Origins of Astronomy Flashcards by s w

Q0Q1. The national observatory south of Penticton studies the Universe in what part of the electromagnetic spectrum?

(a) Visible.
(b) Ultraviolet.
(c) Infrared.
(d) Radio.

(d) Radio.

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Q0Q2. The Sun releases the majority of its light energy in what part of the electromagnetic spectrum? (a) Visible.

(b) Ultraviolet.
(c) Infrared.
(d) Radio.

(a) Visible.

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Q0Q3. The average Earth-Sun distance is

(a) 384,400 km.
(b) 150,000,000 km.
(c) 4.50 billion km.
(d) 9.46 trillion km.

(b) 150,000,000 km.

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Q0Q4. What percentage of the Solar System’s mass is in the Sun?

(a) 90%.
(b) 99%.
(c) 99.8%.
(d) 100%.

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Q0Q5. The next closest star after the Sun, Proxima Centauri, is approximately

(a) 150,000,000 km from Earth.
(b) 39,700,000,000,000 km from Earth.
(c) 10 light-years from Earth.
(d) 26,000 light-years from Earth.

(b) 39,700,000,000,000 km from Earth.

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Q0Q6. The Milky Way galaxy has a diameter of approximately

(a) 4.2 light-years.
(b) 26,000 light-years.
(c) 100,000 light-years.
(d) 2.5 million light-years.

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Q0Q7. The Local Group of Galaxies is dominated by the Milky Way and which other galaxy?

(a) Large Magellanic Cloud.
(b) Triangulum.
(c) Andromeda.
(d) M87.

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Q0Q8. What is the approximate age of the Universe?

(a) 13.8 billion years.
(b) 4.6 billion years.
(c) 6000 years.
(d) We don’t know.

(a) 13.8 billion years.

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Q1Q1. The stone array affectionately known as Pen Henge in Penticton tracks the position of the setting Sun using a heel stone and three stone markers. On the winter solstice, the Sun will set directly over the marker that sits

(a) due west of the heel stone.
(b) northwest of the heel stone.
(c) southwest of the heel stone.
(d) due south of the heel stone.

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Q1Q2. Approximately how many hours of daylight do we get in Kelowna on the winter solstice?

(a) 4 hours.
(b) 8 hours.
(c) 12 hours.
(d) 16 hours.

(b) 8 hours.

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Q1Q3. What is the approximate altitude of the Sun at local noon today as viewed from Kelowna?

(a) 64°.
(b) 17°.
(c) 20°.
(d) 41°.

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Q1Q4. What is the approximate altitude of the Sun at local noon on the vernal (spring) equinox as viewed from Kelowna?

(a) 17°.
(b) 20°.
(c) 41°.
(d) 64°.

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Q1Q5. In which month does the “emu in the sky” appear directly overhead at midnight as viewed from Sydney, Australia?

(a) February.
(b) May.
(c) August.
(d) November.

(b) May.

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Q1Q6. Which ancient civilization used the stars to successfully navigate the seas at night?

(a) Polynesians.
(b) Chinese.
(c) Early British.
(d) Mayans.

(a) Polynesians.

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Q1Q7. The daily reports of this civilization’s “sky watchers” represent the longest continuous astronomical record.

(a) Chinese.
(b) Early British.
(c) Egyptians.
(d) Mayans.

(a) Chinese.

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Q1Q8. Astrology set the foundation for astronomy by

(a) producing detailed star maps.
(b) introducing number systems.
(c) developing arithmetic and basic algebra.
(d) All of the above.

(d) All of the above.

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Q1Q9. Which ancient civilization used a base-20 number system to study the motions they observed in the sky?

(a) Mayans.
(b) Babylonians.
(c) Egyptians.
(d) Chinese.

(a) Mayans.

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Q1Q10. In which zodiac constellation will the Sun appear on the vernal equinox in 2019?

(a) Aries.
(b) Pisces.
(c) Aquarius.
(d) Taurus.

(b) Pisces.

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Q2Q1. What is the approximate altitude of the Sun at local noon today(January 15th) as viewed from Kelowna?

