1. The unusual rock structures at Stonehenge show that the ancient peoples of southern England had been making accurate astronomical observations as early as
a: 1200 AD
b: 3600 BC
c: 1700 BC
d: 2500 BC
2. Stonehenge was constructed in such a way to show the location of sunrise along the horizon for which day(s) of the year?
a: at the summer solstice (first day of
summer)
b: at the winter solstice (first day of winter)
c: at the spring equinox (first day of spring)
d: at the autumnal equinox (first day of fall)
e: all of the above
3. Who developed the first geocentric hypothesis?
a: Aristotle (350 BC)
b: Eratosthenes (196 BC)
c: Ptolemy (140 AD)
d: Copernicus (1530)
4. The ancient Greeks were the first to recognize that the phases of the moon are caused by:
a: the shadow of the earth on the moon's
surface
b: the passage of the terminator across the moon as it orbits
the Earth
c: the varying amounts of sunlight that reach the side of the
Earth facing the moon.
d: the tilt of the earth's axis relative to the moon's
e: how far over the plumber is bending
5. During the "First Crescent Phase" of the moon (half way between new moon and full moon), what time of the day or night would that crescent moon be directly overhead?
a: at sunrise
b: at sunset
c: at noon
d: 12 midnight
8. The ecliptic and the celestial equator are two terms for the same thing.
a: true
b: false
9. Who named the constellations of the night sky which we use today?
a: the ancient Greeks (with Latin translations)
b: the ancient Egyptians
c: the Druids of Stonehenge
d: Henrietta Leavitt
12. Ptolemy's series of Epicycles correctly defined the cause for retrograde motion of the planets.
a: true
b: false
13. With out the aid of a telescope, Copernicus defined which of the following Planets as "Inferior"?
a. Venus and Earth
b: Mars, Jupiter, Saturn
c: Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto
d: Mercury, Venus, and Mars
e: Mercury and Venus
15. Kepler first law states that
a: planets move in perfectly circular orbits
b: planets move in elliptical orbits
c: planets move in parabolic orbits
d: planets move in hyperbolic orbits
e: none of the above
16. Aphelion is the point in a planet's orbit when it is closest to the Sun
a: true
b: false
18. Who discovered the phases of Venus?
a: Copernicus
b: Ptolemy
c: Galileo
d: Kepler
e: Henrietta Leavitt
19. Who discovered the 4 largest moons of Jupiter?
a: Copernicus
b: Ptolemy
c: Galileo
d: Kepler
e: Henrietta Leavitt
21. Kepler's
and Newton's laws showed that orbital velocity decreases for those
planets farther from the sun.
What is the orbital velocity for Mercury which is so close to
the gravitational pull of the sun?
a: 68km/sec
b: 48km/sec
c: 30km/sec
d: 13km/sec
e: 5km/sec
22. How often do the astronauts in orbit on board the space shuttle see a sunrise or sunset (recall their orbital period around the Earth)?
a: they would see one every hour or less
b: they would see one every two hours
c: they would see one sunrise and sunset in a 24 hour period just
as we see on the surface
d: one every 48 hours
e: none of the above
23. How fast do you have to be traveling to escape from the gravitational pull of Earth and leave Earth orbit?
a: 2km/sec
b: 7km/sec
c: 11km/sec
d: 30km/sec
24. Once you achieve orbital velocity around Earth, your spacecraft must constantly burn its rocket engines to keep you in orbit.
a: true
b: false
25. Newton's Universal Law of Gravity describes
a: the spacing of the planet's orbits outward
from the sun.
b: how elliptical orbits can have variable eccentricities.
c: how orbital velocity of a planet changes between perihelion
and aphelion.
d: how variation in mass and distance between two objects effects
the gravitational force between them.
27. What is the correct relationship between wavelength and frequency for electromagnetic radiation?
a: short wavelength - low frequency
b: short wavelength - high frequency
c: long wavelength - high frequency
d: none of the above are possible
28. Which of the following has a wavelength that is shorter than visible light?
a: radio waves
b: x-rays
c: infrared radiation
d: micro waves
e: none of the above
29. Electromagnetic radiation is produced by orbital shifts of
a: electrons
b: protons
c: neutrons
d: positrons
e: neutrinos
31. The hydrogen atom is capable of producing light of every possible wavelength.
a: true
b: false
32. Because of the Doppler Effect, a star moving towards the earth would show
a: a blue shift of its spectral lines
b: a red shift of its spectral lines
c: both, depending on its rotation
d: none of the above
34. How do we measure the motion of gas and dust within a nebula that is forming a new star and a solar system?
a: by direct visual observation with an
optical telescope
b: by direct measurements from space craft sent to study such
systems
c: by time lapse photography of the nebula
d: by analyzing the Doppler effect on light and radiation from
the nebula
e: none of the above
35. What thermonuclear reactions occur in the core of a star like our sun?
a: fusion of hydrogen to form helium
b: fusion of lighter elements to form heavy metals
c: fission of heavy "parent elements" to form lighter
"daughter elements"
d: fission of lighter elements to form heavy elements
39. The Apparent Magnitude of a star is a function of
a: a stars Absolute Magnitude
b: its distance from us
c: its degree of blueshift
d: a and b
e: a, b, and c
42. Which asteroids have orbits that actually graze the orbit of the earth
a: the Amor Type
b: Asteroid Belt asteroids
c: Aten Type
d: the Trojan Satellites
43. Asteroids in the Asteroid Belt have what types of orbits
a: unknown - their orbits are so complex
we do not yet know.
b: their orbits are eccentric (elongate) ellipses
c: parabolic or hyperbolic orbits
d: their orbits are nearly circular
44. Asteroids in the Asteroid Belt are so close together that It is impossible for a spacecraft to travel through it without colliding with an asteroid.
a: true
b: false
45. Amor type asteroids have what type of orbits?
a: unknown - their orbits are so complex
we do not yet know.
b: their orbits are eccentric (elongate) ellipses
c: parabolic or hyperbolic orbits
d: their orbits are nearly circular
SHORT ANSWERS: PLEASE WRITE CONCISE AND COHERENT SENTENCES
46. Earth's obliquity (the inclination of its axis of rotation with respect to the ecliptic) is 23.5o while the obliquity of Venus is essentially 0o. If Venus had an atmosphere that was similar to that of Earth, how would the seasons and seasonal changes on Venus compare to those of Earth and why? (3 points)
47. Define the ecliptic and the celestial equator. Under what circumstances would these two be the same thing? (3 points)
48. What was wrong with Copernicus' heliocentric model of the solar system and why couldn't it accurately predict the motions of the planets? (2 points)
49. Define the difference between Apparent and Absolute Magnitude for the brightness of stars. Be certain to indicate what Apparent magnitude is a function of. (2 points)
50. Diagram the orbit of a planet (including the location of the sun, perihelion, and aphelion) and explain what Kepler's 2nd law (the Law of Equal Areas) means for the velocity at which that planet orbits the sun. (3 points)