Question 1

The same side of the Moon is always visible from Earth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

If you determine the number of days in a year with solar time and sidereal time how would they vary?

Accepted Answer

A) They wouldn't; a year is always about 365 1/4 days,and the 1/4 day is taken up with leap years. 
B) A year measured in sidereal time would be about one day longer than a year based on solar time. 
C) A year measured in sidereal time would be about one day shorter than a year based on solar time. 
D) A year measured in sidereal time would be about 15 minutes different than a solar day,so the difference only accumulates over time. 
A) They wouldn't; a year is always about 365 1/4 days,and the 1/4 day is taken up with leap years. 
B) A year measured in sidereal time would be about one day longer than a year based on solar time. 
C) A year measured in sidereal time would be about one day shorter than a year based on solar time. 
D) A year measured in sidereal time would be about 15 minutes different than a solar day,so the difference only accumulates over time.

Question 3

A sidereal day is defined as ________.

Accepted Answer

A) 24 hours in a day 
B) the time for one complete revolution of the earth relative to the celestial reference 
C) the time between periods when the sun is at the exact same height in the sky,for example,noon 
D) 24 hours at Greenwich,England 
A) 24 hours in a day 
B) the time for one complete revolution of the earth relative to the celestial reference 
C) the time between periods when the sun is at the exact same height in the sky,for example,noon 
D) 24 hours at Greenwich,England

Question 4

Galileo discovered that the Sun has "blemishes," which we call sunspots.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

How did the Greeks estimate the size of the earth?

Accepted Answer

A) They didn't; everyone thought the world was flat until Columbus' time. 
B) They measured the angle of the sun above the horizon at midday in two places with different latitude and used the angle to estimate the circumference of the earth. 
C) They used the height of sailing ships as they sailed over the horizon to estimate curvature of the earth,which allowed estimation of the size of the earth. 
D) They measured the altitude of mountains in Greece,then used the distance they were lost from sight to estimate the curvature of the earth,which allowed estimation of the size of the earth. 
A) They didn't; everyone thought the world was flat until Columbus' time. 
B) They measured the angle of the sun above the horizon at midday in two places with different latitude and used the angle to estimate the circumference of the earth. 
C) They used the height of sailing ships as they sailed over the horizon to estimate curvature of the earth,which allowed estimation of the size of the earth. 
D) They measured the altitude of mountains in Greece,then used the distance they were lost from sight to estimate the curvature of the earth,which allowed estimation of the size of the earth.

Question 6

Discuss the phases of the moon and how they relate to the motions of the Earth and Moon.Also,how are eclipses of the Moon and Sun related to these motions?

Accepted Answer

The moon goes through phases each month,

Question 7

According to the Ptolemaic (Greek)system,the planets have circular orbits.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Alpha Centauri is a famous star because it is one of the closest stars to earth (other than the sun of course).Where would you look in the night sky for Alpha Centauri?

Accepted Answer

A) RA 15hr 30min; D 56 degrees 
B) Look for the second brightest star in the constellation Alpha. 
C) Look for Hydra,then to the right for Hercules,and it will be half way between. 
D) Look for the brightest star in the constellation Centaurus. 
A) RA 15hr 30min; D 56 degrees 
B) Look for the second brightest star in the constellation Alpha. 
C) Look for Hydra,then to the right for Hercules,and it will be half way between. 
D) Look for the brightest star in the constellation Centaurus.

Question 9

A statement you will sometimes hear people say is that a day is not 24 hours but is really 23 hr.56 min.and 4 sec.What does this refer to?

Accepted Answer

A) The original definition of the hour was off,and with more accurate atomic clocks we now realize the real day is this length. 
B) This is sidereal time,not solar time; a solar day is 24 hours. 
C) Our clocks drift that much each day,and we average out the affect with period time shifts,like leap years and leap seconds. 
D) It is just an urban geek myth; the day really is 24 hours long. 
A) The original definition of the hour was off,and with more accurate atomic clocks we now realize the real day is this length. 
B) This is sidereal time,not solar time; a solar day is 24 hours. 
C) Our clocks drift that much each day,and we average out the affect with period time shifts,like leap years and leap seconds. 
D) It is just an urban geek myth; the day really is 24 hours long.

Question 10

Tyco Brahe set out to disprove Copernicus,so why is he famous for developing modern astronomical theory?