(a) 41°.
(b) 21°.
(c) 20°.
(d) 17°.

(b) 21°.

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Q2Q2. One year is

(a) exactly 365 days.
(b) the time it takes to go from vernal equinox to vernal equinox.
(c) the time it takes for the Earth go once around the Sun.
(d) Both b and c.

(b) the time it takes to go from vernal equinox to vernal equinox.

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Q2Q3. Precession (“wobble”) of the Earth’s spin axis completes one cycle every

(a) 23 hours, 56 minutes.
(b) 365.24219 days.
(c) ~26,000 years.
(d) ~2200 years.

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Q2Q4. In which zodiac constellation did the Sun appear on the vernal equinox in 500 BC?

(a) Aries.
(b) Pisces.
(c) Aquarius.
(d) Taurus.

(a) Aries.

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Q2Q5. If the Earth’s spin axis were inclined 40° relative to a perpendicular to the Earth’s orbital plane, then the seasons would be

(a) less severe than what we currently experience.
(b) more severe than what we currently experience.
(c) almost non-existent (i.e., we would experience no seasons).
(d) unchanged from what we currently experience, since the tilt of the Earth’s axis has no effect on the seasons

(b) more severe than what we currently experience.

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Q2Q6. Ryan took the picture below during the onset of the lunar eclipse on Sunday. The Moon was about 35° above the horizon in the east.

(a) a sphere.
(b) flat, but with a circular cross-section.
(c) Either b or c.
(d) The shape of the Earth cannot be determined using its (twodimensional) shadow.

(a) a sphere.

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Q2Q7. Which of the following natural philosophers presented the first known Universe (or “World”) model? (a) Thales. (b) Anaximander. (c) Democritus. (d) Aristotle.

(b) Anaximander.

Q2Q8. Who was the first to successfully measure the circumference of the Earth? (a) Pythagoras. (b) Eratosthenes. (c) Thales. (d) Anaximander.

(b) Eratosthenes.

Q2Q9. Which of the following natural philosophers suggested that all things are composed of “atoms”? (a) Thales. (b) Aristotle. (c) Democritus. (d) Archimedes.

Q2Q10. The fastest motion in the sky is the (a) prograde (eastward) motion of the planet Mercury relative to the stars. (b) retrograde (westward) motion of the planet Mars relative to the stars. (c) westward daily motion of the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars. (d) eastward motion of the Moon relative to the stars.

Q3Q1. What is the approximate altitude of the Sun at local noon today (Jan 29) as viewed from Kelowna? (a) 23°. (b) 21°. (c) 17°. (d) 41°.

(a) 23°.

Q3Q2. The following is a schematic representation of Aristotle’s (qualitative) geocentric model. This model does not explain (a) the daily motion of the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars. (b) the retrograde motion of the planets relative to the stars. (c) the non-uniform motion of the Sun, Moon, and planets relative to the stars. (d) Both b and c.

(d) Both b and c.

Q3Q3. Aristarchus (in ~270 BC) estimated the Sun’s diameter to be approximately (a) 7 times that of the Earth. (b) 109 times that of the Earth. (c) 3 times that of the Earth. (d) 19 times that of the Earth.

(a) 7 times that of the Earth.

Q3Q4. Who was the first to successfully measure the distance between the Earth and the Moon? (a) Eratosthenes. (b) Aristarchus. (c) Hipparchus. (d) Ptolemy.

Q3Q5. Which ancient Greek measured the length of the year to within 7 minutes? (a) Hipparchus. (b) Aristarchus. (c) Ptolemy. (d) Pythagoras.

(a) Hipparchus.

Q3Q6. Who first suggested using epicycles to explain the retrograde motion of the planets? (a) Aristotle. (b) Ptolemy. (c) Archimedes. (d) Apollonius.

(d) Apollonius.

Q3Q7. The following is a schematic representation of the geocentric model including epicycles.To what object does the arrow point?(5th element above the earth) (a) Sun. (b) Mercury. (c) Mars. (d) Venus.

(d) Venus.

