Question 1

Even though the heliocentric model of Copernicus had many advantages over the Ptolemaic model, it suffered from the assumption that the

Accepted Answer

A)  planets moved in ellipses about the Sun 
B)  planets moved in perfect circles about the Sun 
C)  planets moved in perfect circles about the Earth 
D)  Earth was not rotating on its axis 
A)  planets moved in ellipses about the Sun 
B)  planets moved in perfect circles about the Sun 
C)  planets moved in perfect circles about the Earth 
D)  Earth was not rotating on its axis

Question 2

Which of the following is not a planet visible to the naked eye?

Accepted Answer

A)  Saturn 
B)  Neptune 
C)  Mercury 
D)  Jupiter 
A)  Saturn 
B)  Neptune 
C)  Mercury 
D)  Jupiter

Question 3

The Ptolemaic model has planets moving in

Accepted Answer

A)  elliptical orbits about the Sun 
B)  a simple circle about the Earth 
C)  a simple circle about the Sun 
D)  small circles, the centers of which move in a larger circle about the Earth 
A)  elliptical orbits about the Sun 
B)  a simple circle about the Earth 
C)  a simple circle about the Sun 
D)  small circles, the centers of which move in a larger circle about the Earth

Question 4

Two asteroids have identical masses. However, one asteroid is twice as far from the Sun than the other. According to Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation the force of gravity exerted by the Sun on the more distant asteroid is

Accepted Answer

A)  the same size as the force exerted on the closer asteroid 
B)  one-quarter of the size of the force exerted on the closer asteroid 
C)  twice as large as the force exerted on the closer asteroid 
D)  one-half of the size of the force exerted on the closer asteroid 
A)  the same size as the force exerted on the closer asteroid 
B)  one-quarter of the size of the force exerted on the closer asteroid 
C)  twice as large as the force exerted on the closer asteroid 
D)  one-half of the size of the force exerted on the closer asteroid

Question 5

A scientist intuitively believes that a higher power must be present in the universe. However, she can provide no experimental data to support her belief. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  pseudoscience 
B)  hypothesis-driven science 
C)  nonscience 
D)  discovery science 
A)  pseudoscience 
B)  hypothesis-driven science 
C)  nonscience 
D)  discovery science

Question 6

The semi-major axis, a, of an elliptical planetary orbit is equal to the

Accepted Answer

A)  width of the ellipse 
B)  distance between the planet and the Sun at perihelion 
C)  average distance between the planet and the Sun 
D)  distance between the planets and the Sun at aphelion 
A)  width of the ellipse 
B)  distance between the planet and the Sun at perihelion 
C)  average distance between the planet and the Sun 
D)  distance between the planets and the Sun at aphelion

Question 7

The astronomical object in our sky which plays the most fundamental role in our lives is the

Accepted Answer

A)  Sun 
B)  Moon 
C)  nearest star 
D)  most massive planet in our solar system, Jupiter 
A)  Sun 
B)  Moon 
C)  nearest star 
D)  most massive planet in our solar system, Jupiter

Question 8

Asteroid 13681 Monty Python has an orbit with a semi-major axis, a, of 2.99 AU. According to Kepler's 3ʳᵈ Law, what is its orbital period?

Accepted Answer

A)  2.08 years 
B)  2.99 years 
C)  6.34 years 
D)  5.17 years 
A)  2.08 years 
B)  2.99 years 
C)  6.34 years 
D)  5.17 years

Question 9

The geocentric model of the Greeks consisted of a

Accepted Answer

A)  flat Earth at the center of the universe surrounded by a dome-shaped sky 
B)  flat Earth at the center of the universe surrounded by a celestial sphere 
C)  spherical Earth at the center of the universe surrounded by a dome-shaped sky 
D)  spherical Earth at the center of the universe surrounded by a celestial sphere 
A)  flat Earth at the center of the universe surrounded by a dome-shaped sky 
B)  flat Earth at the center of the universe surrounded by a celestial sphere 
C)  spherical Earth at the center of the universe surrounded by a dome-shaped sky 
D)  spherical Earth at the center of the universe surrounded by a celestial sphere

