Question 1

Galileo challenged the idea that objects in the heavens were perfect by .

Accepted Answer

A) inventing the telescope 
B) proving Kepler's laws were correct 
C) showing that heavy objects fall at the same rate as lighter objects 
D) observing sunspots on the Sun and mountains on the Moon 
A) inventing the telescope 
B) proving Kepler's laws were correct 
C) showing that heavy objects fall at the same rate as lighter objects 
D) observing sunspots on the Sun and mountains on the Moon

Question 2

The controversial book of this famous person, published in 1543 (the year of his death), suggested that Earth and other planets orbit the Sun.

Accepted Answer

A) Ptolemy 
B) Tycho Brahe 
C) Galileo 
D) Copernicus 
E) Kepler 
A) Ptolemy 
B) Tycho Brahe 
C) Galileo 
D) Copernicus 
E) Kepler

Question 3

What is meant by a scientific paradigm?

Accepted Answer

A) a historical theory that has been proved inaccurate 
B) a generally well- established scientific theory or set of theories 
C) a pseudoscientific idea 
D) a conundrum, or unexplained set of facts 
E) a radical change in scientific thought 
A) a historical theory that has been proved inaccurate 
B) a generally well- established scientific theory or set of theories 
C) a pseudoscientific idea 
D) a conundrum, or unexplained set of facts 
E) a radical change in scientific thought

Question 4

You are using a piece of string and two tacks to draw ellipses on a piece of paper. How can you draw two ellipses with the same semi- major axes but different eccentricities? How can you draw two ellipses with the same eccentricity but with the semi- major axis of one double the other?

Accepted Answer

a. Use the same length of string for bot

Question 5

According to Kepler's third law (p2 = a3), how does a planet's mass affect its orbit around the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A) More massive planets orbit the Sun at higher average speed. 
B) A planet's mass has no effect on its orbit around the Sun. 
C) A more massive planet must have a larger semimajor axis. 
D) More massive planets must have more circular orbits. 
A) More massive planets orbit the Sun at higher average speed. 
B) A planet's mass has no effect on its orbit around the Sun. 
C) A more massive planet must have a larger semimajor axis. 
D) More massive planets must have more circular orbits.

Question 6

When we see Venus in its full phase, what phase would Earth be in as seen by a hypothetical Venetian?

Accepted Answer

A) full 
B) third quarter 
C) new 
D) waning crescent 
E) first quarter 
A) full 
B) third quarter 
C) new 
D) waning crescent 
E) first quarter

Question 7

People of central Africa predicted the weather by

Accepted Answer

A) recording the seasonal changes in average temperature. 
B) observing the length of the lunar cycle. 
C) observing the orientation of the crescent moon relative to the horizon. 
D) observing the path of the planets across the sky. 
E) observing the location of the Moon relative to the Sun in the sky. 
A) recording the seasonal changes in average temperature. 
B) observing the length of the lunar cycle. 
C) observing the orientation of the crescent moon relative to the horizon. 
D) observing the path of the planets across the sky. 
E) observing the location of the Moon relative to the Sun in the sky.

Question 8

When did Ptolemy live?

Accepted Answer

A) about 500 years ago 
B) about 5000 years ago 
C) about 2000 years ago 
D) about 100 years ago 
E) about 1000 years ago 
A) about 500 years ago 
B) about 5000 years ago 
C) about 2000 years ago 
D) about 100 years ago 
E) about 1000 years ago

Question 9

The Metonic cycle is

Accepted Answer

A) used to keep lunar calendars approximately synchronized with solar calendars. 
B) the 18- year, 11- day period over which the pattern of eclipses repeats. 
C) used to predict the future orientation of the Earth's axis in space. 
D) the ancient Greek name for the cycle of lunar phases that repeats every 29 1/2 days. 
A) used to keep lunar calendars approximately synchronized with solar calendars. 
B) the 18- year, 11- day period over which the pattern of eclipses repeats. 
C) used to predict the future orientation of the Earth's axis in space. 
D) the ancient Greek name for the cycle of lunar phases that repeats every 29 1/2 days.

Question 10

Which of the following statements are not falsifiable? Being falsifiable means that, in principle, it can be shown to be false by observations or experiments.