Q3Q8. What did Ptolemy do to explain the non-uniform motion of the Sun, Moon, and planets relative to the stars? (a) He used a prime mover. (b) He used epicycles on deferents. (c) He offset the center of each circular deferent from the center of the Earth. (d) Both b and c.

Q3Q9. In approximately what year did Ptolemy publish Mathematique Syntaxis (the “Almagest”)? (a) 150 AD. (b) 350 AD. (c) 150 BC. (d) 350 BC.

(a) 150 AD.

Q3Q10. What did Ptolemy estimate to be the radius of the Universe (i.e., the distance from the center of the Earth to the sphere of the stars)? (a) 150 million km. (b) 120 million km. (c) 59 Earth radii. (d) 40,000 km.

(b) 120 million km.

Q11Q1. The Millennium Simulation (released in 2005) shows (a) the futures of the Milky Way and Andromeda. (b) galaxies at the edge of the ‘visible’ Universe. (c) the large-scale structure of the present-day Universe. (d) the Universe within 200 million light-years of the Milky Way

Q11Q2. The Hubble Ultra Deep Field (imaged in 2009) shows (a) the futures of the Milky Way and Andromeda. (b) galaxies at the edge of the ‘visible’ Universe. (c) the large-scale structure of the present-day Universe. (d) the Universe within 200 million light-years of the Milky Way.

(b) galaxies at the edge of the ‘visible’ Universe.

Q11Q3. The ratio of dark matter to luminous matter on galaxy-cluster scales is approximately (a) 2:1. (b) 3:1. (c) 5:1. (d) 10:1.

Q11Q4. Einstein’s general theory of relativity describes gravity as (a) an invisible attraction between masses. (b) a striving of the earth element within an object to reach the Earth. (c) curved space. (d) an exchange of force carriers called gravitons.

Q11Q5. The gravitational center of the Milky Way is occupied by a (a) globular star cluster. (b) supermassive black hole. (c) quasar. (d) Both b and c.

(b) supermassive black hole.

Q11Q6. The present-day Universe is (a) expanding, but faster than it was ~7 billion years ago. (b) expanding, but slower than it was ~7 billion years ago. (c) contracting, due to the mutual gravitation of all the mass/energy in the Universe. (d) static (i.e., neither expanding nor contracting).

(a) expanding, but faster than it was ~7 billion years ago.

Q11Q7. Dark energy is required to explain (a) the acceleration of the expansion of the Universe. (b) the expansion of the Universe. (c) why stars, gas, and dust in the middle and outer parts of galaxies move as fast as they do. (d) the origin of the Universe.

(a) the acceleration of the expansion of the Universe.

Q11Q8. Dark energy makes up what percentage of the present-day mass/energy content of the Universe? (a) 90%. (b) 24%. (c) 5%. (d) 71%.

(d) 71%.

Q11Q9. The best current estimate for the age of the Universe is (a) 13.82 billion years. (b) 13.73 billion years. (c) 4.56 billion years. (d) We don’t know how old the Universe is.

(a) 13.82 billion years.

Q11Q10. The Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation was ‘released’ when the (a) Universe first formed hydrogen and helium nuclei. (b) Universe first formed hydrogen and helium atoms. (c) Universe was a ‘soup’ of charged particles. (d) first stars were formed in the Universe.

(b) Universe first formed hydrogen and helium atoms.

Q10Q1. Who used globular clusters to show that the Sun is not near the center of the Milky Way? (a) William Herschel. (b) Jacobus Kapteyn. (c) Harlow Shapley. (d) Edwin Hubble.

Q10Q2. Cepheid variable stars are used as indirect distance estimators. Which of the following best explains how this is done? (a) Cepheid variables all have the same luminosity. We use this luminosity and the apparent brightness to solve for distance via L = b·4πd2. (b) Cepheid variables have two different luminosities. We use the spectral type to determine which luminosity the Cepheid has, and then use this luminosity and the apparent brightness to solve for distance via L = b·4πd2. (c) Cepheid variables have measurable pulsation periods which are physically related to luminosity. We use the pulsation period to estimate luminosity, and then use this luminosity and the apparent brightness to solve for distance via L = b·4πd2. (d) When Cepheid variables explode as supernovae, they always reach the same peak luminosity. We use the peak luminosity of the supernova and apparent brightness to solve for distance via L = b·4πd2.

