Question 1

Which of these situations describes an acceptable path for a body gravitationally bound to the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  parabolic path passing through the center of the Sun 
B)  circular path with the Sun on the circle 
C)  long ellipse, with the Sun at one focus 
D)  long ellipse, with the Sun at its center 
A)  parabolic path passing through the center of the Sun 
B)  circular path with the Sun on the circle 
C)  long ellipse, with the Sun at one focus 
D)  long ellipse, with the Sun at its center

Question 2

A light-year is a measure of

Accepted Answer

A)  angle. 
B)  arc length along an orbit. 
C)  distance. 
D)  time. 
A)  angle. 
B)  arc length along an orbit. 
C)  distance. 
D)  time.

Question 3

Which one of these bodies would NOT exhibit retrograde motion if observed from Mercury?

Accepted Answer

A)  Venus 
B)  Earth 
C)  the Sun 
D)  Mars 
A)  Venus 
B)  Earth 
C)  the Sun 
D)  Mars

Question 4

The Almagest, a collection of earlier data and description of calculations, was written by

Accepted Answer

A)  Kepler. 
B)  Copernicus. 
C)  Erathosthenes. 
D)  Ptolemy. 
A)  Kepler. 
B)  Copernicus. 
C)  Erathosthenes. 
D)  Ptolemy.

Question 5

What was the MOST important difference between the development of Isaac Newton's theory of planetary motion and that of Johannes Kepler?

Accepted Answer

A)  Newton developed his theory from basic physical assumptions, whereas Kepler simply adjusted his theory to fit the data. 
B)  Newton lived in England, which is famous for clear skies, whereas Kepler lived on the continent, which is notorious for bad weather. 
C)  Newton based his theory on accurate telescopic observations, whereas Kepler used observations made by eye. 
D)  Newton lived in a freer political climate, whereas Kepler risked house arrest if his theory opposed the Bible or Aristotle. 
A)  Newton developed his theory from basic physical assumptions, whereas Kepler simply adjusted his theory to fit the data. 
B)  Newton lived in England, which is famous for clear skies, whereas Kepler lived on the continent, which is notorious for bad weather. 
C)  Newton based his theory on accurate telescopic observations, whereas Kepler used observations made by eye. 
D)  Newton lived in a freer political climate, whereas Kepler risked house arrest if his theory opposed the Bible or Aristotle.

Question 6

One light-year is a distance of approximately

Accepted Answer

A)  6.3 × 104 km. 
B)  3 × 105 km. 
C)  9.5 × 1012 km. 
D)  1.5 × 108 km. 
A)  6.3 × 104 km. 
B)  3 × 105 km. 
C)  9.5 × 1012 km. 
D)  1.5 × 108 km.

Question 7

At which point in a planet's elliptical orbit is the planet farthest from the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  aphelion 
B)  quadrature 
C)  perihelion 
D)  superior conjunction 
A)  aphelion 
B)  quadrature 
C)  perihelion 
D)  superior conjunction

Question 8

Why did Galileo's observations of moons orbiting Jupiter disagree with the theory of the universe accepted up to that time in history?

Accepted Answer

A)  The moons moved in noncircular orbits around Jupiter. 
B)  The moons did not appear to orbit the Sun. 
C)  The moons appeared to be too small to be considered part of the solar system described by the theory. 
D)  The moons did not orbit Earth. 
A)  The moons moved in noncircular orbits around Jupiter. 
B)  The moons did not appear to orbit the Sun. 
C)  The moons appeared to be too small to be considered part of the solar system described by the theory. 
D)  The moons did not orbit Earth.

Question 9

Galileo's early observations of the sky with his newly made telescope included the discovery of

Accepted Answer

A)  Pluto. 
B)  the phases of Venus. 
C)  Jupiter's magnetosphere. 
D)  retrograde motion in planets. 
A)  Pluto. 
B)  the phases of Venus. 
C)  Jupiter's magnetosphere. 
D)  retrograde motion in planets.

