Question 1

The Almagest is a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  detailed multivolume account of a heliocentric cosmology produced by ancient Greek astronomers. 
B)  collection of ancient data and predictions of positions of the Sun, the Moon, and the planets, compiled by Ptolemy. 
C)  Renaissance book describing in detail the development of a heliocentric universe, with elliptical orbits, the law of equal areas, and the harmonic law. 
D)  ancient book describing the construction of Stonehenge. 
A)  detailed multivolume account of a heliocentric cosmology produced by ancient Greek astronomers. 
B)  collection of ancient data and predictions of positions of the Sun, the Moon, and the planets, compiled by Ptolemy. 
C)  Renaissance book describing in detail the development of a heliocentric universe, with elliptical orbits, the law of equal areas, and the harmonic law. 
D)  ancient book describing the construction of Stonehenge.

Question 2

Where is a planet when it is moving MOST rapidly in its orbit?

Accepted Answer

A)  at aphelion 
B)  at perihelion 
C)  approaching the closest distance to the Sun 
D)  at the focus of its orbit 
A)  at aphelion 
B)  at perihelion 
C)  approaching the closest distance to the Sun 
D)  at the focus of its orbit

Question 3

In the years after Newton published his laws of motion, it was found that the observed positions of the planet Uranus did not match the predictions of Newton's theory. The reason for this turned out to be

Accepted Answer

A)  the gravitational influence of a previously unknown planet. 
B)  the perturbing effects of previously unknown satellites (moons) of Uranus. 
C)  inaccuracies in the observations. 
D)  inaccuracies in Newton's laws (later corrected by general relativity). 
A)  the gravitational influence of a previously unknown planet. 
B)  the perturbing effects of previously unknown satellites (moons) of Uranus. 
C)  inaccuracies in the observations. 
D)  inaccuracies in Newton's laws (later corrected by general relativity).

Question 4

If a planet were to exist in the solar system in a circular orbit with a radius of 3 au, about how long would it take to orbit the Sun once?

Accepted Answer

A)  5.2 years 
B)  2.1 years 
C)  27 years 
D)  3 years 
A)  5.2 years 
B)  2.1 years 
C)  27 years 
D)  3 years

Question 5

How did Copernicus know Jupiter's orbit around the Sun was larger than that of Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  It can always be seen relatively close to the Sun. 
B)  He measured the period and used Kepler's third law. 
C)  It was sometimes seen to pass behind the Sun. 
D)  It can be high in the sky at midnight. 
A)  It can always be seen relatively close to the Sun. 
B)  He measured the period and used Kepler's third law. 
C)  It was sometimes seen to pass behind the Sun. 
D)  It can be high in the sky at midnight.

Question 6

Two objects are confined by their mutual gravitational force but isolated from any other forces. Which of these moves at constant velocity?

Accepted Answer

A)  their barycenter 
B)  the more massive object 
C)  the less massive object 
D)  None of these are correct. 
A)  their barycenter 
B)  the more massive object 
C)  the less massive object 
D)  None of these are correct.

Question 7

According to Newton's first law,

Accepted Answer

A)  if no net force is acting on an object, then both the object's speed and direction of travel will be constant. 
B)  the larger the rate of change of speed of an object, the larger the force acting upon the object. 
C)  an applied force always causes a change in the speed of an object. 
D)  an applied force always causes a change in the direction of travel of an object. 
A)  if no net force is acting on an object, then both the object's speed and direction of travel will be constant. 
B)  the larger the rate of change of speed of an object, the larger the force acting upon the object. 
C)  an applied force always causes a change in the speed of an object. 
D)  an applied force always causes a change in the direction of travel of an object.

Question 8

Two spaceships with different masses, propelled by rocket engines of identical force, are at rest in space. If they fire their rockets at the same time, which ship will speed up faster?

Accepted Answer

A)  ship with least mass 
B)  ship with greatest mass 
C)  The spaceships will increase speed at the same rate because they have identical rocket engines. 
D)  The spaceships will not speed up at all; they will move at a constant speed because they are in space and the rocket has nothing against which to push. 
A)  ship with least mass 
B)  ship with greatest mass 
C)  The spaceships will increase speed at the same rate because they have identical rocket engines. 
D)  The spaceships will not speed up at all; they will move at a constant speed because they are in space and the rocket has nothing against which to push.

Question 9

At which point, as seen from Earth, will a planet appear exactly half-lit (looking like the first- or last-quarter Moon)? (It may help to draw a diagram and show the sunlit side of the planet on it.)

Accepted Answer

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

Question 10

What is the ultimate test for a scientific theory or idea?

