Question 1

What is meant by Occam's Razor?

Accepted Answer

A) a well-designed experiment that clearly shows the differences between two competing theories 
B) a poorly designed experiment that fails to show the difference between two competing theories 
C) the idea that scientists should prefer the simpler of two models that agree equally well with observations 
D) the fine line between science and pseudoscience 
E) the shaving implement of a medieval scholar 
A) a well-designed experiment that clearly shows the differences between two competing theories 
B) a poorly designed experiment that fails to show the difference between two competing theories 
C) the idea that scientists should prefer the simpler of two models that agree equally well with observations 
D) the fine line between science and pseudoscience 
E) the shaving implement of a medieval scholar

Question 2

The names of the seven days of the week are based on

Accepted Answer

A) the names of the seven planets closest to the Sun. 
B) the seven most prominent constellations in the summer sky. 
C) the names of prophets in the Bible. 
D) the seven naked-eye objects that appear to move among the constellations. 
A) the names of the seven planets closest to the Sun. 
B) the seven most prominent constellations in the summer sky. 
C) the names of prophets in the Bible. 
D) the seven naked-eye objects that appear to move among the constellations.

Question 3

Where was the Sun in Ptolemy's model of the universe?

Accepted Answer

A) at the center 
B) slightly offset from the center 
C) between Earth and the Moon's orbit 
D) between the orbits of Venus and Mars 
E) at the outer edge,beyond Saturn's orbit 
A) at the center 
B) slightly offset from the center 
C) between Earth and the Moon's orbit 
D) between the orbits of Venus and Mars 
E) at the outer edge,beyond Saturn's orbit

Question 4

Describe one major accomplishment for each of the following people: Copernicus,Tycho Brahe,Kepler,Galileo,Newton.

Accepted Answer

Many possible answers: e.g.,Copernicus:S

Question 5

Which of the following best describes a set of conditions under which archaeoastronomers would conclude that an ancient structure was used for astronomical purposes?

Accepted Answer

A) The structure has holes in the ceiling that allow viewing the passage of constellations that figure prominently in the culture's folklore,and many other structures built by the same culture have ceiling holes placed in the same way. 
B) They find that,looking out from the center of the building,there are two windows that align with the rise and set points of two bright stars. 
C) The structure has 29 straight lines pointing out from a center,just like there are 29 days in the lunar cycle. 
D) The structure has the same dome shape as modern astronomical observatories. 
A) The structure has holes in the ceiling that allow viewing the passage of constellations that figure prominently in the culture's folklore,and many other structures built by the same culture have ceiling holes placed in the same way. 
B) They find that,looking out from the center of the building,there are two windows that align with the rise and set points of two bright stars. 
C) The structure has 29 straight lines pointing out from a center,just like there are 29 days in the lunar cycle. 
D) The structure has the same dome shape as modern astronomical observatories.

Question 6

From Kepler's third law,a hypothetical planet that is twice as far from the Sun as Earth should have a period of

Accepted Answer

A) 1/2 Earth year. 
B) 1 Earth year. 
C) 2 Earth years. 
D) more than 2 Earth years. 
E) It depends on the planet's mass. 
A) 1/2 Earth year. 
B) 1 Earth year. 
C) 2 Earth years. 
D) more than 2 Earth years. 
E) It depends on the planet's mass.

Question 7

The Metonic cycle is

Accepted Answer

A) used to keep lunar calendars approximately synchronized with solar calendars. 
B) used to predict the future orientation of the Earth's axis in space. 
C) the ancient Greek name for the cycle of lunar phases that repeats every 29 1/2 days. 
D) the 18-year,11-day period over which the pattern of eclipses repeats. 
A) used to keep lunar calendars approximately synchronized with solar calendars. 
B) used to predict the future orientation of the Earth's axis in space. 
C) the ancient Greek name for the cycle of lunar phases that repeats every 29 1/2 days. 
D) the 18-year,11-day period over which the pattern of eclipses repeats.

Question 8

What is pseudoscience?

Accepted Answer

Pseudoscience is the explanation of even

Question 9

The Ptolemaic model of the solar system was useless for predicting planetary positions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Suppose the planet Uranus were much brighter in the sky,so that it was as easily visible to the naked eye as Jupiter or Saturn.Which one of the following statements would most likely be true in that case?