Question 10

Kepler's second law states that a line joining a planet to the Sun

Accepted Answer

A)  moves equal distances along the planet's orbit in equal times. 
B)  sweeps through equal angles in equal times. 
C)  points in the same direction at all times. 
D)  sweeps out equal areas in equal times. 
A)  moves equal distances along the planet's orbit in equal times. 
B)  sweeps through equal angles in equal times. 
C)  points in the same direction at all times. 
D)  sweeps out equal areas in equal times.

Question 11

The person who compiled the large set of accurate observations of planetary positions that formed the basis for proving that planets move in elliptical orbits around the Sun was

Accepted Answer

A)  Ptolemy. 
B)  Johannes Kepler. 
C)  Nicolaus Copernicus. 
D)  Tycho Brahe. 
A)  Ptolemy. 
B)  Johannes Kepler. 
C)  Nicolaus Copernicus. 
D)  Tycho Brahe.

Question 12

Which of these observations might an astronomer be able to make from Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mercury and Venus passing each other moving in opposite directions 
B)  Jupiter near Polaris, the North Star 
C)  Venus high in the sky at midnight 
D)  Venus near Polaris, the North Star 
A)  Mercury and Venus passing each other moving in opposite directions 
B)  Jupiter near Polaris, the North Star 
C)  Venus high in the sky at midnight 
D)  Venus near Polaris, the North Star

Question 13

What fundamental belief about the universe, established by the Greeks and adopted by the early Christian church, was shattered by Galileo's observation of moons orbiting Jupiter?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Moon is the only moon orbiting around a planet in our solar system. 
B)  Everything in the visible universe must orbit the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. 
C)  Everything in the universe orbits Earth. 
D)  Everything in the universe orbits the Sun. 
A)  The Moon is the only moon orbiting around a planet in our solar system. 
B)  Everything in the visible universe must orbit the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. 
C)  Everything in the universe orbits Earth. 
D)  Everything in the universe orbits the Sun.

Question 14

The center, or fixed point, of the Greek model of the universe was

Accepted Answer

A)  the center of the galaxy. 
B)  a point midway between Earth and the Sun. 
C)  the Sun's center. 
D)  close to Earth's center. 
A)  the center of the galaxy. 
B)  a point midway between Earth and the Sun. 
C)  the Sun's center. 
D)  close to Earth's center.

Question 15

Newton stated that a constant net force, continuously applied to a body in space, will give it a

Accepted Answer

A)  constant acceleration. 
B)  change of position from one state of rest to another state of rest. 
C)  constant velocity. 
D)  headache. 
A)  constant acceleration. 
B)  change of position from one state of rest to another state of rest. 
C)  constant velocity. 
D)  headache.

Question 16

A scientist observes a new phenomenon that disagrees with his explanation or hypothesis. Following the scientific method, he should

Accepted Answer

A)  discard the observation as erroneous. 
B)  modify his hypothesis. 
C)  wait until someone develops an adequate explanation before announcing his observation. 
D)  reject those observations that do not agree with the theory. 
A)  discard the observation as erroneous. 
B)  modify his hypothesis. 
C)  wait until someone develops an adequate explanation before announcing his observation. 
D)  reject those observations that do not agree with the theory.

Question 17

When Mars is at aphelion it must also be at

Accepted Answer

A)  opposition. 
B)  greatest elongation. 
C)  superior conjunction. 
D)  None of these are correct. 
A)  opposition. 
B)  greatest elongation. 
C)  superior conjunction. 
D)  None of these are correct.

Question 18

A baseball player throws a ball straight up in the air. At its highest point the ball's

Accepted Answer

A)  velocity and acceleration are both zero. 
B)  velocity is not zero, but its acceleration is zero. 
C)  acceleration is not zero, but its velocity is zero. 
D)  velocity and acceleration are both nonzero. 
A)  velocity and acceleration are both zero. 
B)  velocity is not zero, but its acceleration is zero. 
C)  acceleration is not zero, but its velocity is zero. 
D)  velocity and acceleration are both nonzero.