Accepted Answer

A)  A world body such as the United Nations must decree that the theory is correct. 
B)  The theory must be accepted by the vast majority of the population of Earth. 
C)  The theory must make predictions that are verifiable by observation or measurement. 
D)  The theory must be accepted by the vast majority of the scientific community. 
A)  A world body such as the United Nations must decree that the theory is correct. 
B)  The theory must be accepted by the vast majority of the population of Earth. 
C)  The theory must make predictions that are verifiable by observation or measurement. 
D)  The theory must be accepted by the vast majority of the scientific community.

Question 11

A perfect circle is an ellipse with an eccentricity of

Accepted Answer

A)  0. 
B)  1. 
C)  ( $\pi$.) 
D)  infinity. 
A)  0. 
B)  1. 
C)  ( $\pi$.) 
D)  infinity.

Question 12

Observers on Earth see occasional retrograde motion in the motion of

Accepted Answer

A)  only the inner planets: Mercury and Venus. 
B)  only the outer planets: Mars and beyond. 
C)  all the planets. 
D)  all the planets and the Moon. 
A)  only the inner planets: Mercury and Venus. 
B)  only the outer planets: Mars and beyond. 
C)  all the planets. 
D)  all the planets and the Moon.

Question 13

In the ancient Greek era, it was almost universally believed that the

Accepted Answer

A)  pole star represented the center of the universe about which Earth and all other objects revolved. 
B)  Milky Way represented the observable universe, and its center was the center of the universe. 
C)  Sun was at the center of the universe. 
D)  Earth was at the center of the universe. 
A)  pole star represented the center of the universe about which Earth and all other objects revolved. 
B)  Milky Way represented the observable universe, and its center was the center of the universe. 
C)  Sun was at the center of the universe. 
D)  Earth was at the center of the universe.

Question 14

An apparent westward motion of a planet from night to night compared to the background stars (as viewed from Earth) is referred to as

Accepted Answer

A)  retrograde motion. 
B)  precession. 
C)  rising (if in the east) or setting (if in the west). 
D)  direct motion. 
A)  retrograde motion. 
B)  precession. 
C)  rising (if in the east) or setting (if in the west). 
D)  direct motion.

Question 15

Ptolemy's system of the heavens put Earth at or near the center. The motivation for this choice was primarily

Accepted Answer

A)  religious, placing mankind at the center of creation. 
B)  religious, relegating Earth to an inferior position outside the perfect celestial realm. 
C)  based on observations. 
D)  based on the mathematics of the Pythagoreans. 
A)  religious, placing mankind at the center of creation. 
B)  religious, relegating Earth to an inferior position outside the perfect celestial realm. 
C)  based on observations. 
D)  based on the mathematics of the Pythagoreans.

Question 16

The strength of gravity on Mars is about 40% of that on Earth. If an astronaut were to take a standard red brick to Mars, which property of the brick would be significantly different on Mars than on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  mass 
B)  color 
C)  volume 
D)  weight 
A)  mass 
B)  color 
C)  volume 
D)  weight

Question 17

Kepler as a young man became the assistant to

Accepted Answer

A)  Nicolaus Copernicus. 
B)  Ptolemy. 
C)  Tycho Brahe. 
D)  Sir Isaac Newton. 
A)  Nicolaus Copernicus. 
B)  Ptolemy. 
C)  Tycho Brahe. 
D)  Sir Isaac Newton.

Question 18

The reason Copernicus's heliocentric theory soon came to be regarded as preferable to the geocentric theory of Ptolemy is that the heliocentric theory accounted for

Accepted Answer

A)  the observed motions of the planets using complex constructions called epicycles and deferents, so it was considered more reliable than the geocentric theory. 
B)  the same observed motions of the planets as the geocentric theory but did so in a much simpler way. 
C)  retrograde motion, which the geocentric theory was unable to explain. 
D)  the same observed motions of the planets as the geocentric theory but did so much more accurately. 
A)  the observed motions of the planets using complex constructions called epicycles and deferents, so it was considered more reliable than the geocentric theory. 
B)  the same observed motions of the planets as the geocentric theory but did so in a much simpler way. 
C)  retrograde motion, which the geocentric theory was unable to explain. 
D)  the same observed motions of the planets as the geocentric theory but did so much more accurately.

Question 19

The term "retrograde motion" for a planet refers to the

Accepted Answer

A)  temporary reversal of the planet's normal east-to-west motion past the background stars as seen from Earth. 
B)  apparent motion of a planet's moon in the opposite direction to the motion of the planet itself during half of each orbit of the moon around the planet. 
C)  temporary reversal of a planet's direction of spin about its axis of rotation. 
D)  temporary reversal of the planet's normal west-to-east motion past the background stars as seen from Earth. 
A)  temporary reversal of the planet's normal east-to-west motion past the background stars as seen from Earth. 
B)  apparent motion of a planet's moon in the opposite direction to the motion of the planet itself during half of each orbit of the moon around the planet. 
C)  temporary reversal of a planet's direction of spin about its axis of rotation. 
D)  temporary reversal of the planet's normal west-to-east motion past the background stars as seen from Earth.