Accepted Answer

A) The Sun is at the center of the solar system. 
B) The chemical content of the universe is mostly hydrogen and helium. 
C) The Earth is at the center of the solar system. 
D) Human beings were created by God. 
E) The observable universe contains about 100 billion galaxies. 
A) The Sun is at the center of the solar system. 
B) The chemical content of the universe is mostly hydrogen and helium. 
C) The Earth is at the center of the solar system. 
D) Human beings were created by God. 
E) The observable universe contains about 100 billion galaxies.

Question 11

He was the first to prove that comets lie beyond Earth's atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

A) Galileo 
B) Aristotle 
C) Tycho Brahe 
D) Kepler 
E) Copernicus 
A) Galileo 
B) Aristotle 
C) Tycho Brahe 
D) Kepler 
E) Copernicus

Question 12

The Earth is instantly replaced in its orbit by a speck of dust. Which statement best describes the subsequent orbital motion of that piece of dust?

Accepted Answer

A) The dust particle will move to a larger orbit and orbit the Sun in more than 1 year. 
B) The dust particle will be ejected from the Solar System. 
C) The dust particle will continue in the same orbit as the Earth did, orbiting the Sun in 1 year. 
D) The dust particle will move to a smaller orbit and orbit the Sun in less than 1 year. 
E) The dust particle will spiral into the Sun. 
A) The dust particle will move to a larger orbit and orbit the Sun in more than 1 year. 
B) The dust particle will be ejected from the Solar System. 
C) The dust particle will continue in the same orbit as the Earth did, orbiting the Sun in 1 year. 
D) The dust particle will move to a smaller orbit and orbit the Sun in less than 1 year. 
E) The dust particle will spiral into the Sun.

Question 13

Ptolemy was important in the history of astronomy because he .

Accepted Answer

A) was the first to believe that all orbits are perfect circles 
B) developed a model of the solar system that made sufficiently accurate predictions of planetary positions to remain in use for many centuries 
C) developed the first scientific model of the universe 
D) was the first to create a model of the solar system that placed the Sun rather than the Earth at the center 
A) was the first to believe that all orbits are perfect circles 
B) developed a model of the solar system that made sufficiently accurate predictions of planetary positions to remain in use for many centuries 
C) developed the first scientific model of the universe 
D) was the first to create a model of the solar system that placed the Sun rather than the Earth at the center

Question 14

State Kepler's three laws of planetary motion.

Accepted Answer

1. The orbit of each planet is an ellips

Question 15

Scientific thinking is .

Accepted Answer

A) based on everyday ideas of observation and trial- and- error experiments 
B) an ancient mode of thinking first invented in Egypt 
C) a difficult process that only a handful of people can do well 
D) completely different from any other type of thinking 
A) based on everyday ideas of observation and trial- and- error experiments 
B) an ancient mode of thinking first invented in Egypt 
C) a difficult process that only a handful of people can do well 
D) completely different from any other type of thinking

Question 16

Suppose a comet orbits the Sun on a highly eccentric orbit with an average (semimajor axis)distance of 1 AU. How long does it take to complete each orbit, and how do we know?

Accepted Answer

A) It depends on the eccentricity of the orbit, as described by Kepler's first law. 
B) Each orbit takes about 1 year, which we know from Kepler's third law. 
C) Each orbit should take about 2 years, because the eccentricity is so large. 
D) It depends on the eccentricity of the orbit, as described by Kepler's second law. 
A) It depends on the eccentricity of the orbit, as described by Kepler's first law. 
B) Each orbit takes about 1 year, which we know from Kepler's third law. 
C) Each orbit should take about 2 years, because the eccentricity is so large. 
D) It depends on the eccentricity of the orbit, as described by Kepler's second law.

Question 17

The Jewish calendar is kept roughly synchronized with a solar calendar by

Accepted Answer

A) having a thirteenth month with 5 days each year. 
B) having the first lunar month begin on the spring equinox. 
C) skipping a month every 7 out of 19 years. 
D) adding a thirteenth lunar month to 7 out of every 19 years. 
E) having the first lunar month begin on the summer solstice. 
A) having a thirteenth month with 5 days each year. 
B) having the first lunar month begin on the spring equinox. 
C) skipping a month every 7 out of 19 years. 
D) adding a thirteenth lunar month to 7 out of every 19 years. 
E) having the first lunar month begin on the summer solstice.

Question 18

Galileo found "imperfections" on the Sun in the form of sunspots and "imperfections" on the Moon in the form of mountains and valleys.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Which of the following statements about Kepler's laws is false?

