Question 1

At the Sun Dagger in New Mexico, a dagger- shaped beam of sunlight pierces a spiral

Accepted Answer

A)  during the totality of a total solar eclipse.
B)  at noon on the day of full moon each month.
C)  every day at noon.
D)  at noon on the summer solstice.
E)  at sunset on the spring equinox.F) B) and C)
G) A) and B)

Question 2

The ancient goal of astrology was to

Accepted Answer

A)  understand the origin of Earth.
B)  antagonize astronomers.
C)  make a more accurate model of the universe.
D)  predict the passing of the seasons.
E)  predict human events.F) A) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 3

What advantage did Tycho have compared to other astronomical observers of his time?

Accepted Answer

A)  He had access to a new and improved type of observatory.
B)  Tycho was clearly much smarter.
C)  He had access to telescopes.D) All of the above
E) B) and C)

Question 4

Why did Tycho conclude that the Sun revolves around the Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  He did not conclude that the Sun revolves around the Earth.
B)  Long- held tradition prevented him from even considering the idea.
C)  He incorrectly measured the distance to the Sun and concluded it was in a low orbit around the Earth.
D)  He could not detect the parallax of stars expected if the Earth revolves around the Sun.E) A) and C)
F) B) and C)

Question 5

Copernicus was the first person to suggest a Sun- centered solar system.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Historians trace the origins of a 24- hour day to

Accepted Answer

A)  the Mayans.
B)  the Babylonian astronomer, Meton.
C)  the ancient Egyptians.
D)  the druids of Stonehenge.
E)  the Aztecs.F) A) and E)
G) A) and C)

Question 7

One of the "nails in the coffin" for the Earth- centered universe was

Accepted Answer

A)  the phases of the Moon.
B)  Galileo's observations of the moons of Jupiter.
C)  the retrograde motion of the planets.
D)  Galileo's observation of stars in the Milky Way.
E)  eclipses of the Sun.F) B) and C)
G) A) and E)

Question 8

The Polynesian navigators of the South Pacific found their way primarily by observing the position of Polaris in the night sky.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

In the Ptolemaic system, Venus should not show phases.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Galileo observed all of the following. Which observation offered direct proof of a planet orbiting the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  four moons of Jupiter
B)  phases of Venus
C)  patterns of shadow and sunlight near the dividing line between the light and dark portions of the Moon's face
D)  The Milky Way is composed of many individual stars.E) C) and D)
F) A) and D)

Question 11

The Ptolemaic model of the solar system was useless for predicting planetary positions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

A scientific model must make an observational prediction.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

The Muslim fast of Ramadan occurs

Accepted Answer

A)  at the end of the Metonic cycle.
B)  on the spring equinox.
C)  on the summer solstice.
D)  during the ninth month of a 12- month lunar cycle.
E)  during a thirteenth month of the Metonic cycle.F) B) and C)
G) A) and E)

Question 15

In science, a broad idea that has been repeatedly verified so as to give scientists great confidence that it represents reality is called _ .

Accepted Answer

A)  a theory
B)  a paradigm
C)  a Ptolemaic model
D)  a hypothesisE) All of the above
F) A) and B) A

Question 16

Only one of the statements below uses the term theory in its correct, scientific sense. Which one?

Accepted Answer

A)  Evolution is only a theory, so there's no reason to think it really happened.
B)  I wrote a theory that is 152 pages long.
C)  Einstein's theory of relativity has been tested and verified thousands of times.
D)  I have a new theory about the cause of earthquakes, and I plan to start testing it soon.E) A) and D)
F) A) and B)

Question 17

Kepler's second law, which states that as a planet moves around its orbit it sweeps out equal areas in equal times, means that

Accepted Answer

A)  planets have circular orbits.
B)  the period of a planet does not depend on its mass.
C)  a planet's period does not depend on the eccentricity of its orbit.
D)  a planet travels faster when it is nearer to the Sun and slower when it is farther from the Sun.
E)  planets that are farther from the Sun move at slower average speeds than nearer planets.F) B) and D)
G) C) and D) D

Question 18

He developed a system for predicting planetary positions that remained in use for some 1,500 years.

Accepted Answer

A)  Tycho Brahe
B)  Kepler
C)  Galileo
D)  Copernicus
E)  PtolemyF) C) and D)
G) None of the above

Question 19

He discovered that the orbits of planets are ellipses.

Accepted Answer

A)  Tycho Brahe
B)  Kepler
C)  Copernicus
D)  Ptolemy
E)  GalileoF) All of the above
G) A) and B) B

Question 20

Scientific theories can never be proved true beyond all doubt.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 3: The Science of Astronomy

At the Sun Dagger in New Mexico, a dagger- shaped beam of sunlight pierces a spiral

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The ancient goal of astrology was to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What advantage did Tycho have compared to other astronomical observers of his time?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why did Tycho conclude that the Sun revolves around the Earth?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Copernicus was the first person to suggest a Sun- centered solar system.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Historians trace the origins of a 24- hour day to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

One of the "nails in the coffin" for the Earth- centered universe was

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Polynesian navigators of the South Pacific found their way primarily by observing the position of Polaris in the night sky.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In the Ptolemaic system, Venus should not show phases.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Galileo observed all of the following. Which observation offered direct proof of a planet orbiting the Sun?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Ptolemaic model of the solar system was useless for predicting planetary positions.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A scientific model must make an observational prediction.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Muslim fast of Ramadan occurs

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In science, a broad idea that has been repeatedly verified so as to give scientists great confidence that it represents reality is called _ .

Correct AnswerverifiedA

Only one of the statements below uses the term theory in its correct, scientific sense. Which one?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Kepler's second law, which states that as a planet moves around its orbit it sweeps out equal areas in equal times, means that

Correct AnswerverifiedD

He developed a system for predicting planetary positions that remained in use for some 1,500 years.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

He discovered that the orbits of planets are ellipses.

Correct AnswerverifiedB

Scientific theories can never be proved true beyond all doubt.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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A

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D

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B

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