Question 20

A major contribution of Ptolemy to the development of astronomy was

Accepted Answer

A)  origination of the idea of a geocentric (Earth-centered) cosmology, which was later developed by Aristarchus. 
B)  derivation of a model for the solar system in which the planets move around the Sun in circular orbits. 
C)  derivation of the model for the solar system in which the planets move around Earth in elliptical orbits, moving fastest when closest to Earth. 
D)  derivation of a model for the solar system in which the planets moved in epicycles and the epicycles orbited Earth. 
A)  origination of the idea of a geocentric (Earth-centered) cosmology, which was later developed by Aristarchus. 
B)  derivation of a model for the solar system in which the planets move around the Sun in circular orbits. 
C)  derivation of the model for the solar system in which the planets move around Earth in elliptical orbits, moving fastest when closest to Earth. 
D)  derivation of a model for the solar system in which the planets moved in epicycles and the epicycles orbited Earth.

The Almagest is a(n)

Where is a planet when it is moving MOST rapidly in its orbit?

In the years after Newton published his laws of motion, it was found that the observed positions of the planet Uranus did not match the predictions of Newton's theory. The reason for this turned out to be

If a planet were to exist in the solar system in a circular orbit with a radius of 3 au, about how long would it take to orbit the Sun once?

How did Copernicus know Jupiter's orbit around the Sun was larger than that of Earth?

Two objects are confined by their mutual gravitational force but isolated from any other forces. Which of these moves at constant velocity?

According to Newton's first law,

Two spaceships with different masses, propelled by rocket engines of identical force, are at rest in space. If they fire their rockets at the same time, which ship will speed up faster?

At which point, as seen from Earth, will a planet appear exactly half-lit (looking like the first- or last-quarter Moon)? (It may help to draw a diagram and show the sunlit side of the planet on it.)

What is the ultimate test for a scientific theory or idea?

A perfect circle is an ellipse with an eccentricity of

Observers on Earth see occasional retrograde motion in the motion of

In the ancient Greek era, it was almost universally believed that the

An apparent westward motion of a planet from night to night compared to the background stars (as viewed from Earth) is referred to as

Ptolemy's system of the heavens put Earth at or near the center. The motivation for this choice was primarily

The strength of gravity on Mars is about 40% of that on Earth. If an astronaut were to take a standard red brick to Mars, which property of the brick would be significantly different on Mars than on Earth?

Kepler as a young man became the assistant to

The reason Copernicus's heliocentric theory soon came to be regarded as preferable to the geocentric theory of Ptolemy is that the heliocentric theory accounted for

The term "retrograde motion" for a planet refers to the

A major contribution of Ptolemy to the development of astronomy was

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

Exam 2: Gravitation and the Motion of the Planets

The Almagest is a(n)

Where is a planet when it is moving MOST rapidly in its orbit?

In the years after Newton published his laws of motion, it was found that the observed positions of the planet Uranus did not match the predictions of Newton's theory. The reason for this turned out to be

If a planet were to exist in the solar system in a circular orbit with a radius of 3 au, about how long would it take to orbit the Sun once?

How did Copernicus know Jupiter's orbit around the Sun was larger than that of Earth?

Two objects are confined by their mutual gravitational force but isolated from any other forces. Which of these moves at constant velocity?

According to Newton's first law,

Two spaceships with different masses, propelled by rocket engines of identical force, are at rest in space. If they fire their rockets at the same time, which ship will speed up faster?

At which point, as seen from Earth, will a planet appear exactly half-lit (looking like the first- or last-quarter Moon)? (It may help to draw a diagram and show the sunlit side of the planet on it.)

What is the ultimate test for a scientific theory or idea?

A perfect circle is an ellipse with an eccentricity of

Observers on Earth see occasional retrograde motion in the motion of

In the ancient Greek era, it was almost universally believed that the

An apparent westward motion of a planet from night to night compared to the background stars (as viewed from Earth) is referred to as

Ptolemy's system of the heavens put Earth at or near the center. The motivation for this choice was primarily

The strength of gravity on Mars is about 40% of that on Earth. If an astronaut were to take a standard red brick to Mars, which property of the brick would be significantly different on Mars than on Earth?

Kepler as a young man became the assistant to

The reason Copernicus's heliocentric theory soon came to be regarded as preferable to the geocentric theory of Ptolemy is that the heliocentric theory accounted for

The term "retrograde motion" for a planet refers to the

A major contribution of Ptolemy to the development of astronomy was

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