Accepted Answer

A) Kepler's first law states that planetary orbits are shaped as ellipses. 
B) Kepler's second law implies that when planets are closer to the sun, they move faster. 
C) Kepler's laws provide mathematical descriptions of the motion of the planets. 
D) Kepler's laws explain why planets with larger semi- major axes have much longer orbital periods. 
A) Kepler's first law states that planetary orbits are shaped as ellipses. 
B) Kepler's second law implies that when planets are closer to the sun, they move faster. 
C) Kepler's laws provide mathematical descriptions of the motion of the planets. 
D) Kepler's laws explain why planets with larger semi- major axes have much longer orbital periods.

Question 20

He discovered that Jupiter has moons.

Accepted Answer

A) Ptolemy 
B) Galileo 
C) Aristotle 
D) Tycho Brahe 
E) Kepler 
A) Ptolemy 
B) Galileo 
C) Aristotle 
D) Tycho Brahe 
E) Kepler

Galileo challenged the idea that objects in the heavens were perfect by .

The controversial book of this famous person, published in 1543 (the year of his death), suggested that Earth and other planets orbit the Sun.

What is meant by a scientific paradigm?

You are using a piece of string and two tacks to draw ellipses on a piece of paper. How can you draw two ellipses with the same semi- major axes but different eccentricities? How can you draw two ellipses with the same eccentricity but with the semi- major axis of one double the other?

According to Kepler's third law (p2 = a3), how does a planet's mass affect its orbit around the Sun?

When we see Venus in its full phase, what phase would Earth be in as seen by a hypothetical Venetian?

People of central Africa predicted the weather by

When did Ptolemy live?

The Metonic cycle is

Which of the following statements are not falsifiable? Being falsifiable means that, in principle, it can be shown to be false by observations or experiments.

He was the first to prove that comets lie beyond Earth's atmosphere.

The Earth is instantly replaced in its orbit by a speck of dust. Which statement best describes the subsequent orbital motion of that piece of dust?

Ptolemy was important in the history of astronomy because he .

State Kepler's three laws of planetary motion.

Scientific thinking is .

Suppose a comet orbits the Sun on a highly eccentric orbit with an average (semimajor axis)distance of 1 AU. How long does it take to complete each orbit, and how do we know?

The Jewish calendar is kept roughly synchronized with a solar calendar by

Galileo found "imperfections" on the Sun in the form of sunspots and "imperfections" on the Moon in the form of mountains and valleys.

Which of the following statements about Kepler's laws is false?

He discovered that Jupiter has moons.

A Modern View of the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet System

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Other Planetary Systems: the New Science of Distant Worlds

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

A Universe of Galaxies

The Birth of the Universe

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

Life in the Universe

Filters

Exam 3: The Science of Astronomy

Galileo challenged the idea that objects in the heavens were perfect by .

The controversial book of this famous person, published in 1543 (the year of his death), suggested that Earth and other planets orbit the Sun.

What is meant by a scientific paradigm?

You are using a piece of string and two tacks to draw ellipses on a piece of paper. How can you draw two ellipses with the same semi- major axes but different eccentricities? How can you draw two ellipses with the same eccentricity but with the semi- major axis of one double the other?

According to Kepler's third law (p2 = a3), how does a planet's mass affect its orbit around the Sun?

When we see Venus in its full phase, what phase would Earth be in as seen by a hypothetical Venetian?

People of central Africa predicted the weather by

When did Ptolemy live?

The Metonic cycle is

Which of the following statements are not falsifiable? Being falsifiable means that, in principle, it can be shown to be false by observations or experiments.

He was the first to prove that comets lie beyond Earth's atmosphere.

The Earth is instantly replaced in its orbit by a speck of dust. Which statement best describes the subsequent orbital motion of that piece of dust?

Ptolemy was important in the history of astronomy because he .

State Kepler's three laws of planetary motion.

Scientific thinking is .

Suppose a comet orbits the Sun on a highly eccentric orbit with an average (semimajor axis)distance of 1 AU. How long does it take to complete each orbit, and how do we know?

The Jewish calendar is kept roughly synchronized with a solar calendar by

Galileo found "imperfections" on the Sun in the form of sunspots and "imperfections" on the Moon in the form of mountains and valleys.

Which of the following statements about Kepler's laws is false?

He discovered that Jupiter has moons.

A Modern View of the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet System

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Other Planetary Systems: the New Science of Distant Worlds

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

A Universe of Galaxies

The Birth of the Universe

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

Life in the Universe

Filters