Question 1

How much gravitational force acts on an astronaut in the Space Shuttle in a circular orbit 300 km above Earth's surface?

Accepted Answer

A)  almost zero, but not quite 
B)  exactly the same as when the astronaut is standing on the surface of Earth 
C)  zero-the astronaut is weightless 
D)  almost (but not quite) as much as when the astronaut is standing on the surface of Earth 
A)  almost zero, but not quite 
B)  exactly the same as when the astronaut is standing on the surface of Earth 
C)  zero-the astronaut is weightless 
D)  almost (but not quite) as much as when the astronaut is standing on the surface of Earth

Question 2

Which of these objects are MOST likely found to follow parabolic orbits?

Accepted Answer

A)  small satellites of the outer planets 
B)  asteroids 
C)  none-all orbits have to be ellipses 
D)  comets 
A)  small satellites of the outer planets 
B)  asteroids 
C)  none-all orbits have to be ellipses 
D)  comets

Question 3

In Ptolemy's geocentric theory of the solar system, what name is given to the large circle (orbit) that carries the planet around Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  deferent 
B)  celestial equator 
C)  ecliptic 
D)  epicycle 
A)  deferent 
B)  celestial equator 
C)  ecliptic 
D)  epicycle

Question 4

A horse is dragging a loaded sled across a field. Which of these pairs of forces is an action-reaction pair by Newton's third law?

Accepted Answer

A)  force of the horse on the sled and force of the ground on the sled 
B)  force of the horse on the sled and force of the sled on the horse 
C)  force of the horse on the sled and force of the ground on the horse 
D)  force of the sled on the ground and force of the horse's hooves on the ground 
A)  force of the horse on the sled and force of the ground on the sled 
B)  force of the horse on the sled and force of the sled on the horse 
C)  force of the horse on the sled and force of the ground on the horse 
D)  force of the sled on the ground and force of the horse's hooves on the ground

Question 5

Which of these pairs of forces is an example of an action-reaction pair by Newton's third law?

Accepted Answer

A)  for a dog pulling on its leash, the force of the dog on the leash and the force of the leash on the dog 
B)  for a baseball player sliding into first base, the force of the baseball player on his shoes and the friction force of the ground on his shoes 
C)  for a tugboat pulling a barge, the force of the water on the barge and the force of the barge on the tugboat 
D)  for the solar system, the force of the Sun on Earth and the force of the Sun on Mars 
A)  for a dog pulling on its leash, the force of the dog on the leash and the force of the leash on the dog 
B)  for a baseball player sliding into first base, the force of the baseball player on his shoes and the friction force of the ground on his shoes 
C)  for a tugboat pulling a barge, the force of the water on the barge and the force of the barge on the tugboat 
D)  for the solar system, the force of the Sun on Earth and the force of the Sun on Mars

Question 6

In applying the scientific method to the study of natural surroundings, scientists are

Accepted Answer

A)  discovering by observation the absolute truth about limited areas of science and are therefore slowly building up the correct view of the universe. 
B)  slowly amassing a vast bank of observations of nature that at some time in the future will be assembled into the correct description of the universe. 
C)  formulating hypotheses or models that describe the present observations of nature and that predict possible further tests for these models. 
D)  developing a theoretical view of the universe that incorporates all previous ideas and beliefs as part of an overall philosophy. 
A)  discovering by observation the absolute truth about limited areas of science and are therefore slowly building up the correct view of the universe. 
B)  slowly amassing a vast bank of observations of nature that at some time in the future will be assembled into the correct description of the universe. 
C)  formulating hypotheses or models that describe the present observations of nature and that predict possible further tests for these models. 
D)  developing a theoretical view of the universe that incorporates all previous ideas and beliefs as part of an overall philosophy.

Question 7

How are kinetic energy and potential energy related for a freely falling object?

Accepted Answer

A)  The kinetic energy always equals the potential energy. 
B)  The quantity given by kinetic energy minus potential energy is constant. 
C)  They are not related; either one can increase or decrease, without depending on the other. 
D)  The sum of the kinetic energy plus the potential energy is constant. 
A)  The kinetic energy always equals the potential energy. 
B)  The quantity given by kinetic energy minus potential energy is constant. 
C)  They are not related; either one can increase or decrease, without depending on the other. 
D)  The sum of the kinetic energy plus the potential energy is constant.

Question 8

Kepler's first law states that the orbit of a planet about the Sun is a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  circle with the Sun at the center. 
B)  oval with the Sun at the center. 
C)  ellipse with the Sun at one focus. 
D)  ellipse with the Sun at the center. 
A)  circle with the Sun at the center. 
B)  oval with the Sun at the center. 
C)  ellipse with the Sun at one focus. 
D)  ellipse with the Sun at the center.

Question 9

Planets move past the background stars as seen by someone on Earth. What is the normal direction of this motion?

