Question 1

Based on the figure below, a superior planet would be seen high overhead at midnight

Accepted Answer

A)  when at opposition. 
B)  when at eastern quadrature. 
C)  when at conjunction. 
D)  when at western quadrature. 
E)  throughout its orbit. 
A)  when at opposition. 
B)  when at eastern quadrature. 
C)  when at conjunction. 
D)  when at western quadrature. 
E)  throughout its orbit.

Question 2

What makes Copernicus's heliocentric model superior to previous astronomers' heliocentric ideas?

Accepted Answer

The Copernican model

Question 3

If you travel at a velocity of 30 miles per hour (mph) during a 15-mile trip from home to school, how long does the trip take?

Accepted Answer

A)  2 hours 
B)  0.2 hours 
C)  0.5 hours 
D)  5 hours 
E)  750 hours 
A)  2 hours 
B)  0.2 hours 
C)  0.5 hours 
D)  5 hours 
E)  750 hours

Question 4

Galileo's telescopic observations of the ________ led him to conclude that the heliocentric model of the Solar System was correct.

Accepted Answer

A)  motion of Jupiter and Saturn 
B)  motion of Venus 
C)  moons of Jupiter and phases of Venus 
D)  phases of the Moon 
E)  epicycles of Mars 
A)  motion of Jupiter and Saturn 
B)  motion of Venus 
C)  moons of Jupiter and phases of Venus 
D)  phases of the Moon 
E)  epicycles of Mars

Question 5

When Earth catches up to a slower-moving outer planet and passes it like a faster runner overtaking a slower runner in an outside lane, the planet

Accepted Answer

A)  exhibits retrograde motion. 
B)  slows down because it feels Earth's gravitational pull. 
C)  decreases in brightness as it passes through Earth's shadow. 
D)  moves into a more elliptical orbit. 
E)  exhibits prograde motion. 
A)  exhibits retrograde motion. 
B)  slows down because it feels Earth's gravitational pull. 
C)  decreases in brightness as it passes through Earth's shadow. 
D)  moves into a more elliptical orbit. 
E)  exhibits prograde motion.

Question 6

________ was the first person to introduce a mathematical heliocentric model of the Solar System from which accurate predictions could be made of planets' positions.

Accepted Answer

A)  Nicolaus Copernicus 
B)  Tycho Brahe 
C)  Johannes Kepler 
D)  Galileo Galilei 
E)  Isaac Newton 
A)  Nicolaus Copernicus 
B)  Tycho Brahe 
C)  Johannes Kepler 
D)  Galileo Galilei 
E)  Isaac Newton

Question 7

The amount of time a planet takes to orbit the Sun once, from that planet's perspective, is called its ________ period.

Accepted Answer

A)  synodic 
B)  sidereal 
C)  prograde 
D)  retrograde 
E)  geocentric 
A)  synodic 
B)  sidereal 
C)  prograde 
D)  retrograde 
E)  geocentric

Question 8

An empirical science is one that is based on

Accepted Answer

A)  assumptions. 
B)  calculus. 
C)  computer models. 
D)  observed data. 
E)  hypotheses. 
A)  assumptions. 
B)  calculus. 
C)  computer models. 
D)  observed data. 
E)  hypotheses.

Question 9

An inertial frame of reference is

Accepted Answer

A)  an object's mass. 
B)  any moving frame of reference. 
C)  any frame of reference moving in a straight line at a constant velocity. 
D)  any rotating frame of reference. 
E)  any object with a measurable inertia. 
A)  an object's mass. 
B)  any moving frame of reference. 
C)  any frame of reference moving in a straight line at a constant velocity. 
D)  any rotating frame of reference. 
E)  any object with a measurable inertia.

Question 10

Assume that at sunset today, Jupiter appears to be 20$\degree$ away from the Sun.If the sidereal period of Jupiter is 12 years, when will it next appear exactly in this same position relative to the Sun?

Accepted Answer

Jupiter will be the same distance away f

Question 11

A superior planet is one that is

Accepted Answer

A)  smaller than Earth. 
B)  larger than Earth. 
C)  closer to the Sun than Earth. 
D)  farther from the Sun than Earth. 
E)  made of heavier materials than Earth. 
A)  smaller than Earth. 
B)  larger than Earth. 
C)  closer to the Sun than Earth. 
D)  farther from the Sun than Earth. 
E)  made of heavier materials than Earth.

Question 12

Which object, masses listed, will have the largest inertia?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 kg 
B)  2 kg 
C)  10 kg 
D)  20 kg 
E)  50 kg 
A)  1 kg 
B)  2 kg 
C)  10 kg 
D)  20 kg 
E)  50 kg

Question 13

A 100-kg astronaut throws a 1-kg wrench with a force of 1 N.What is the acceleration of the wrench after the wrench leaves the astronaut's hand?

Accepted Answer

A)  More information is needed. 
B)  1 m/s2 
C)  zero 
D)  0.01 m/s2 
E)  100 m/s 
A)  More information is needed. 
B)  1 m/s2 
C)  zero 
D)  0.01 m/s2 
E)  100 m/s

Question 14

The time it takes a planet to complete one full orbital revolution is commonly known as its

Accepted Answer

A)  period. 
B)  frequency. 
C)  orbital domain. 
D)  velocity. 
E)  eccentricity. 
A)  period. 
B)  frequency. 
C)  orbital domain. 
D)  velocity. 
E)  eccentricity.