Accepted Answer

A) A week would have eight days instead of seven despite the year length remaining constant. 
B) Its brightness would make it possible to read by starlight at night. 
C) Its gravity would cause the tides to be much higher than they actually are. 
D) The discovery that the Earth is a planet going around the Sun would have come hundreds of years earlier. 
E) Its slow motion through the sky would have led it to be named after the Goddess of Procrastination. 
A) A week would have eight days instead of seven despite the year length remaining constant. 
B) Its brightness would make it possible to read by starlight at night. 
C) Its gravity would cause the tides to be much higher than they actually are. 
D) The discovery that the Earth is a planet going around the Sun would have come hundreds of years earlier. 
E) Its slow motion through the sky would have led it to be named after the Goddess of Procrastination.

Question 11

Ptolemy was important in the history of astronomy because he

Accepted Answer

A) developed a model of the solar system that made sufficiently accurate predictions of planetary positions to remain in use for many centuries. 
B) developed a scientifically accurate model of the universe. 
C) was the first to believe in an Earth-centered universe. 
D) was the first to create a model of the solar system that placed the Sun rather than Earth at the center. 
E) was the first to believe that all orbits are perfect circles. 
A) developed a model of the solar system that made sufficiently accurate predictions of planetary positions to remain in use for many centuries. 
B) developed a scientifically accurate model of the universe. 
C) was the first to believe in an Earth-centered universe. 
D) was the first to create a model of the solar system that placed the Sun rather than Earth at the center. 
E) was the first to believe that all orbits are perfect circles.

Question 12

The Metonic cycle is the

Accepted Answer

A) 29 1/2-day period of the lunar cycle. 
B) 12-month period of a lunar calendar. 
C) 19-year period over which the lunar phases occur on about the same dates. 
D) 18-year,11-day period over which the pattern of eclipses repeats. 
E) period between successive Easters. 
A) 29 1/2-day period of the lunar cycle. 
B) 12-month period of a lunar calendar. 
C) 19-year period over which the lunar phases occur on about the same dates. 
D) 18-year,11-day period over which the pattern of eclipses repeats. 
E) period between successive Easters.

Question 13

In science,a broad idea that has been repeatedly verified so as to give scientists great confidence that it represents reality is called

Accepted Answer

A) a paradigm. 
B) a hypothesis. 
C) Ptolemaic model. 
D) a theory. 
A) a paradigm. 
B) a hypothesis. 
C) Ptolemaic model. 
D) a theory.

Question 14

Which of the following is not one of,nor a direct consequence of,Kepler's Laws?

Accepted Answer

A) The force of attraction between any two objects decreases with the square of the distance between their centers. 
B) As a planet moves around its orbit,it sweeps out equal areas in equal times. 
C) The orbit of each planet about the Sun is an ellipse with the Sun at one focus. 
D) More distant planets orbit the Sun at slower speeds. 
E) A planet or comet in a noncircular orbit travels faster when it is nearer to the Sun and slower when it is farther from the Sun. 
A) The force of attraction between any two objects decreases with the square of the distance between their centers. 
B) As a planet moves around its orbit,it sweeps out equal areas in equal times. 
C) The orbit of each planet about the Sun is an ellipse with the Sun at one focus. 
D) More distant planets orbit the Sun at slower speeds. 
E) A planet or comet in a noncircular orbit travels faster when it is nearer to the Sun and slower when it is farther from the Sun.

Question 15

Process of Science: What is Occam's razor?

Accepted Answer

A) The idea that scientists should prefer the simpler of two models that agree equally well with observations. 
B) The principle that everyone should agree on a theory before it is considered correct. 
C) A long,steep cliff on Mercury that may have been produced as the planet contracted as it formed. 
D) The principal that any theory can be verified by others. 
E) An unusual implement that Professor Occam uses to remove facial hair. 
A) The idea that scientists should prefer the simpler of two models that agree equally well with observations. 
B) The principle that everyone should agree on a theory before it is considered correct. 
C) A long,steep cliff on Mercury that may have been produced as the planet contracted as it formed. 
D) The principal that any theory can be verified by others. 
E) An unusual implement that Professor Occam uses to remove facial hair.

Question 16

Which of the following best explains the success of the central African rainfall-prediction technique of observing the waxing crescent Moon?