(c) Cepheid variables have measurable pulsation periods which are physically related to luminosity. We use the pulsation period to estimate luminosity, and then use this luminosity and the apparent brightness to solve for distance via L = b·4πd2.

Q10Q3. The present-day distance uncertainty for Cepheid variables is (a) better than 1%. (b) ~5%. (c) ~10%. (d) 20‒50%.

Q10Q4. During the Great Debate in 1920, Heber Curtis argued that (a) globular clusters are located beyond the Milky Way’s halo. (b) spiral nebulae are “island universes” outside the Milky Way’s halo. (c) spiral nebulae are located within the Milky Way’s halo. (d) the Milky Way is too big for there to be anything beyond it.

(b) spiral nebulae are “island universes” outside the Milky Way’s halo.

Q10Q5. To whom can the following quotation be attributed? “You will be interested to know that I found a Cepheid variable in the Andromeda nebula.” (a) Harlow Shapley. (b) Jacobus Kapteyn. (c) Henrietta Leavitt. (d) Edwin Hubble.

(d) Edwin Hubble.

Q10Q6. In what part(s) of the electromagnetic spectrum does the Spitzer Space Telescope operate? (a) Near and mid-infrared. (b) Near infrared. (c) Visible. (d) Radio.

(a) Near and mid-infrared.

Q10Q7. Approximately how far away is the Andromeda galaxy? (a) 2.5 million light-years. (b) 1 million light-years. (c) 55 million light-years. (d) 160,000 light-years.

(a) 2.5 million light-years.

Q10Q8. Which of the following galaxies is not a member of the “Council of Giants”? (a) Maffei 1. (b) M81. (c) M87. (d) Centaurus A.

Q10Q9. Whose work in the late 1970’s showed that every large galaxy sits within a huge halo of dark matter? (a) Fritz Zwicky. (b) Vera Rubin. (c) Henrietta Leavitt. (d) Albert Einstein.

(b) Vera Rubin.

Q10Q10. On what evidence are these dark-matter halos based? (a) Einstein’s theory of gravity predicts the presence of such halos. (b) The halos absorb light coming from distant galaxies. (c) Stars, gas, and dust in the inner parts of galaxies are moving too fast to be confined by only the matter we can see. (d) Stars, gas, and dust in the middle and outer parts of galaxies are moving too fast to be confined by only the matter we can see.

(d) Stars, gas, and dust in the middle and outer parts of galaxies are moving too fast to be confined by only the matter we can see.

Q9Q2. What is the estimated hydrogen-fusion lifetime of the Sun? (a) 4.6 billion years. (b) 12 billion years. (c) 65 million years. (d) 5000 years.

(b) 12 billion years

Q9Q1. What is the approximate altitude of the Sun at local noon today (Mar 26) as viewed from Kelowna? (a) 17°. (b) 64°. (c) 41°. (d) 43°.

(d) 43°

Q9Q3. How do we know that hydrogen fusion is taking place in the core of the Sun? (a) the calculations (using the best known Physics) work. (b) nuclear fusion bombs (“H-bombs”) yield the calculated output. (c) we detect neutrinos, released during hydrogen fusion when protons turn into neutrons. (d) All of the above.

(d) All of the above.

Q9Q4. How many fusion stages does a massive star (> 8 M⊙) go through? (a) 3. (b) 6. (c) 2. (d) 1.

(b) 6.

Q9Q5. Star masses range from ~0.1 M⊙ and ~40 M⊙. Star luminosities range from (a) ~0.1 L⊙ and ~40 L⊙. (b) ~0.01 L⊙ and ~100 L⊙. (c) ~0.001 L⊙ and ~1000 L⊙. (d) ~0.0001 L⊙ and ~1,000,000 L⊙.

(d) ~0.0001 L⊙ and ~1,000,000 L⊙.

Q9Q6. For which of the following stellar spectral types are the hydrogen absorption lines strongest? (a) K. (b) G. (c) O. (d) A.

