Question 1

What practical value did astronomy offer to ancient civilizations?

Accepted Answer

A) It helped them keep track of time and seasons,and it was used by some cultures for navigation. 
B) It allowed them to predict eclipses with great accuracy. 
C) It helped them understand our cosmic origins. 
D) It helped them find uses for ancient structures like Stonehenge. 
A) It helped them keep track of time and seasons,and it was used by some cultures for navigation. 
B) It allowed them to predict eclipses with great accuracy. 
C) It helped them understand our cosmic origins. 
D) It helped them find uses for ancient structures like Stonehenge.

Question 2

According to Kepler's third law (p² = a³),how does a planet's mass affect its orbit around the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A) A planet's mass has no effect on its orbit around the Sun. 
B) More massive planets orbit the Sun at higher average speed. 
C) More massive planets must have more circular orbits. 
D) A more massive planet must have a larger semimajor axis. 
A) A planet's mass has no effect on its orbit around the Sun. 
B) More massive planets orbit the Sun at higher average speed. 
C) More massive planets must have more circular orbits. 
D) A more massive planet must have a larger semimajor axis.

Question 3

How does a 12-month lunar calendar differ from our 12-month solar calendar?

Accepted Answer

A) It has about 11 fewer days. 
B) It does not have seasons. 
C) Its new year always occurs in February instead of on January 1. 
D) It uses a 23-hour rather than a 24-hour day. 
A) It has about 11 fewer days. 
B) It does not have seasons. 
C) Its new year always occurs in February instead of on January 1. 
D) It uses a 23-hour rather than a 24-hour day.

Question 4

Galileo found "imperfections" on the Sun in the form of sunspots and "imperfections" on the Moon in the form of mountains and valleys.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

He developed a system for predicting planetary positions that remained in use for some 1,500 years.

Accepted Answer

A) Tycho Brahe 
B) Copernicus 
C) Kepler 
D) Galileo 
E) Ptolemy 
A) Tycho Brahe 
B) Copernicus 
C) Kepler 
D) Galileo 
E) Ptolemy

Question 6

How did Eratosthenes estimate the size of Earth in 240 B.C.?

Accepted Answer

A) by observing the duration of a solar eclipse 
B) by measuring the size of Earth's shadow on the Moon in a lunar eclipse 
C) by comparing the maximum altitude of the Sun in two cities at different latitudes on the summer solstice 
D) by sending fleets of ships around Earth 
E) We don't know how he did it since all his writings were destroyed. 
A) by observing the duration of a solar eclipse 
B) by measuring the size of Earth's shadow on the Moon in a lunar eclipse 
C) by comparing the maximum altitude of the Sun in two cities at different latitudes on the summer solstice 
D) by sending fleets of ships around Earth 
E) We don't know how he did it since all his writings were destroyed.

Question 7

He discovered that Jupiter has moons.

Accepted Answer

A) Tycho Brahe 
B) Aristotle 
C) Kepler 
D) Galileo 
E) Ptolemy 
A) Tycho Brahe 
B) Aristotle 
C) Kepler 
D) Galileo 
E) Ptolemy

Question 8

He discovered what we now call Newton's first law of motion.

Accepted Answer

A) Tycho Brahe 
B) Copernicus 
C) Kepler 
D) Galileo 
E) Ptolemy 
A) Tycho Brahe 
B) Copernicus 
C) Kepler 
D) Galileo 
E) Ptolemy

Question 9

The great contribution of Nicholas Copernicus was to

Accepted Answer

A) create a detailed model of our solar system with the Sun rather than Earth at the center. 
B) prove that the Earth is not the center of the universe. 
C) discover the laws of planetary motion. 
D) discover the law of gravity. 
A) create a detailed model of our solar system with the Sun rather than Earth at the center. 
B) prove that the Earth is not the center of the universe. 
C) discover the laws of planetary motion. 
D) discover the law of gravity.

Question 10

Compared with the standard hour of 60 minutes used today,the hour of ancient Egypt

Accepted Answer

A) was longer than the hour used today. 
B) was shorter than the hour used today. 
C) differed in length depending on the pharaoh in power at the time. 
D) was longer than 60 minutes in the summer and shorter than 60 minutes in the winter. 
E) divided the entire day into 12 equal parts. 
A) was longer than the hour used today. 
B) was shorter than the hour used today. 
C) differed in length depending on the pharaoh in power at the time. 
D) was longer than 60 minutes in the summer and shorter than 60 minutes in the winter. 
E) divided the entire day into 12 equal parts.

Question 11

The great contribution of Tycho Brahe was to

Accepted Answer

A) observe planetary positions with sufficient accuracy that later enabled Kepler to discover the laws of planetary motion. 
B) discover four moons orbiting Jupiter,thereby lending strong support to the idea that the Earth is not the center of the universe. 
C) offer the first detailed model of a Sun-centered solar system,thereby beginning the process of overturning the Earth-centered model of the Greeks. 
D) discover that planets orbit the Sun in elliptical orbits with varying speed. 
A) observe planetary positions with sufficient accuracy that later enabled Kepler to discover the laws of planetary motion. 
B) discover four moons orbiting Jupiter,thereby lending strong support to the idea that the Earth is not the center of the universe. 
C) offer the first detailed model of a Sun-centered solar system,thereby beginning the process of overturning the Earth-centered model of the Greeks. 
D) discover that planets orbit the Sun in elliptical orbits with varying speed.

Question 12

What is meant by a scientific paradigm?