Accepted Answer

A) When the Moon is aligned in a U-shape,it can hold more water,so there is more rain.When it is tilted,it can hold less,so the weather is drier. 
B) When the Moon is in Capricorn,there is always more tempestuous weather,while when in Pisces,it is just plain rainy. 
C) Clouds cover part of the Moon's surface,so the smaller the crescent,the more likely it is to rain. 
D) The Moon's orientation varies seasonally,and so does the weather. 
E) The Moon causes the tides and affects the weather. 
A) When the Moon is aligned in a U-shape,it can hold more water,so there is more rain.When it is tilted,it can hold less,so the weather is drier. 
B) When the Moon is in Capricorn,there is always more tempestuous weather,while when in Pisces,it is just plain rainy. 
C) Clouds cover part of the Moon's surface,so the smaller the crescent,the more likely it is to rain. 
D) The Moon's orientation varies seasonally,and so does the weather. 
E) The Moon causes the tides and affects the weather.

Question 17

Which of the following statements about scientific theories is false?

Accepted Answer

A) Theories are not taken seriously if they contradict older,more developed,theories. 
B) A theory is a model designed to explain a number of observed facts. 
C) If even a single new fact is discovered that contradicts what we expect according to a particular theory,then the theory must be revised or discarded. 
D) A theory must make predictions that can be checked by observation or experiment. 
E) A theory can never be proved beyond all doubt;we can only hope to collect more and more evidence that might support it. 
A) Theories are not taken seriously if they contradict older,more developed,theories. 
B) A theory is a model designed to explain a number of observed facts. 
C) If even a single new fact is discovered that contradicts what we expect according to a particular theory,then the theory must be revised or discarded. 
D) A theory must make predictions that can be checked by observation or experiment. 
E) A theory can never be proved beyond all doubt;we can only hope to collect more and more evidence that might support it.

Question 18

Scientific theories can never be proved true beyond all doubt.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Copernicus's model of the solar system gave much better predictions than the model of Ptolemy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Scientific thinking is

Accepted Answer

A) based on everyday ideas of observation and trial-and-error experiments. 
B) completely different from any other type of thinking. 
C) a difficult process that only a handful of people can do well. 
D) an ancient mode of thinking first invented in Egypt. 
A) based on everyday ideas of observation and trial-and-error experiments. 
B) completely different from any other type of thinking. 
C) a difficult process that only a handful of people can do well. 
D) an ancient mode of thinking first invented in Egypt.

Exam 3: The Science of Astronomy

What is meant by Occam's Razor?

The names of the seven days of the week are based on

Where was the Sun in Ptolemy's model of the universe?

Describe one major accomplishment for each of the following people: Copernicus,Tycho Brahe,Kepler,Galileo,Newton.

Which of the following best describes a set of conditions under which archaeoastronomers would conclude that an ancient structure was used for astronomical purposes?

From Kepler's third law,a hypothetical planet that is twice as far from the Sun as Earth should have a period of

The Metonic cycle is

What is pseudoscience?

The Ptolemaic model of the solar system was useless for predicting planetary positions.

Suppose the planet Uranus were much brighter in the sky,so that it was as easily visible to the naked eye as Jupiter or Saturn.Which one of the following statements would most likely be true in that case?

Ptolemy was important in the history of astronomy because he

The Metonic cycle is the

In science,a broad idea that has been repeatedly verified so as to give scientists great confidence that it represents reality is called

Which of the following is not one of,nor a direct consequence of,Kepler's Laws?

Process of Science: What is Occam's razor?

Which of the following best explains the success of the central African rainfall-prediction technique of observing the waxing crescent Moon?

Which of the following statements about scientific theories is false?

Scientific theories can never be proved true beyond all doubt.

Copernicus's model of the solar system gave much better predictions than the model of Ptolemy.

Scientific thinking is

A Modern View of the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light and Matter: Reading Messages from the Cosmos

Telescopes: Portals of Discovery

Our Planetary System

Formation of the Solar System

Planetary Geology: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds

Planetary Atmospheres: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet Systems

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Other Planetary Systems: The New Science of Distant Worlds

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Birth

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundations of Modern Cosmology

Galaxy Evolution

The Birth of the Universe

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

Life in the Universe

Celestial Timekeeping and Navigation

Space and Time

Spacetime and Gravity

Building Blocks of the Universe

Filters