(d) A.

Q9Q7. For which of the following stellar spectral types is the “surface” temperature hottest? (a) K. (b) G. (c) O. (d) A.

Q9Q8. What is the spectral type of the Sun? (a) K. (b) G. (c) O. (d) A

(b) G.

Q9Q9. Who produced the first map of the Milky Way? (It has no scale, and doesn’t look anything like the map/picture we are familiar with today.) (a) Galileo Galilei. (b) Immanuel Kant. (c) William Herschel. (d) Harlow Shapley.

Q9Q10. What is the distance limit for the parallax technique using modern telescopes? (a) ~3000 light-years. (b) ~1000 light-years. (c) ~50 light-years. (d) ~500 light-years.

(d) ~500 light-years.

Q8bQ1. What baseline (i.e., separation between “left eye” and “right eye”) is used to measure parallaxes for stars other than the Sun? (a) 1 AU. (b) 2 AU. (c) 12,756 km. (d) 5444 km.

(b) 2 AU.

Q8bQ2. If it were fueled by chemical processes (e.g., coal burning), the maximum lifetime of the Sun would be approximately (a) 5000 years. (b) 65 million years. (c) 4.6 billion years. (d) The Sun can’t produce its present-day luminosity via chemistry.

(a) 5000 years.

Q8bQ 3. An opaque body emits (a) all wavelengths of light, with the wavelength of peak intensity determined by the composition of the object. (b) all wavelengths of light, with the wavelength of peak intensity determined by the temperature of the object. (c) specific wavelengths (or “colours”) of light. (d) light only if it is really hot.

(b) all wavelengths of light, with the wavelength of peak intensity determined by the temperature of the object.

Q8bQ4. A transparent gas emits (a) all wavelengths of light, with the wavelength of peak intensity determined by the composition of the object. (b) all wavelengths of light, with the wavelength of peak intensity determined by the temperature of the object. (c) specific wavelengths (or “colours”) of light. (d) light only if it is really hot.

Q8bQ5. At approximately what wavelength does the Sun’s spectrum peak? (a) 100 nm. (b) 400 nm. (c) 500 nm. (d) 700 nm.

Q8bQ6. In what region of the electromagnetic spectrum does the light emitted by a human peak? (a) Ultraviolet. (b) Visible. (c) Infrared. (d) Radio.

Q8bQ7. In what region (or regions) of the electromagnetic spectrum is the Earth’s atmosphere transparent? (a) Gamma rays. (b) X-rays. (c) Ultraviolet. (d) Visible. (e) Infrared. (f) Radio

(d) Visible.

Q8bQ8. Who first noticed the absorption lines in the spectrum of the Sun? (a) Edward Pickering. (b) Annie Cannon. (c) Joseph Von Fraunhofer. (d) Cecilia Payne.

Q8bQ9. Which of the following elements was identified in the spectrum of sunlight before it was discovered on Earth? (a) Hydrogen. (b) Helium. (c) Nitrogen. (d) Mercury.

(b) Helium.

Q8bQ10. What gas is used in the fluorescent bulbs that illuminate this room? (a) Hydrogen. (b) Helium. (c) Nitrogen. (d) Mercury.

(d) Mercury.

Q8bQ11. For which of the following stellar spectral types are the hydrogen absorption lines strongest? (a) B. (b) G. (c) K. (d) M.

(a) B

Q8bQ12. Whose calculations in the early 1920’s showed that all stars are ~90% hydrogen? (This person’s PhD thesis is widely considered one of most important historical contributions to astrophysics.) (a) Edward Pickering. (b) Annie Cannon. (c) Joseph Von Fraunhofer. (d) Cecilia Payne.

(d) Cecilia Payne.

Q8aQ1. What is the approximate altitude of the Sun at local noon today (Mar 19) as viewed from Kelowna? (a) 17°. (b) 37°. (c) 42°. (d) 40°.

(d) 40°.

Q8aQ2. At 2:58 PM PDT tomorrow, the Sun will (a) cross the celestial equator moving from north to south. (b) cross the celestial equator moving from south to north. (c) reach its most northerly position (23.5° above the celestial equator). (d) reach its most southerly position (23.5° below the celestial equator).