Accepted Answer

A)  east to west because of the rotation of Earth 
B)  east to west because of the motion of the planet along its orbit 
C)  west to east because of the motion of Earth along its orbit 
D)  west to east because of the motion of the planet along its orbit 
A)  east to west because of the rotation of Earth 
B)  east to west because of the motion of the planet along its orbit 
C)  west to east because of the motion of Earth along its orbit 
D)  west to east because of the motion of the planet along its orbit

Question 10

The epicycle, in the Greek planetary model, is the

Accepted Answer

A)  circle centered on Earth about which the center of the smaller circular motion moves. 
B)  off-center point in the planetary system occupied by Earth. 
C)  focus of the ellipse that is the orbit of the planet around Earth. 
D)  small circle through which the planet moves as the center of this circle orbits Earth. 
A)  circle centered on Earth about which the center of the smaller circular motion moves. 
B)  off-center point in the planetary system occupied by Earth. 
C)  focus of the ellipse that is the orbit of the planet around Earth. 
D)  small circle through which the planet moves as the center of this circle orbits Earth.

Question 11

The major contribution of Tycho Brahe to the development of modern astronomy was

Accepted Answer

A)  using parallax to prove that Earth moves around the Sun. 
B)  observing the phases of Venus. 
C)  measuring planetary positions very accurately. 
D)  proving that planetary orbits are ellipses. 
A)  using parallax to prove that Earth moves around the Sun. 
B)  observing the phases of Venus. 
C)  measuring planetary positions very accurately. 
D)  proving that planetary orbits are ellipses.

Question 12

Which of these describes a configuration in which Venus could be seen from Earth when it is at greatest elongation?

Accepted Answer

A)  just before sunrise, in the west 
B)  at midnight, in the south 
C)  just after sunset, in the east 
D)  just after sunset, in the west 
A)  just before sunrise, in the west 
B)  at midnight, in the south 
C)  just after sunset, in the east 
D)  just after sunset, in the west

Question 13

If an object has an orbit around the Sun that has an eccentricity of 0.1, then the orbit is

Accepted Answer

A)  exactly circular. 
B)  a straight line. 
C)  a long, thin ellipse. 
D)  almost circular, but not quite. 
A)  exactly circular. 
B)  a straight line. 
C)  a long, thin ellipse. 
D)  almost circular, but not quite.

Question 14

To specify an object's velocity completely, one needs to specify its

Accepted Answer

A)  direction of travel. 
B)  speed. 
C)  rate of change of acceleration. 
D)  speed and direction of travel. 
A)  direction of travel. 
B)  speed. 
C)  rate of change of acceleration. 
D)  speed and direction of travel.

Question 15

When Venus is at inferior conjunction, it is

Accepted Answer

A)  at its greatest distance from Earth. 
B)  traveling at its greatest speed. 
C)  at its greatest angle from the Sun as seen from Earth. 
D)  at its smallest distance from Earth. 
A)  at its greatest distance from Earth. 
B)  traveling at its greatest speed. 
C)  at its greatest angle from the Sun as seen from Earth. 
D)  at its smallest distance from Earth.

Question 16

Ptolemy's model for the solar system was

Accepted Answer

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

How much gravitational force acts on an astronaut in the Space Shuttle in a circular orbit 300 km above Earth's surface?

Which of these objects are MOST likely found to follow parabolic orbits?

In Ptolemy's geocentric theory of the solar system, what name is given to the large circle (orbit) that carries the planet around Earth?

A horse is dragging a loaded sled across a field. Which of these pairs of forces is an action-reaction pair by Newton's third law?

Which of these pairs of forces is an example of an action-reaction pair by Newton's third law?

In applying the scientific method to the study of natural surroundings, scientists are

How are kinetic energy and potential energy related for a freely falling object?

Kepler's first law states that the orbit of a planet about the Sun is a(n)

Planets move past the background stars as seen by someone on Earth. What is the normal direction of this motion?

The epicycle, in the Greek planetary model, is the

The major contribution of Tycho Brahe to the development of modern astronomy was

Which of these describes a configuration in which Venus could be seen from Earth when it is at greatest elongation?

If an object has an orbit around the Sun that has an eccentricity of 0.1, then the orbit is

To specify an object's velocity completely, one needs to specify its

When Venus is at inferior conjunction, it is

Ptolemy's model for the solar system 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

How much gravitational force acts on an astronaut in the Space Shuttle in a circular orbit 300 km above Earth's surface?

Which of these objects are MOST likely found to follow parabolic orbits?

In Ptolemy's geocentric theory of the solar system, what name is given to the large circle (orbit) that carries the planet around Earth?

A horse is dragging a loaded sled across a field. Which of these pairs of forces is an action-reaction pair by Newton's third law?

Which of these pairs of forces is an example of an action-reaction pair by Newton's third law?

In applying the scientific method to the study of natural surroundings, scientists are

How are kinetic energy and potential energy related for a freely falling object?

Kepler's first law states that the orbit of a planet about the Sun is a(n)

Planets move past the background stars as seen by someone on Earth. What is the normal direction of this motion?

The epicycle, in the Greek planetary model, is the

The major contribution of Tycho Brahe to the development of modern astronomy was

Which of these describes a configuration in which Venus could be seen from Earth when it is at greatest elongation?

If an object has an orbit around the Sun that has an eccentricity of 0.1, then the orbit is

To specify an object's velocity completely, one needs to specify its

When Venus is at inferior conjunction, it is

Ptolemy's model for the solar system 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