Question 1

Suppose the distance to the Moon were twice its actual value.Could we still have solar eclipses? If so,what type(s)?

Accepted Answer

If the Moon were twice its actual distan...

Question 2

The seasons on Earth are caused by its elliptical orbit around the Sun.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

If our year were twice as long (that is,if Earth took twice as many days to complete each orbit around the Sun) ,but Earth's rotation period and axis tilt were unchanged,then

Accepted Answer

A)  stars would take twice as long to rise and set.
B)  the cycle of precession would take 13,000 years instead of 26,000 years.
C)  the four seasons would each be twice as long as they are now.
D)  the Earth would not have seasons.E) C) and D)
F) A) and B)

Question 4

You are standing on Earth's equator.Which way is Polaris,the North star?

Accepted Answer

A)  30 degrees up,due West
B)  on the northern horizon
C)  directly overhead
D)  The answer depends on whether it's winter or summer.
E)  The answer depends on what time of day (or night) it is.F) A) and B)
G) None of the above

Question 5

Ancient people who knew the Saros cycle could

Accepted Answer

A)  completely predict every lunar eclipse.
B)  completely predict every solar eclipse.
C)  predict what type of eclipse would occur.
D)  predict when they'd see the next total solar eclipse in their area.
E)  predict when an eclipse would happen,but not necessarily what type and where it would be visible.F) A) and E)
G) C) and E)

Question 6

If part of the full Moon passes through Earth's umbra,we will see a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  total lunar eclipse.
B)  penumbral lunar eclipse.
C)  partial lunar eclipse.
D)  partial solar eclipse.
E)  annular eclipse.F) A) and E)
G) D) and E)

Question 7

What is the ecliptic?

Accepted Answer

A)  when the Moon passes in front of the Sun
B)  the Moon's apparent path along the celestial sphere
C)  the constellations commonly used in astrology to predict the future
D)  the Sun's daily path across the sky
E)  the Sun's apparent path along the celestial sphereF) A) and B)
G) A) and E)

Question 8

When we look into the band of light in our sky that we call the Milky Way,can we see distant galaxies? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

A)  Yes,they appear as small,fuzzy patches on the other side of our galaxy.
B)  Yes,there are many other galaxies that we see inside the Milky Way.
C)  No,because the stars,gas,and dust of the Milky Way block us from seeing them,however we can see close galaxies.
D)  No,because there are only galaxies above and below the plane of the Milky Way.
E)  No,we cannot see any other galaxies from Earth.F) None of the above
G) A) and B)

Question 9

Consider the following statement,and explain whether or not it is sensible: Last night I saw Jupiter in the constellation Ursa Major.

Accepted Answer

This statement does not make sense becau...

Question 10

At midnight it is sometimes possible to observe the crescent Moon on the meridian.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Suppose you are facing north and you see the Big Dipper close to your northern horizon,with Polaris (and the Little Dipper) above it.Where will you see the Big Dipper in six hours?

Accepted Answer

A)  to the right of Polaris;that is,90 degrees counterclockwise from its current position
B)  to the left of Polaris;that is,90 degrees clockwise from its current position
C)  directly above Polaris
D)  still in the same place,below PolarisE) A) and C)
F) A) and B)

Question 12

We can describe a position on Earth's surface by stating its

Accepted Answer

A)  altitude and azimuth.
B)  altitude and direction.
C)  latitude and direction.
D)  latitude and longitude.
E)  meridian and longitude.F) A) and D)
G) A) and E)

Question 13

Answer each of the following questions for our local sky.

Accepted Answer

A.Answers will vary with latitude;here i...

Question 14

What makes the North Star,Polaris,special?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is the brightest star in the sky.
B)  It is the star straight overhead.
C)  It appears very near the north celestial pole.
D)  It is the star directly on your northern horizon.
E)  It can be used to determine your longitude on Earth.F) B) and D)
G) B) and C)

Question 15

Suppose you see a photo showing Jupiter half in sunlight and half in shadow (that is,a first quarter Jupiter) .This photo might have been taken by

Accepted Answer

A)  the Galileo spacecraft that orbited Jupiter in the 1990s.
B)  the Hubble Space Telescope (which orbits Earth) .
C)  the Keck Telescope on Mauna Kea,Hawaii.
D)  the Arecibo Radio Telescope in Puerto Rico.E) A) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 16

When someone on Earth observes the Moon in the first-quarter phase,someone on the Moon facing Earth observes Earth in the

Accepted Answer

A)  new Earth phase.
B)  first-quarter Earth phase.
C)  crescent Earth phase.
D)  third-quarter Earth phase.
E)  full Earth phase.F) A) and B)
G) A) and E)

Question 17

What causes the apparent retrograde motion of the planets?

