Question 1

When the planet Mars is moving in a retrograde direction, its motion against the background stars is seen to be

Accepted Answer

A)  stationary, with no motion against the stars. 
B)  exactly perpendicular to the equator. 
C)  eastward. 
D)  westward. 
A)  stationary, with no motion against the stars. 
B)  exactly perpendicular to the equator. 
C)  eastward. 
D)  westward.

Question 2

Which of these statements correctly states the significance of Galileo's observation that Venus shows phases?

Accepted Answer

A)  The phases showed that, like the Moon, Venus is always much closer to Earth than the Sun is. 
B)  The phases were correlated with angular size in a way that supported the heliocentric theory. 
C)  The phases were interesting but did not have any other particular significance. 
D)  Because the phases were not correlated with angular size, they actually supported the geocentric theory more than the heliocentric theory. 
A)  The phases showed that, like the Moon, Venus is always much closer to Earth than the Sun is. 
B)  The phases were correlated with angular size in a way that supported the heliocentric theory. 
C)  The phases were interesting but did not have any other particular significance. 
D)  Because the phases were not correlated with angular size, they actually supported the geocentric theory more than the heliocentric theory.

Question 3

Which of these statements about Copernicus's system of planetary motion is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  Copernicus's system of planetary motion had Earth in the center of the solar system. 
B)  Copernicus's system of planetary motion was the first model in history to place the Sun in the center of the solar system. 
C)  Copernicus's system of planetary motion used uniform circular motion. 
D)  Copernicus's system of planetary motion included a physical explanation of why the planets move in their particular orbits. 
A)  Copernicus's system of planetary motion had Earth in the center of the solar system. 
B)  Copernicus's system of planetary motion was the first model in history to place the Sun in the center of the solar system. 
C)  Copernicus's system of planetary motion used uniform circular motion. 
D)  Copernicus's system of planetary motion included a physical explanation of why the planets move in their particular orbits.

Question 4

According to Newton's laws, a force must be acting whenever

Accepted Answer

A)  an object moves with some speed. 
B)  the direction of an object's motion changes. 
C)  time passes. 
D)  an object's position changes. 
A)  an object moves with some speed. 
B)  the direction of an object's motion changes. 
C)  time passes. 
D)  an object's position changes.

Question 5

What is at the focus of Earth's orbit around the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  Nothing is at either focus 
B)  Nothing is at one focus, while the center of the Sun is at the other 
C)  The center of the Moon is at one focus, while the center of the Sun is at the other 
D)  Nothing is at one focus, while the center of mass of the Earth and Sun is at the other 
A)  Nothing is at either focus 
B)  Nothing is at one focus, while the center of the Sun is at the other 
C)  The center of the Moon is at one focus, while the center of the Sun is at the other 
D)  Nothing is at one focus, while the center of mass of the Earth and Sun is at the other

Question 6

If a supernova was first seen in the year of Christ's birth (the Star of Bethlehem?) and its distance from Earth was 3 kpc, approximately when did the supernova actually explode?

Accepted Answer

A)  10 B.C. 
B)  3000 B.C. 
C)  3 B.C. 
D)  10,000 B.C. 
A)  10 B.C. 
B)  3000 B.C. 
C)  3 B.C. 
D)  10,000 B.C.

Question 7

An object orbiting the Sun in a circle can be said to be

Accepted Answer

A)  moving at a constant velocity. 
B)  weightless. 
C)  moving under the action of equal and opposite forces. 
D)  always accelerating. 
A)  moving at a constant velocity. 
B)  weightless. 
C)  moving under the action of equal and opposite forces. 
D)  always accelerating.

Question 8

For the angular momentum of an object to be conserved (i.e., to not change), the

Accepted Answer

A)  speed of the object must not change. 
B)  object must not be acted on by an internal torque (caused, for example, by the muscles in a skater's arms). 
C)  object must not be acted on by an outside torque. 
D)  size of the object must not change. 
A)  speed of the object must not change. 
B)  object must not be acted on by an internal torque (caused, for example, by the muscles in a skater's arms). 
C)  object must not be acted on by an outside torque. 
D)  size of the object must not change.

Question 9

Suppose an asteroid is discovered with an elliptical orbit, a period of exactly 1 year, and perihelion 0.5 au from the Sun. Using Kepler's third law, how far from the Sun is this asteroid at aphelion? (Drawing a diagram of the orbit, including the Sun, will help.)

