Question 1

The circular shape of the Earth's shadow on the Moon during a lunar eclipse suggested to the Greeks that the Earth was

Accepted Answer

A)  cylindrical in shape 
B)  at the center of the Universe 
C)  flat 
D)  spherical in shape

Question 2

If a scientific model generates a prediction that is not confirmed experimentally,

Accepted Answer

A)  the experimental data must be modified to be consistent with the model 
B)  it must be initially revised and eventually abandoned if it continues to be inconsistent with experiments 
C)  it must be assumed that there are errors in the experiment 
D)  it must immediately be abandoned

Question 3

In science, the difference between a measured value and its true value referred to as

Accepted Answer

A)  a deviation 
B)  bias 
C)  an error 
D)  an uncertainty

Question 4

The Greek approach to understanding the universe relied mostly on

Accepted Answer

A)  observations 
B)  experiments 
C)  thought and intuition 
D)  preconceived ideas

Question 5

Newton's 3ʳᵈ Law of Motion states that

Accepted Answer

A)  action and reaction are equal and opposite 
B)  force equals mass times acceleration 
C)  an object moves at a constant velocity unless a force acts 
D)  the force of gravity decreases with increasing distance

Question 6

Apparent retrograde motion occurs when a planet appears to

Accepted Answer

A)  be stationary with respect to background stars 
B)  move eastward with respect to background stars 
C)  move due north with respect to background stars 
D)  move westward with respect to background stars

Question 7

According to Kepler's Second Law of planetary motion, a planet moves fastest in its orbit when it is

Accepted Answer

A)  undergoing retrograde motion 
B)  in between perihelion and aphelion 
C)  at perihelion 
D)  at aphelion

Question 8

In the scientific method, what immediately follows a prediction?

Accepted Answer

A)  a hypothesis 
B)  an observation 
C)  a question 
D)  a test

Question 9

In Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, gravity is explained as

Accepted Answer

A)  action at a distance 
B)  the curvature of spacetime 
C)  a basic component of the atom 
D)  a force-carrying particle called the graviton

Question 10

A scientist tries to determine why a particular car is getting a much lower gas mileage than claimed by the manufacturer by systematically designing experiments to test possible causes for the problem. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

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

Question 11

Copernicus

Accepted Answer

A)  provided strong observational evidence that the Earth moved about the Sun 
B)  proved that the orbital shapes of the planets were ellipses and not circles 
C)  was the first person to suggest the Earth moved around the Sun 
D)  revived Aristarchus's suggestion of a Sun-centered solar system and described it mathematically

Question 12

Tycho Brahe

Accepted Answer

A)  developed a theory of gravity to explain the motions of the planets 
B)  obtained the first observational evidence suggesting the Earth moved about the Sun 
C)  showed that the orbits of the planets were ellipses and not circles 
D)  made detailed measurements of the motions of the planets in the sky

Question 13

In the heliocentric (Sun-centered) model, apparent retrograde motion is due to

Accepted Answer

A)  relative motion between the Earth and another planet in its orbit 
B)  the Earth reversing the direction of its orbit about the Sun 
C)  a planet moving in a small circle, the center of which moves in a larger circle about the Earth 
D)  a planet reversing the direction of its orbit about the Sun

Question 14

Newton's 1ˢᵗ Law of Motion states that

Accepted Answer

A)  action and reaction are equal and opposite 
B)  force equals mass times acceleration 
C)  an object moves at a constant velocity unless a force acts 
D)  the force of gravity decreases with increasing distance

Question 15

What was one of the first observations that hinted at limitations in Newton's theory of gravity?

Accepted Answer

A)  deviations in the motion of the planet Uranus in the sky 
B)  deviations in the motion of the planet Mercury in the sky 
C)  shifts in position of stars close to the Sun during solar eclipses 
D)  failure to explain why all objects fall at the same rate in a gravitational field

Question 16

In science, a range of possible values resulting from a measurement is referred to as

Accepted Answer

A)  a deviation 
B)  bias 
C)  an error 
D)  an uncertainty

Question 17

Galileo Galilei

Accepted Answer

A)  developed a theory of gravity to explain the motions of the planets 
B)  obtained the first observational evidence suggesting the Earth moved about the Sun 
C)  showed that the orbits of the planets were ellipses and not circles 
D)  made detailed measurements of the motions of the planets in the sky

Question 18

A planet is closest to the Sun in its elliptical orbit when it is at

Accepted Answer

A)  perigee 
B)  aphelion 
C)  apogee 
D)  perihelion

Question 19

Modern science attempts to seek explanations for phenomena that are based on

Accepted Answer

A)  new subjective laws that are yet to be confirmed experimentally 
B)  intuitive expectations 
C)  the views of leading scientists 
D)  the known laws of nature

Question 20

Stellar parallax is the apparent

Accepted Answer

A)  shift in position of nearby stars as the Earth moves around the Sun 
B)  westward motion of a planet with respect to the background stars 
C)  shift in position of nearby stars as the Sun moves about the center of the galaxy 
D)  shift in position of nearby stars as the Earth rotates on its axis

Exam 2: The Science of Life in the Universe

The circular shape of the Earth's shadow on the Moon during a lunar eclipse suggested to the Greeks that the Earth was

If a scientific model generates a prediction that is not confirmed experimentally,

In science, the difference between a measured value and its true value referred to as

The Greek approach to understanding the universe relied mostly on

Newton's 3ʳᵈ Law of Motion states that

Apparent retrograde motion occurs when a planet appears to

According to Kepler's Second Law of planetary motion, a planet moves fastest in its orbit when it is

In the scientific method, what immediately follows a prediction?

In Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, gravity is explained as

A scientist tries to determine why a particular car is getting a much lower gas mileage than claimed by the manufacturer by systematically designing experiments to test possible causes for the problem. This is an example of

Copernicus

Tycho Brahe

In the heliocentric (Sun-centered) model, apparent retrograde motion is due to

Newton's 1ˢᵗ Law of Motion states that

What was one of the first observations that hinted at limitations in Newton's theory of gravity?

In science, a range of possible values resulting from a measurement is referred to as

Galileo Galilei

A planet is closest to the Sun in its elliptical orbit when it is at

Modern science attempts to seek explanations for phenomena that are based on

Stellar parallax is the apparent