Question 10

The observations of sunspots on the Sun and craters on the Moon by Galileo contradicted the commonly held belief that the universe was

Accepted Answer

A)  spherical 
B)  unchanging 
C)  infinite 
D)  perfect 
A)  spherical 
B)  unchanging 
C)  infinite 
D)  perfect

Question 11

The first person to suggest that the Earth moved around the Sun was

Accepted Answer

A)  Aristarchus 
B)  Newton 
C)  Copernicus 
D)  Galileo 
A)  Aristarchus 
B)  Newton 
C)  Copernicus 
D)  Galileo

Question 12

Most ancient cultures believed that the Earth was

Accepted Answer

A)  spherical and moving through space 
B)  flat and moving through space 
C)  spherical and motionless 
D)  flat and motionless 
A)  spherical and moving through space 
B)  flat and moving through space 
C)  spherical and motionless 
D)  flat and motionless

Question 13

Careful observations of the sky by ancient cultures served the practical purpose of

Accepted Answer

A)  keeping track of time 
B)  improving night vision 
C)  religious worship 
D)  keeping track of the changing position of the Earth around the Sun 
A)  keeping track of time 
B)  improving night vision 
C)  religious worship 
D)  keeping track of the changing position of the Earth around the Sun

Even though the heliocentric model of Copernicus had many advantages over the Ptolemaic model, it suffered from the assumption that the

Which of the following is not a planet visible to the naked eye?

The Ptolemaic model has planets moving in

Two asteroids have identical masses. However, one asteroid is twice as far from the Sun than the other. According to Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation the force of gravity exerted by the Sun on the more distant asteroid is

A scientist intuitively believes that a higher power must be present in the universe. However, she can provide no experimental data to support her belief. This is an example of

The semi-major axis, a, of an elliptical planetary orbit is equal to the

The astronomical object in our sky which plays the most fundamental role in our lives is the

Asteroid 13681 Monty Python has an orbit with a semi-major axis, a, of 2.99 AU. According to Kepler's 3ʳᵈ Law, what is its orbital period?

The geocentric model of the Greeks consisted of a

The observations of sunspots on the Sun and craters on the Moon by Galileo contradicted the commonly held belief that the universe was

The first person to suggest that the Earth moved around the Sun was

Most ancient cultures believed that the Earth was

Careful observations of the sky by ancient cultures served the practical purpose of

A Universe of Life

The Universal Context of Life

The Habitability of Earth

The Nature of Life on Earth

The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

Searching for Life in Our Solar System

Mars

Life on Jovian Moons

The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

Extrasolar Planets: Their Nature and Potential Habitability

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

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Exam 2: The Science of Life in the Universe

Even though the heliocentric model of Copernicus had many advantages over the Ptolemaic model, it suffered from the assumption that the

Which of the following is not a planet visible to the naked eye?

The Ptolemaic model has planets moving in

Two asteroids have identical masses. However, one asteroid is twice as far from the Sun than the other. According to Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation the force of gravity exerted by the Sun on the more distant asteroid is

A scientist intuitively believes that a higher power must be present in the universe. However, she can provide no experimental data to support her belief. This is an example of

The semi-major axis, a, of an elliptical planetary orbit is equal to the

The astronomical object in our sky which plays the most fundamental role in our lives is the

Asteroid 13681 Monty Python has an orbit with a semi-major axis, a, of 2.99 AU. According to Kepler's 3ʳᵈ Law, what is its orbital period?

The geocentric model of the Greeks consisted of a

The observations of sunspots on the Sun and craters on the Moon by Galileo contradicted the commonly held belief that the universe was

The first person to suggest that the Earth moved around the Sun was

Most ancient cultures believed that the Earth was

Careful observations of the sky by ancient cultures served the practical purpose of

A Universe of Life

The Universal Context of Life

The Habitability of Earth

The Nature of Life on Earth

The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

Searching for Life in Our Solar System

Mars

Life on Jovian Moons

The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

Extrasolar Planets: Their Nature and Potential Habitability

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Filters