Question 1

Columbus was the first person to discover that Earth is round.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

The Jewish calendar is kept roughly synchronized with a solar calendar by

Accepted Answer

A)  adding a thirteenth lunar month to 7 out of every 19 years. 
B)  having a thirteenth month with 5 days each year. 
C)  skipping a month every 7 out of 19 years. 
D)  having the first lunar month begin on the spring equinox. 
E)  having the first lunar month begin on the summer solstice. 
A)  adding a thirteenth lunar month to 7 out of every 19 years. 
B)  having a thirteenth month with 5 days each year. 
C)  skipping a month every 7 out of 19 years. 
D)  having the first lunar month begin on the spring equinox. 
E)  having the first lunar month begin on the summer solstice.

Question 3

Identify the falsiﬁable statement below:

Accepted Answer

A)  The universe was created by God. 
B)  The Sun is at the center of the solar system. 
C)  The laws of nature are magniﬁcent and beautiful. 
D)  President Kennedy's murder was orchestrated by an undetectable shadow government of the United States. 
A)  The universe was created by God. 
B)  The Sun is at the center of the solar system. 
C)  The laws of nature are magniﬁcent and beautiful. 
D)  President Kennedy's murder was orchestrated by an undetectable shadow government of the United States.

Question 4

A scientific model must make an observational prediction.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

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 6

Describe what a scientific test of astrology would involve.

Accepted Answer

First of all, science can only test the

Question 7

Astronomy and astrology were often practiced together in ancient cultures, and astrology played an important role in the historical development of astronomy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

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 9

Occam's Razor: A hallmark of science is the rejection of supernatural causes to explain natural phenomena. Try to justify this position as another way of including Occam's Razor into the process of science.

Accepted Answer

Occam's Razor, a principle attributed to

Question 10

Why was a knowledge of the stars so important to Polynesians?

Accepted Answer

The Polynesian people live on a group of

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

Many possible answers. E.g., C

Question 12

How did the Ptolemaic model explain the apparent retrograde motion of the planets?

Accepted Answer

A)  The planets moved along small circles that moved on larger circles around the Earth. 
B)  The planets sometimes stopped moving and then reversed to move backward along their circular orbits. 
C)  The model showed that apparent retrograde motion occurs as Earth passes by another planet in its orbit of the Sun. 
D)  The planets resided on giant spheres that sometimes turned clockwise and sometimes turned counterclockwise. 
A)  The planets moved along small circles that moved on larger circles around the Earth. 
B)  The planets sometimes stopped moving and then reversed to move backward along their circular orbits. 
C)  The model showed that apparent retrograde motion occurs as Earth passes by another planet in its orbit of the Sun. 
D)  The planets resided on giant spheres that sometimes turned clockwise and sometimes turned counterclockwise.

Question 13

When did humans first learn that Earth is not the center of the universe?

Accepted Answer

A)  within the past 500 years 
B)  about 2000 years ago 
C)  around the time that early humans acquired language 
D)  We haven't; there is still considerable scientific debate about whether Earth is the center of the universe. 
A)  within the past 500 years 
B)  about 2000 years ago 
C)  around the time that early humans acquired language 
D)  We haven't; there is still considerable scientific debate about whether Earth is the center of the universe.

Question 14

Which of the following statements about scientific theories is not true?

Accepted Answer

A)  A theory cannot be taken seriously by scientists if it contradicts other theories developed by scientists over the past several hundred years. 
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)  A theory cannot be taken seriously by scientists if it contradicts other theories developed by scientists over the past several hundred years. 
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 15

Which of the following was not observed by Galileo?

Accepted Answer

A)  Stellar parallax 
B)  Mountains and valleys on the Moon 
C)  Four moons orbiting Jupiter 
D)  Phases of Venus 
A)  Stellar parallax 
B)  Mountains and valleys on the Moon 
C)  Four moons orbiting Jupiter 
D)  Phases of Venus

Question 16

The path that led to modern science emerged from ancient civilizations in which part of the world?

Accepted Answer

A)  Central and South America 
B)  the Mediterranean and the Middle East 
C)  North America 
D)  China 
E)  Southern Asia 
A)  Central and South America 
B)  the Mediterranean and the Middle East 
C)  North America 
D)  China 
E)  Southern Asia

Question 17

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 18

Science can say nothing about the validity of nonscientific practices that do not make testable predictions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Galileo challenged the idea that objects in the heavens were perfect by ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  showing that heavy objects fall at the same rate as lighter objects 
B)  observing sunspots on the Sun and mountains on the Moon 
C)  proving Kepler's laws were correct 
D)  inventing the telescope 
A)  showing that heavy objects fall at the same rate as lighter objects 
B)  observing sunspots on the Sun and mountains on the Moon 
C)  proving Kepler's laws were correct 
D)  inventing the telescope

Question 20

The names of the seven days of the week are derived from the names of the members of the solar system that are visible to the naked eye.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Columbus was the first person to discover that Earth is round.

The Jewish calendar is kept roughly synchronized with a solar calendar by

Identify the falsiﬁable statement below:

A scientific model must make an observational prediction.

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

Describe what a scientific test of astrology would involve.

Astronomy and astrology were often practiced together in ancient cultures, and astrology played an important role in the historical development of astronomy.

What was the Ptolemaic model?

Occam's Razor: A hallmark of science is the rejection of supernatural causes to explain natural phenomena. Try to justify this position as another way of including Occam's Razor into the process of science.

Why was a knowledge of the stars so important to Polynesians?

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

How did the Ptolemaic model explain the apparent retrograde motion of the planets?

When did humans first learn that Earth is not the center of the universe?

Which of the following statements about scientific theories is not true?

Which of the following was not observed by Galileo?

The path that led to modern science emerged from ancient civilizations in which part of the world?

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

Science can say nothing about the validity of nonscientific practices that do not make testable predictions.

Galileo challenged the idea that objects in the heavens were perfect by ________.

The names of the seven days of the week are derived from the names of the members of the solar system that are visible to the naked eye.

Our Place in the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

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

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of Planetary Systems: Our Solar System and Beyond

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet Systems

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

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology

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

The Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe

Filters

Exam 3: The Science of Astronomy

Columbus was the first person to discover that Earth is round.

The Jewish calendar is kept roughly synchronized with a solar calendar by

Identify the falsiﬁable statement below:

A scientific model must make an observational prediction.

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

Describe what a scientific test of astrology would involve.

Astronomy and astrology were often practiced together in ancient cultures, and astrology played an important role in the historical development of astronomy.

What was the Ptolemaic model?

Occam's Razor: A hallmark of science is the rejection of supernatural causes to explain natural phenomena. Try to justify this position as another way of including Occam's Razor into the process of science.

Why was a knowledge of the stars so important to Polynesians?

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

How did the Ptolemaic model explain the apparent retrograde motion of the planets?

When did humans first learn that Earth is not the center of the universe?

Which of the following statements about scientific theories is not true?

Which of the following was not observed by Galileo?

The path that led to modern science emerged from ancient civilizations in which part of the world?

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

Science can say nothing about the validity of nonscientific practices that do not make testable predictions.

Galileo challenged the idea that objects in the heavens were perfect by ________.

The names of the seven days of the week are derived from the names of the members of the solar system that are visible to the naked eye.

Our Place in the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

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

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of Planetary Systems: Our Solar System and Beyond

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet Systems

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

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology

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

The Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe

Filters