Question 19

What is the size of the force a person exerts on Earth compared to the force Earth exerts on that person as they stand on its surface?

Accepted Answer

A)  zero because they do not exert a force on Earth 
B)  very small because their mass is small compared to that of Earth 
C)  twice as large because of Earth's rotation 
D)  the same 
A)  zero because they do not exert a force on Earth 
B)  very small because their mass is small compared to that of Earth 
C)  twice as large because of Earth's rotation 
D)  the same

Question 20

Compared with a person's mass on Earth, that person's mass out in space among the stars would be

Accepted Answer

A)  negligibly small. 
B)  the same. 
C)  zero. 
D)  huge. 
A)  negligibly small. 
B)  the same. 
C)  zero. 
D)  huge.

Which of these situations describes an acceptable path for a body gravitationally bound to the Sun?

A light-year is a measure of

Which one of these bodies would NOT exhibit retrograde motion if observed from Mercury?

The Almagest, a collection of earlier data and description of calculations, was written by

What was the MOST important difference between the development of Isaac Newton's theory of planetary motion and that of Johannes Kepler?

One light-year is a distance of approximately

At which point in a planet's elliptical orbit is the planet farthest from the Sun?

Why did Galileo's observations of moons orbiting Jupiter disagree with the theory of the universe accepted up to that time in history?

Galileo's early observations of the sky with his newly made telescope included the discovery of

Kepler's second law states that a line joining a planet to the Sun

The person who compiled the large set of accurate observations of planetary positions that formed the basis for proving that planets move in elliptical orbits around the Sun was

Which of these observations might an astronomer be able to make from Earth?

What fundamental belief about the universe, established by the Greeks and adopted by the early Christian church, was shattered by Galileo's observation of moons orbiting Jupiter?

The center, or fixed point, of the Greek model of the universe was

Newton stated that a constant net force, continuously applied to a body in space, will give it a

A scientist observes a new phenomenon that disagrees with his explanation or hypothesis. Following the scientific method, he should

When Mars is at aphelion it must also be at

A baseball player throws a ball straight up in the air. At its highest point the ball's

What is the size of the force a person exerts on Earth compared to the force Earth exerts on that person as they stand on its surface?

Compared with a person's mass on Earth, that person's mass out in space among the stars would be

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

Which of these situations describes an acceptable path for a body gravitationally bound to the Sun?

A light-year is a measure of

Which one of these bodies would NOT exhibit retrograde motion if observed from Mercury?

The Almagest, a collection of earlier data and description of calculations, was written by

What was the MOST important difference between the development of Isaac Newton's theory of planetary motion and that of Johannes Kepler?

One light-year is a distance of approximately

At which point in a planet's elliptical orbit is the planet farthest from the Sun?

Why did Galileo's observations of moons orbiting Jupiter disagree with the theory of the universe accepted up to that time in history?

Galileo's early observations of the sky with his newly made telescope included the discovery of

Kepler's second law states that a line joining a planet to the Sun

The person who compiled the large set of accurate observations of planetary positions that formed the basis for proving that planets move in elliptical orbits around the Sun was

Which of these observations might an astronomer be able to make from Earth?

What fundamental belief about the universe, established by the Greeks and adopted by the early Christian church, was shattered by Galileo's observation of moons orbiting Jupiter?

The center, or fixed point, of the Greek model of the universe was

Newton stated that a constant net force, continuously applied to a body in space, will give it a

A scientist observes a new phenomenon that disagrees with his explanation or hypothesis. Following the scientific method, he should

When Mars is at aphelion it must also be at

A baseball player throws a ball straight up in the air. At its highest point the ball's

What is the size of the force a person exerts on Earth compared to the force Earth exerts on that person as they stand on its surface?

Compared with a person's mass on Earth, that person's mass out in space among the stars would be

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