Accepted Answer

A)  As Earth passes another planet,its gravitational pull slows down the other planet so that it appears to be traveling backward.
B)  When planets are farther from the Sun,they move slower than when they are nearer the Sun;it is during this slower period that they appear to move backwards.
C)  The other planets never really appear to move backward;the background stars shift due to Earth's revolution around the Sun.
D)  As Earth passes another planet,the other planet appears to move backward with respect to the background stars,but the planet's motion does not actually change.
E)  Apparent retrograde motion is an illusion created by turbulence in Earth's atmosphere.F) A) and B)
G) B) and C)

Question 18

Which of the following statements about the Moon is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Moon goes through a cycle of phases because it always has the same side facing Earth.
B)  If you see a full Moon from North America,someone in South America would see a new Moon.
C)  The Moon's distance from Earth varies during its orbit.
D)  The Moon is visible only at night.
E)  The side of the Moon facing away from Earth is in perpetual darkness.F) C) and E)
G) C) and D)

Question 19

What is the ecliptic?

Accepted Answer

A)  the path the Sun appears to trace around the celestial sphere each year
B)  the Sun's daily path from east to west in our sky
C)  the path traced by the Moon's shadow on Earth during a solar eclipse
D)  a half-circle extending from your horizon due north,through your zenith,to your horizon due southE) A) and D)
F) C) and D)

Question 20

What is the celestial sphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  The celestial sphere is a representation of how the entire sky looks as seen from Earth.
B)  The celestial sphere is a model that shows the true locations in space of the Sun and a few thousand of the nearest stars.
C)  The celestial sphere is a model of how the stars are arranged in the sky relative to our Sun,which is in the middle of the sphere.
D)  It represents a belief in an Earth-centered universe,and hence is no longer considered to have any use.E) All of the above
F) B) and C)

Exam 2: Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The seasons on Earth are caused by its elliptical orbit around the Sun.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

If our year were twice as long (that is,if Earth took twice as many days to complete each orbit around the Sun) ,but Earth's rotation period and axis tilt were unchanged,then

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the ecliptic?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Suppose you are facing north and you see the Big Dipper close to your northern horizon,with Polaris (and the Little Dipper) above it.Where will you see the Big Dipper in six hours?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When we look into the band of light in our sky that we call the Milky Way,can we see distant galaxies? Why or why not?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following statements about the Moon is true?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the ecliptic?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When someone on Earth observes the Moon in the first-quarter phase,someone on the Moon facing Earth observes Earth in the

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

At midnight it is sometimes possible to observe the crescent Moon on the meridian.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Suppose the distance to the Moon were twice its actual value.Could we still have solar eclipses? If so,what type(s)?

Correct AnswerverifiedIf the Moon were twice its actual distan...View AnswerShow Answer

Suppose you see a photo showing Jupiter half in sunlight and half in shadow (that is,a first quarter Jupiter) .This photo might have been taken by

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

You are standing on Earth's equator.Which way is Polaris,the North star?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Answer each of the following questions for our local sky.

Correct AnswerverifiedA.Answers will vary with latitude;here i...View AnswerShow Answer

We can describe a position on Earth's surface by stating its

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Ancient people who knew the Saros cycle could

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What causes the apparent retrograde motion of the planets?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Consider the following statement,and explain whether or not it is sensible: Last night I saw Jupiter in the constellation Ursa Major.

Correct AnswerverifiedThis statement does not make sense becau...View AnswerShow Answer

What makes the North Star,Polaris,special?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the celestial sphere?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

If part of the full Moon passes through Earth's umbra,we will see a(n)

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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If the Moon were twice its actual distan...
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A.Answers will vary with latitude;here i...
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Correct Answer
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This statement does not make sense becau...
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