(b) cross the celestial equator moving from south to north.

Q8aQ3. The weakest (by far) of nature’s four fundamental forces is (a) the strong nuclear force. (b) the weak nuclear force. (c) the electric/magnetic force. (d) gravity.

(d) gravity.

Q8aQ4. One light-year is a distance corresponding to (a) 300,000 km. (b) 9,460,000,000,000 km. (c) 9,460,000,000 km. (d) 39,700,000,000,000 km.

(b) 9,460,000,000,000 km.

Q8aQ5. In what year was Neptune discovered? (a) 1781. (b) 1930. (c) 1801. (d) 1846.

(d) 1846.

Q8aQ6. Who discovered Pluto? (a) Percival Lowell. (b) Urbain Le Verrier. (c) William Herschel. (d) Clyde Tombaugh

(d) Clyde Tombaugh

Q8aQ7. In 2006, the International Astronomical Union put together a set of criteria that must be met in order for a Solar System object to be considered a major planet. On which criterion does a minor (or dwarf) planet fail? (a) The object must be massive enough to be a sphere. (b) The object must orbit the Sun. (c) The object must clear a path in its orbit around the Sun. (d) Both a and c.

Q8aQ8. The Earth is scaled down to a 30-cm-diameter globe. On this scale, how far away is the Moon if it’s at apogee? (The equatorial diameter of the Earth is 12,756 km. The actual Earth-Moon distance when the Moon is at apogee is 406,725 km.) (a) 9.70 m. (b) 9.57 m. (c) 9.04 m. (d) 8.38 m.

(b) 9.57 m.

Q8aQ9. Friedrich Bessel made the first successful stellar parallax measurement in 1838/39. What star did he use for this measurement? (a) Proxima Centauri. (b) Sirius. (c) 61 Cygni. (d) 51 Pegasi.

Q8aQ 10. What is the luminosity of the Sun? (a) 1370 W/m2. (b) 1.2 × 1022 W. (c) 7.9 × 1025 W. (d) 3.9 × 1026 W

(d) 3.9 × 1026 W

Q7Q1. What is the approximate altitude of the Sun at local noon today (Mar 12) as viewed from Kelowna? (a) 35°. (b) 37°. (c) 41°. (d) 64°

(b) 37°.

Q7Q2. According to Newton’s laws of motion, forces result from (a) interactions between objects. (b) internal strivings. (c) universal bestowments. (d) All of the above

(a) interactions between objects.

Q7Q3. The Sun is 335,000 times more massive than the Earth. The gravitational force of the Sun on the Earth is (a) 335,000 times that of the Earth on the Sun. (b) 335,0002 times that of the Earth on the Sun. (c) the same as that of the Earth on the Sun. (d) 1/335,000th that of the Earth on the Sun.

Q7Q4. If the Earth’s distance from the Sun were reduced to 0.5 AU, the gravitational force of the Sun on the Earth would (a) be one half its value at 1 AU. (b) be one quarter its value at 1 AU. (c) be twice its value at 1 AU. (d) be four times its value at 1 AU.

(d) be four times its value at 1 AU.

Q7Q5. How much does Ryan (80 kg) weigh standing on the surface of Jupiter’s moon Europa? [Europa has mass 4.80 × 1022 kg and radius 1560 km = 1,560,000 m. The gravitational constant in metric units is 6.67 × 10‒11.] (a) 1.32 N. (b) 105 N. (c) 23.6 N. (d) 1.64 × 108 N.

(b) 105 N.

Q7Q6. To work out an elliptical orbit, Newton needed to use (a) his law of gravitation. (b) his second law of motion. (c) calculus. (d) All of the above.

(d) All of the above.

Q7Q7. The precession of the Earth’s spin axis is caused by the (a) Moon’s tidal “stretching” of the Earth. (b) unbalanced pull of the Moon on the spin-flattened Earth. (c) clustering of continents north of the equator. (d) solar wind.

(b) unbalanced pull of the Moon on the spin-flattened Earth.