Question 15

Based on the figure below, an inferior planet would have its greatest angular separation from the Sun and would therefore be most easily visible at

Accepted Answer

A)  inferior conjunction. 
B)  superior conjunction. 
C)  only greatest eastern elongation. 
D)  only greatest western elongation. 
E)  at either greatest eastern or western elongation. 
A)  inferior conjunction. 
B)  superior conjunction. 
C)  only greatest eastern elongation. 
D)  only greatest western elongation. 
E)  at either greatest eastern or western elongation.

Question 16

Kepler's third law is a relationship between an orbiting object's

Accepted Answer

A)  gravitational force and mass. 
B)  acceleration and mass. 
C)  velocity and period. 
D)  period and semimajor axis. 
E)  semimajor axis and velocity. 
A)  gravitational force and mass. 
B)  acceleration and mass. 
C)  velocity and period. 
D)  period and semimajor axis. 
E)  semimajor axis and velocity.

Question 17

Which orbit in the figure below would you expect to result in the least extreme temperature changes for a planet with that orbit?

Accepted Answer

A)  orbit a 
B)  orbit b 
C)  orbit c 
D)  orbit d 
E)  The shape of a planet's orbit should not affect its temperature. 
A)  orbit a 
B)  orbit b 
C)  orbit c 
D)  orbit d 
E)  The shape of a planet's orbit should not affect its temperature.

Question 18

Kepler's model for the solar system has planets traveling on

Accepted Answer

A)  noncircular elliptical orbits. 
B)  spiral orbits. 
C)  perfectly circular orbits. 
D)  epicycles. 
E)  straight lines through curved space. 
A)  noncircular elliptical orbits. 
B)  spiral orbits. 
C)  perfectly circular orbits. 
D)  epicycles. 
E)  straight lines through curved space.

Question 19

In the figure below, a planet orbits the Sun.During which of the three sections (A, B, or C) will the planet have the lowest average velocity?

Accepted Answer

A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  The average velocity is the same for sections A, B, and C. 
E)  The information given is insufficient to answer this question. 
A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  The average velocity is the same for sections A, B, and C. 
E)  The information given is insufficient to answer this question.

Question 20

In the ________ model of the Solar System, ________ motion is only an apparent, not a real, motion.

Accepted Answer

A)  geocentric; retrograde 
B)  heliocentric; retrograde 
C)  geocentric; prograde 
D)  heliocentric; prograde 
E)  Galilean; prograde 
A)  geocentric; retrograde 
B)  heliocentric; retrograde 
C)  geocentric; prograde 
D)  heliocentric; prograde 
E)  Galilean; prograde

Exam 3: Motion of Astronomical Bodies

Based on the figure below, a superior planet would be seen high overhead at midnight

What makes Copernicus's heliocentric model superior to previous astronomers' heliocentric ideas?

If you travel at a velocity of 30 miles per hour (mph) during a 15-mile trip from home to school, how long does the trip take?

Galileo's telescopic observations of the ________ led him to conclude that the heliocentric model of the Solar System was correct.

When Earth catches up to a slower-moving outer planet and passes it like a faster runner overtaking a slower runner in an outside lane, the planet

________ was the first person to introduce a mathematical heliocentric model of the Solar System from which accurate predictions could be made of planets' positions.

The amount of time a planet takes to orbit the Sun once, from that planet's perspective, is called its ________ period.

An empirical science is one that is based on

An inertial frame of reference is

Assume that at sunset today, Jupiter appears to be 20 °\degree° away from the Sun.If the sidereal period of Jupiter is 12 years, when will it next appear exactly in this same position relative to the Sun?

A superior planet is one that is

Which object, masses listed, will have the largest inertia?

A 100-kg astronaut throws a 1-kg wrench with a force of 1 N.What is the acceleration of the wrench after the wrench leaves the astronaut's hand?

The time it takes a planet to complete one full orbital revolution is commonly known as its

Based on the figure below, an inferior planet would have its greatest angular separation from the Sun and would therefore be most easily visible at

Kepler's third law is a relationship between an orbiting object's

Which orbit in the figure below would you expect to result in the least extreme temperature changes for a planet with that orbit?

Kepler's model for the solar system has planets traveling on

In the figure below, a planet orbits the Sun.During which of the three sections (A, B, or C) will the planet have the lowest average velocity?

In the ________ model of the Solar System, ________ motion is only an apparent, not a real, motion.

Thinking Like an Astronomer

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth and the Moon

Gravity and Orbits

Light

The Tools of the Astronomer

The Formation of Planetary Systems

The Terrestrial Planets and Earths Moon

Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets

Worlds of Gas and Liquidthe Giant Planets

Planetary Moons and Rings

Dwarf Planets and Small Solar System Bodies

Taking the Measure of Stars

Our Starthe Sun

The Interstellar Medium and Star Formation

Evolution of Low-Mass Stars

Evolution of High-Mass Stars

Relativity and Black Holes

Galaxies

The Milky Waya Normal Spiral Galaxy

The Expanding Universe

Cosmology

Large-Scale Structure in the Universe

Life

Filters

Assume that at sunset today, Jupiter appears to be 20 $\degree$ away from the Sun.If the sidereal period of Jupiter is 12 years, when will it next appear exactly in this same position relative to the Sun?

In the model of the Solar System, motion is only an apparent, not a real, motion.