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 1: Predicting the Motions of the Stars, Sun, and Moon

From the North Pole,

How many arcseconds are there in a full circle?

If Earth's axis were not tilted,but rather was straight up and down compared with the path of Earth's orbit,what would occur?

There are 60 arcseconds in 1 degree.

Without binoculars or a telescope,the unaided human eye can see millions of stars in the night sky.

The summer triangle is an asterism that connects the brightest stars in three different constellations.

Forms of radiation that are not visible

What is the phase of the Moon during a total lunar eclipse?

Most of the stars in a constellation are nowhere near one other.

A body of related and rigorously tested theories can be pieced together into a much larger description of nature called a hypothesis.

One important characteristic of a scientific theory is that it

Solar totality usually lasts

Which of the following statements correctly describes the relationship between stars and constellations?

Why do we not see a solar eclipse during each new moon and a lunar eclipse during each full moon?

Which of the following statements best represents the overall rationale for scientific investigation?

During one complete year,an observer at the south pole would be able to see what fraction of the overall sky?

Even though astronomers know that the celestial sphere model is not correct,why is it still used?

A solar eclipse occurs on Earth when the

Which of the following factors makes it far more likely that a person will have seen a total lunar eclipse than a total solar eclipse?

What is the reason why we have seasons on Earth?

Decoding the Hidden Messages in Starlight

Analyzing Scales and Motions of the Universe

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