Q7Q8. Giovanni Cassini measured the AU in 1672 using the parallax technique on the (a) Sun. (b) planet Mars. (c) planet Venus. (d) Moon.

(b) planet Mars.

Q7Q9. Who was the first to measure a finite value for the speed of light? (a) Galileo Galilei. (b) Isaac Newton. (c) Olaus Rømer. (d) Léon Foucault.

Q7Q10. William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus in what year? (a) 1781. (b) 1759. (c) 1687. (d) 1850.

(a) 1781.

Q6Q1. What is the approximate altitude of the Sun at local noon today (Mar 5) as viewed from Kelowna? (a) 27°. (b) 32°. (c) 35°. (d) 41°.

Q6Q2. Kepler’s 1st and 2nd laws of planetary motion appear in Astronomia Nova, which was published in (a) 1596. (b) 1609. (c) 1610. (d) 1619.

(b) 1609.

Q6Q3. Galileo’s historic telescopic observations appear in Sidereus Nuncius, which was published in (a) 1596. (b) 1609. (c) 1610. (d) 1619.

Q6Q4. The orbit of comet Tempel-Tuttle (responsible for the Leonid meteor shower in November) has a semi-major axis of 10.34 AU. Using Kepler’s 3rd law, we find Swift-Tuttle’s orbital period to be (a) 4.75 years. (b) 33.2 years. (c) 107 years. (d) 1106 years.

(b) 33.2 years.

Q6Q5. Pluto has an orbital period of 248 years. Using Kepler’s 3rd law, we find the semi-major axis of Pluto’s orbit to be (a) 15.7 AU. (b) 62.2 AU. (c) 39.5 AU. (d) 3905 AU.

Q6Q6. In 1589 and 1590, Galileo demonstrated publically in Pisa that if you drop two different-weight objects from the same height, the (a) objects will hit the ground and the same time. (b) heavier object will hit the ground first. (c) lighter object will hit the ground first. (d) heavier object is not affected by air resistance.

(a) objects will hit the ground and the same time.

Q6Q7. Which of the following telescopic observations proved that the geocentric model was wrong? (a) The Sun has spots which move. (b) Jupiter has four moons which revolve around Jupiter at different rates. (c) The ‘milk’ of the Milky Way is composed of countless stars. (d) Venus goes through a full set of phases.

(d) Venus goes through a full set of phases.

Q6Q8. In Il Saggiatore (“The Assayer”), Galileo argued that (a) “the Universe stands continually open to our gaze.” (b) “God could have made the Universe any way he wanted, and still made it appear the way it does to us.” (c) Aristotle’s model of gravity is wrong. (d) Ptolemy’s geocentric model of the Universe is wrong.

(a) “the Universe stands continually open to our gaze.”

Q6Q9. Who invented the reflecting telescope? (a) Tycho Brahe. (b) Robert Hooke. (c) Galileo Galilei. (d) Isaac Newton.

(d) Isaac Newton.

Q6Q10. According to Newton’s laws of motion, what is required for an object to be in motion? (a) An internal striving. (b) Nothing. Motion is a natural state. (c) A natural impetus (or universal ‘bestowment’). (d) Either a or c.

(b) Nothing. Motion is a natural state.

Q5Q1. Tycho’s Universe model can best be described as (a) geocentric with the Moon, Sun, and planets moving around the Earth. (b) geocentric with the Moon and Sun moving around the Earth while the planets move around the Sun. (c) heliocentric with the Moon moving around the Earth while the Earth and the other planets move around the Sun. (d) heliocentric with the Earth moving around the Sun while the Moon and planets move around the Earth.

(b) geocentric with the Moon and Sun moving around the Earth while the planets move around the Sun.

Q5Q2. Which of the following events demonstrated to Tycho that the heavens are not unchanging? (a) A partial solar eclipse in 1560. (b) The conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 1563. (c) The appearance of a “new star” in 1572. (d) The appearance of a bright comet in 1577.

Q5Q3. Tycho’s instruments at Stjerneborg were able to achieve an angular accuracy of approximately (a) 1 arcsecond. (b) 1 arcminute. (c) 0.5°. (d) 1°.