Accepted Answer

A) a conundrum or unexplained set of facts 
B) a radical change in scientific thought 
C) a generally well-established scientific theory or set of theories 
D) a pseudoscientific idea 
E) a historical theory that has been proved inaccurate 
A) a conundrum or unexplained set of facts 
B) a radical change in scientific thought 
C) a generally well-established scientific theory or set of theories 
D) a pseudoscientific idea 
E) a historical theory that has been proved inaccurate

Question 13

Copernicus was the first person to suggest a Sun-centered solar system.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

He was the first to prove that comets lie beyond Earth's atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

A) Tycho Brahe 
B) Copernicus 
C) Kepler 
D) Galileo 
E) Aristotle 
A) Tycho Brahe 
B) Copernicus 
C) Kepler 
D) Galileo 
E) Aristotle

Question 15

Only one of the statements below uses the term theory in its correct,scientific sense.Which one?

Accepted Answer

A) Einstein's theory of relativity has been tested and verified thousands of times. 
B) Evolution is only a theory,so there's no reason to think it really happened. 
C) I have a new theory about the cause of earthquakes,and I plan to start testing it soon. 
D) I wrote a theory that is 152 pages long. 
A) Einstein's theory of relativity has been tested and verified thousands of times. 
B) Evolution is only a theory,so there's no reason to think it really happened. 
C) I have a new theory about the cause of earthquakes,and I plan to start testing it soon. 
D) I wrote a theory that is 152 pages long.

Question 16

Which of the following statements about scientific models is true?

Accepted Answer

A) A model tries to represent all aspects of nature. 
B) A model tries to represent only one aspect of nature. 
C) A model can be used to explain and predict real phenomena. 
D) All models that explain nature well are correct. 
E) All current models are correct. 
A) A model tries to represent all aspects of nature. 
B) A model tries to represent only one aspect of nature. 
C) A model can be used to explain and predict real phenomena. 
D) All models that explain nature well are correct. 
E) All current models are correct.

Question 17

The astrology practiced by those who cast predictive horoscopes can be tested by

Accepted Answer

A) comparing how often the predictions come true to what would be expected by pure chance. 
B) asking astrologers if it works. 
C) polling people to find out what percentage believe their horoscopes to be accurate. 
D) counting how many times the predictions come true. 
A) comparing how often the predictions come true to what would be expected by pure chance. 
B) asking astrologers if it works. 
C) polling people to find out what percentage believe their horoscopes to be accurate. 
D) counting how many times the predictions come true.

Question 18

What was the Ptolemaic model?

Accepted Answer

A) an Earth-centered model of planetary motion published by Ptolemy 
B) the Earth-centered model of the cosmos in which the Earth was surrounded by seven perfect spheres,one each for the Sun,Moon,Mercury,Venus,Mars,Jupiter,and Saturn 
C) the first scientific model to successfully predict solar and lunar eclipses 
D) a Sun-centered model of planetary motion published by Ptolemy 
A) an Earth-centered model of planetary motion published by Ptolemy 
B) the Earth-centered model of the cosmos in which the Earth was surrounded by seven perfect spheres,one each for the Sun,Moon,Mercury,Venus,Mars,Jupiter,and Saturn 
C) the first scientific model to successfully predict solar and lunar eclipses 
D) a Sun-centered model of planetary motion published by Ptolemy

Question 19

Which of the following best describes how modern astronomers view astrology?

Accepted Answer

A) Astrology played an important part in the development of astronomy in ancient times,but it is not a science by modern standards. 
B) Astrology is a synonym for astronomy. 
C) Astrology was a great idea until it was disprove by the work of Copernicus,Tycho,Kepler,and Galileo. 
D) Astrology is new age mumbo-jumbo that was a waste of time when it was invented thousands of years ago and remains a waste of time today. 
A) Astrology played an important part in the development of astronomy in ancient times,but it is not a science by modern standards. 
B) Astrology is a synonym for astronomy. 
C) Astrology was a great idea until it was disprove by the work of Copernicus,Tycho,Kepler,and Galileo. 
D) Astrology is new age mumbo-jumbo that was a waste of time when it was invented thousands of years ago and remains a waste of time today.

Question 20

The Polynesian navigators of the South Pacific found their way primarily by observing the position of Polaris in the night sky.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 3: The Science of Astronomy

What practical value did astronomy offer to ancient civilizations?

According to Kepler's third law (p² = a³),how does a planet's mass affect its orbit around the Sun?

How does a 12-month lunar calendar differ from our 12-month solar calendar?

Galileo found "imperfections" on the Sun in the form of sunspots and "imperfections" on the Moon in the form of mountains and valleys.

He developed a system for predicting planetary positions that remained in use for some 1,500 years.

How did Eratosthenes estimate the size of Earth in 240 B.C.?

He discovered that Jupiter has moons.

He discovered what we now call Newton's first law of motion.

The great contribution of Nicholas Copernicus was to

Compared with the standard hour of 60 minutes used today,the hour of ancient Egypt

The great contribution of Tycho Brahe was to

What is meant by a scientific paradigm?

Copernicus was the first person to suggest a Sun-centered solar system.

He was the first to prove that comets lie beyond Earth's atmosphere.

Only one of the statements below uses the term theory in its correct,scientific sense.Which one?

Which of the following statements about scientific models is true?

The astrology practiced by those who cast predictive horoscopes can be tested by

What was the Ptolemaic model?

Which of the following best describes how modern astronomers view astrology?

The Polynesian navigators of the South Pacific found their way primarily by observing the position of Polaris in the night sky.

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