Accepted Answer

A)  2.5 au 
B)  2.0 au 
C)  1.0 au 
D)  1.5 au 
A)  2.5 au 
B)  2.0 au 
C)  1.0 au 
D)  1.5 au

Question 10

The phenomenon of parallax is the

Accepted Answer

A)  change in the apparent position of a nearby object compared to background objects as a result of the motion of the object. 
B)  change in direction of motion of a planet from retrograde to direct motion. 
C)  apparent change in angular size of an object as it moves toward or away from an observer. 
D)  change in apparent position of a nearby object compared to background objects as a result of the motion of the observer. 
A)  change in the apparent position of a nearby object compared to background objects as a result of the motion of the object. 
B)  change in direction of motion of a planet from retrograde to direct motion. 
C)  apparent change in angular size of an object as it moves toward or away from an observer. 
D)  change in apparent position of a nearby object compared to background objects as a result of the motion of the observer.

Question 11

The development of the scientific theory related to the Higgs boson was unusual in that

Accepted Answer

A)  it began with observations made over a century ago. 
B)  it began with theoretical calculations rather than observations. 
C)  the observations that began the investigation completely disproved the currently accepted model, thus leaving the theorists with no structure to build on. 
D)  the original theory was an outgrowth of an entirely unrelated area of philosophy. 
A)  it began with observations made over a century ago. 
B)  it began with theoretical calculations rather than observations. 
C)  the observations that began the investigation completely disproved the currently accepted model, thus leaving the theorists with no structure to build on. 
D)  the original theory was an outgrowth of an entirely unrelated area of philosophy.

Question 12

The concept called "Occam's razor" states that:

Accepted Answer

A)  the theory that is applicable to the greatest range of phenomena is more likely to be correct. 
B)  when two theories describe the same phenomena equally accurately, the theory with the greater complexity is more likely to be correct. 
C)  when two theories describe the same phenomena equally accurately, the simpler theory is more likely to be correct. 
D)  the theory that describes phenomena more accurately is more likely to be correct. 
A)  the theory that is applicable to the greatest range of phenomena is more likely to be correct. 
B)  when two theories describe the same phenomena equally accurately, the theory with the greater complexity is more likely to be correct. 
C)  when two theories describe the same phenomena equally accurately, the simpler theory is more likely to be correct. 
D)  the theory that describes phenomena more accurately is more likely to be correct.

Question 13

If an astronomer finds an object at a distance of 6.8 au from Earth, what is the object MOST likely to be?

Accepted Answer

A)  star in our Galaxy 
B)  distant galaxy 
C)  artificial satellite orbiting Earth 
D)  comet in our solar system 
A)  star in our Galaxy 
B)  distant galaxy 
C)  artificial satellite orbiting Earth 
D)  comet in our solar system

Question 14

If a tenth planet (tentatively predicted to exist on the basis of perturbations in the orbits of Uranus and Neptune) were to be discovered with a sidereal period of 200 years, what would be the radius of its orbit (assumed to be circular)?

Accepted Answer

A)  2828 au 
B)  34.2 au 
C)  342 au 
D)  200 au 
A)  2828 au 
B)  34.2 au 
C)  342 au 
D)  200 au

Question 15

How was the planet Uranus discovered?

Accepted Answer

A)  Uranus was discovered accidentally during a telescopic survey of the sky. 
B)  Uranus was discovered by mathematical prediction using Newton's laws. 
C)  Uranus happened to pass close to Jupiter in the sky and was discovered by an astronomer studying Jupiter. 
D)  No one knows-Uranus has been known since ancient times. 
A)  Uranus was discovered accidentally during a telescopic survey of the sky. 
B)  Uranus was discovered by mathematical prediction using Newton's laws. 
C)  Uranus happened to pass close to Jupiter in the sky and was discovered by an astronomer studying Jupiter. 
D)  No one knows-Uranus has been known since ancient times.

Question 16

Ptolemy's nationality was

Accepted Answer

A)  Polish. 
B)  Greek. 
C)  Italian. 
D)  Egyptian. 
A)  Polish. 
B)  Greek. 
C)  Italian. 
D)  Egyptian.

Question 17

In the geocentric model for the solar system developed by Ptolemy, to what does the word "epicycle" refer?

Accepted Answer

A)  small circle about which a planet moves while the center of this circle moves around Earth 
B)  large circle (orbit) that carries the planet around Earth while the planet itself is moving in a smaller circle 
C)  complete cycle of planetary motions after which the motions repeat themselves (almost) exactly 
D)  length of time from when the planet is farthest from Earth to the next time it is farthest from Earth 
A)  small circle about which a planet moves while the center of this circle moves around Earth 
B)  large circle (orbit) that carries the planet around Earth while the planet itself is moving in a smaller circle 
C)  complete cycle of planetary motions after which the motions repeat themselves (almost) exactly 
D)  length of time from when the planet is farthest from Earth to the next time it is farthest from Earth

Question 18

An accelerating body must at all times

Accepted Answer

A)  have an increasing velocity. 
B)  be moving. 
C)  have a changing direction of motion. 
D)  have a changing velocity. 
A)  have an increasing velocity. 
B)  be moving. 
C)  have a changing direction of motion. 
D)  have a changing velocity.