(b) 1 arcminute.

Q5Q4. Kepler used the model above(hedral shapes) in an attempt to (a) understand the specific set of Sun-planet distances in Copernicus’ heliocentric model. (b) explain non-uniform motions in the heliocentric model. (c) understand the deferent separations in Ptolemy’s geocentric model. (d) Both a and b.

(a) understand the specific set of Sun-planet distances in Copernicus’ heliocentric model.

Q5Q5. Kepler published the model above in (a) Astronomia Nova (“New Astronomy”). (b) Harmonices Mundi (“Harmony of the Worlds”). (c) Mysterium Cosmographicum (“Mystery of the Cosmos [solved]”). (d) None of the above.

Q5QA planet’s orbit is described by the ellipse below. The Sun sits at one of the two foci. What is the eccentricity of this orbit? (a) 0.41. (b) 0.09. (c) 0.25. (d) 0.20.

(d) 0.20.

Q5Q7. The orbit above most closely matches that of (a) Mercury. (b) Earth. (c) Venus. (d) Mars.

(a) Mercury.

Q5Q8. Which major planet orbit has the lowest eccentricity? (a) Mercury. (b) Earth. (c) Venus. (d) Mars.

Q5Q9. Kepler’s 2nd law demonstrates that a planet moves fastest at (a) conjunction. (b) opposition. (c) aphelion. (d) perihelion.

(d) perihelion.

Q5Q10. In what month is the Earth closest to the Sun? (a) July. (b) October. (c) January. (d) April.

Q4Q1. To whom can the following statement be attributed: “It must be said that our authors knew the truth about the nature of the skies.” (a) St. Thomas Aquinas. (b) St. Augustine of Hippo. (c) Theodosius I. (d) Ptolemy.

(b) St. Augustine of Hippo.

Q4Q2. During the Early Middle Ages in Europe, questions about the physical nature of the Universe were answered by (a) studying the sky. (b) scholars who studied the works of the classical Greeks. (c) meditation and prayer. (d) authorities on Christian doctrine.

(d) authorities on Christian doctrine.

Q4Q3. In what year did the Arab observer, Al Sufi, publish the Book of Fixed Stars. (a) 964. (b) 1430. (c) 1496. (d) 1543.

(a) 964.

Q4Q4. Who built the world’s first great observatory, featuring a threestorey-high quadrant? (a) Ulugh Beg. (b) Al Sufi. (c) Copernicus. (d) Ptolemy.

(a) Ulugh Beg.

Q4Q5. Who published Epitoma in almagesti Ptolemei? (a) Ptolemy. (b) Omar Khayyam. (c) Regiomontanus. (d) Copernicus.

Q4Q6. Which of the following is not an assumption of Copernicus’ heliocentric model? (a) The Sun is at the center of the Universe. (b) The Moon orbits the Earth. (c) The stars are fixed in place a long way from the Sun. (d) The planets (including the Earth) revolve around the Sun on perfect, circular orbits.

(b) The Moon orbits the Earth.

Q4Q7. In the heliocentric model, the retrograde motion of an inferior planet is explained by (a) the motion of the planet on its epicycle. (b) offsetting the center of the planet’s deferent. (c) the Earth catching up to and passing the planet. (d) the planet catching up to and passing the Earth.

(d) the planet catching up to and passing the Earth.

Q4Q8. In the heliocentric model, the planet Mars is farthest from the Earth when it is at (a) the near side of its epicycle. (b) the far side of its epicycle. (c) opposition. (d) conjunction.

(d) conjunction.

Q4Q9. In what year was Copernicus’ De Revolutionibus Orbi published? (a) 1464. (b) 1496. (c) 1514. (d) 1543.

(d) 1543.

Q4Q10. For approximately how long did the Almagest stand as the best (and only) quantitative model of the Universe? [Compare publication dates of the Almagest and De Revolutionibus Orbi.] (a) 200 years. (b) 900 years. (c) 1400 years. (d) 2000 years.

Origins of Astronomy Flashcards

(130 cards)