Accepted Answer

A) He made very precise measurements that were key data used by Kepler. 
B) He theorized the concept of gravity with no data,which was left undiscovered until Newton. 
C) Although he set out to disprove Copernicus,he ultimately accepted Copernicus' theory and was executed by the inquisition. 
D) None of these is correct. 
A) He made very precise measurements that were key data used by Kepler. 
B) He theorized the concept of gravity with no data,which was left undiscovered until Newton. 
C) Although he set out to disprove Copernicus,he ultimately accepted Copernicus' theory and was executed by the inquisition. 
D) None of these is correct.

Question 11

When viewing the planets,Mars appears to move backwards,or retrograde,because ________.

Accepted Answer

A) it is rotating around the sun slower than the earth's rotation 
B) it is rotating around the sun faster than the earth's rotation 
C) it is rotating at approximately the same speed but its orbit is more elliptical than the earth's rotation 
D) it is rotating at approximately the same speed but its orbit is more circular than earth's orbit 
A) it is rotating around the sun slower than the earth's rotation 
B) it is rotating around the sun faster than the earth's rotation 
C) it is rotating at approximately the same speed but its orbit is more elliptical than the earth's rotation 
D) it is rotating at approximately the same speed but its orbit is more circular than earth's orbit

The same side of the Moon is always visible from Earth.

If you determine the number of days in a year with solar time and sidereal time how would they vary?

A sidereal day is defined as ________.

Galileo discovered that the Sun has "blemishes," which we call sunspots.

How did the Greeks estimate the size of the earth?

Discuss the phases of the moon and how they relate to the motions of the Earth and Moon.Also,how are eclipses of the Moon and Sun related to these motions?

According to the Ptolemaic (Greek)system,the planets have circular orbits.

Alpha Centauri is a famous star because it is one of the closest stars to earth (other than the sun of course).Where would you look in the night sky for Alpha Centauri?

A statement you will sometimes hear people say is that a day is not 24 hours but is really 23 hr.56 min.and 4 sec.What does this refer to?

Tyco Brahe set out to disprove Copernicus,so why is he famous for developing modern astronomical theory?

When viewing the planets,Mars appears to move backwards,or retrograde,because ________.

Introduction to Earth Science

Matter and Minerals

Rocks: Materials of the Solid Earth

Weathering, soil, and Mass Wasting

Running Water and Groundwater

Glaciers, deserts, and Wind

Plate Tectonics: a Scientific Revolution Unfolds

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Volcanoes and Other Igneous Activity

Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

Geologic Time

Earths Evolution Through Geologic Time

The Ocean Floor

Ocean Water and Ocean Life

The Dynamic Ocean

The Atmosphere: Composition,structure,and Temperature

Moisture, clouds, and Precipitation

Air Pressure and Wind

Weather Patterns and Severe Weather

World Climates and Global Climate Change

Touring Our Solar System

Light,astronomical Observations,and the Sun

Beyond Our Solar System

Filters

Exam 21: Origin of Modern Astronomy

The same side of the Moon is always visible from Earth.

If you determine the number of days in a year with solar time and sidereal time how would they vary?

A sidereal day is defined as ________.

Galileo discovered that the Sun has "blemishes," which we call sunspots.

How did the Greeks estimate the size of the earth?

Discuss the phases of the moon and how they relate to the motions of the Earth and Moon.Also,how are eclipses of the Moon and Sun related to these motions?

According to the Ptolemaic (Greek)system,the planets have circular orbits.

Alpha Centauri is a famous star because it is one of the closest stars to earth (other than the sun of course).Where would you look in the night sky for Alpha Centauri?

A statement you will sometimes hear people say is that a day is not 24 hours but is really 23 hr.56 min.and 4 sec.What does this refer to?

Tyco Brahe set out to disprove Copernicus,so why is he famous for developing modern astronomical theory?

When viewing the planets,Mars appears to move backwards,or retrograde,because ________.

Introduction to Earth Science

Matter and Minerals

Rocks: Materials of the Solid Earth

Weathering, soil, and Mass Wasting

Running Water and Groundwater

Glaciers, deserts, and Wind

Plate Tectonics: a Scientific Revolution Unfolds

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Volcanoes and Other Igneous Activity

Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

Geologic Time

Earths Evolution Through Geologic Time

The Ocean Floor

Ocean Water and Ocean Life

The Dynamic Ocean

The Atmosphere: Composition,structure,and Temperature

Moisture, clouds, and Precipitation

Air Pressure and Wind

Weather Patterns and Severe Weather

World Climates and Global Climate Change

Touring Our Solar System

Light,astronomical Observations,and the Sun

Beyond Our Solar System

Filters