Question 19

The Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe had a young assistant who became famous himself some time later. His name was

Accepted Answer

A)  Nicolaus Copernicus. 
B)  Galileo Galilei. 
C)  Johannes Kepler. 
D)  Ptolemy. 
A)  Nicolaus Copernicus. 
B)  Galileo Galilei. 
C)  Johannes Kepler. 
D)  Ptolemy.

Question 20

Kepler's second law states that a planet moves fastest when it

Accepted Answer

A)  passes through the minor axis. 
B)  is closest to the Sun. 
C)  is farthest from the Sun. 
D)  is at conjunction. 
A)  passes through the minor axis. 
B)  is closest to the Sun. 
C)  is farthest from the Sun. 
D)  is at conjunction.

When the planet Mars is moving in a retrograde direction, its motion against the background stars is seen to be

Which of these statements correctly states the significance of Galileo's observation that Venus shows phases?

Which of these statements about Copernicus's system of planetary motion is correct?

According to Newton's laws, a force must be acting whenever

What is at the focus of Earth's orbit around the Sun?

If a supernova was first seen in the year of Christ's birth (the Star of Bethlehem?) and its distance from Earth was 3 kpc, approximately when did the supernova actually explode?

An object orbiting the Sun in a circle can be said to be

For the angular momentum of an object to be conserved (i.e., to not change), the

Suppose an asteroid is discovered with an elliptical orbit, a period of exactly 1 year, and perihelion 0.5 au from the Sun. Using Kepler's third law, how far from the Sun is this asteroid at aphelion? (Drawing a diagram of the orbit, including the Sun, will help.)

The phenomenon of parallax is the

The development of the scientific theory related to the Higgs boson was unusual in that

The concept called "Occam's razor" states that:

If an astronomer finds an object at a distance of 6.8 au from Earth, what is the object MOST likely to be?

If a tenth planet (tentatively predicted to exist on the basis of perturbations in the orbits of Uranus and Neptune) were to be discovered with a sidereal period of 200 years, what would be the radius of its orbit (assumed to be circular)?

How was the planet Uranus discovered?

Ptolemy's nationality was

In the geocentric model for the solar system developed by Ptolemy, to what does the word "epicycle" refer?

An accelerating body must at all times

The Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe had a young assistant who became famous himself some time later. His name was

Kepler's second law states that a planet moves fastest when it

Discovering the Night Sky

Light and Telescopes

Atomic Physics and Spectra

Exoplanets and the Formation of Planetary Systems

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Moon

The Other Terrestrial Planets

The Outer Planets

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Death of Stars

Black Holes: Matters of Gravity

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Quasars and Other Active Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

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Exam 2: Gravitation and the Motion of the Planets

When the planet Mars is moving in a retrograde direction, its motion against the background stars is seen to be

Which of these statements correctly states the significance of Galileo's observation that Venus shows phases?

Which of these statements about Copernicus's system of planetary motion is correct?

According to Newton's laws, a force must be acting whenever

What is at the focus of Earth's orbit around the Sun?

If a supernova was first seen in the year of Christ's birth (the Star of Bethlehem?) and its distance from Earth was 3 kpc, approximately when did the supernova actually explode?

An object orbiting the Sun in a circle can be said to be

For the angular momentum of an object to be conserved (i.e., to not change), the

Suppose an asteroid is discovered with an elliptical orbit, a period of exactly 1 year, and perihelion 0.5 au from the Sun. Using Kepler's third law, how far from the Sun is this asteroid at aphelion? (Drawing a diagram of the orbit, including the Sun, will help.)

The phenomenon of parallax is the

The development of the scientific theory related to the Higgs boson was unusual in that

The concept called "Occam's razor" states that:

If an astronomer finds an object at a distance of 6.8 au from Earth, what is the object MOST likely to be?

If a tenth planet (tentatively predicted to exist on the basis of perturbations in the orbits of Uranus and Neptune) were to be discovered with a sidereal period of 200 years, what would be the radius of its orbit (assumed to be circular)?

How was the planet Uranus discovered?

Ptolemy's nationality was

In the geocentric model for the solar system developed by Ptolemy, to what does the word "epicycle" refer?

An accelerating body must at all times

The Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe had a young assistant who became famous himself some time later. His name was

Kepler's second law states that a planet moves fastest when it

Discovering the Night Sky

Light and Telescopes

Atomic Physics and Spectra

Exoplanets and the Formation of Planetary Systems

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Moon

The Other Terrestrial Planets

The Outer Planets

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Death of Stars

Black Holes: Matters of Gravity

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Quasars and Other Active Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters