term 1 exam - UCQ

Question 1

What celestial event is the Heel Stone aligned with?
a.
Sunrise on the summer solstice

b.
Sunrise on the winter solstice

c.
Sunset on the vernal equinox

d.
Sunset on the summer solstice

e.
Sunset on the winter solstice

f.
Sunrise on the vernal equinox

Answer 1

a. Sunrise on the summer solstice

Question 2

What does the term Solstice translate to?
a.
Equal night

b.
Sun equal

c.
Sun standing still

d.
Equant point

e.
Equal day

Answer 2

c. Sun standing still

Question 3

On the equinox, the sun will rise and set in the directions of
a.
north of East and north of West, respectively

b.
north of East and south of West, respectively

c.
due West and due East, respectively

d.
We cannot know which direction unless we know where on Earth we are

e.
due East and due West, respectively

Answer 3

e. due East and due West, respectively

Question 4

If you held your hand up to the sky, how many finger-widths would it take to span the full width of the Full Moon?
a.
One-tenth of the width of 1 finger

b.
The width of 2 fingers

c.
A half of the width of 1 finger

d.
The width of all 4 fingers

Answer 4

c. A half of the width of 1 finger

Question 5

Which of the following cycles of the sky has NOT been recognizable to sky watchers since ancient times?
a.
The annual parallax of the stars

b.
The monthly phases of the Moon

c.
The annual cycle of the Sun

d.
The cycles of the visible planets

Answer 5

a. The annual parallax of the stars

Question 6

Latitude measures what on Earth?
a.
Distance, in degrees, north or south of the equator

b.
Angle, in degrees, from the Sun to the Moon

c.
Distance, in degrees, east or west of the prime meridian

d.
Distance from the Earth to the Sun

Answer 6

a.Distance, in degrees, north or south of the equator

Question 7

What causes Earth’s seasons to change throughout a full year?
a.
Our atmosphere gets thicker in the summer, making it warmer. It gets thinner in the winter, making it colder.

b.
The changing temperature of the Sun over one year causes our seasons to change.

c.
The Earth changes its physical distance from the Sun, closer to the Sun in the summer and farther from the Sun in the winter

d.
The changing amount of direct or indirect sunlight as a result of Earth’s tilted north-south axis

Answer 7

d. The changing amount of direct or indirect sunlight as a result of Earth’s tilted north-south axis

Question 8

What is the shortest day of the year?
a.
Autumnal equinox

b.
Vernal equinox

c.
Summer solstice

d.
Winter solstice

Answer 8

d. Winter solstice

Question 9

Other than the well-known solar alignment of Stonehenge, what other possible alignment of Stonehenge with the Sun can be interpreted from the site?
a.
Sunset on the winter solstice

b.
Sunset on the summer solstice

c.
Sunrise on the summer solstice

d.
Sunset on the autumnal equinox

e.
Sunrise on the winter solstice

Answer 9

a. Sunset on the winter solstice

Question 10

Which of the following statements about the cycles of the Sun is FALSE?
a.
Polar days & polar nights only occur at latitudes north of the Arctic Circle or south of the Antarctic Circle

b.
On the equinoxes, day and night are equal in length

c.
The latitude of 23.5°N was named the “Tropic of Cancer” because when it was named, the Sun was in the Cancer constellation on the day the Sun is directly overhead at this latitude

d.
In the northern hemisphere, the azimuth of the noon Sun is due North

Answer 10

d. In the northern hemisphere, the azimuth of the noon Sun is due North

Question 11

What is the origin of our units of time (i.e., 60 minutes in an hour, 60 seconds in a minute?)
a.
The base of the Babylonian number system

b.
The base of the Egyptian number system

c.
The number of Babylonian constellations which rise at regular intervals throughout the night and day

d.
The number of Ancient Egyptian constellations which rise at regular intervals throughout the night & day

Answer 11

b. The base of the Egyptian number system

Question 12

What about the Dec 21, 2012 date was significant for the Mayan culture?
a.
It is believed to be the date the Mayans thought to be the beginning of humanity

b.
It is the end of a 584 year cycle

c.
It was the end of the long count calendar

d.
It is the end of the 12th Baktun

e.
It was predicted to be the end of the world by the Mayans

Answer 12

c. It was the end of the long count calendar

Question 13

Which of the following statements about the tables in the Mayan Dresden codex is FALSE?
a.
The rows of 4 Tzolk’in dates correspond to the appearances and disappearances of the planet Venus

b.
An eclipse was seen by the Maya, without fail, on every date predicted in their eclipse table

c.
The repeated occurrences of the number 177 and 148 tell us that the Maya recognized that eclipses have a tendency to occur after sequences of either 6 or 5 lunations

d.
The eclipse tables took decades of eclipse tracking in order for the full eclipse cycle to reveal itself, causing many other ancient civilizations to assume that eclipses are unpredictable

e.
The total number of rows in the tables enables the tables to be used for eternity

Answer 13

b. An eclipse was seen by the Maya, without fail, on every date predicted in their eclipse table

Question 14

Which of the following statements about the zodiac constellations is FALSE?
a.
During the month of your birthday, your zodiac sign cannot be seen in the sky because it is below the horizon at night

b.
Your true zodiac sign is the constellation that passed through the zenith in the month that you were born

c.
The zodiac constellations are composed of the groups of stars that the Sun and the planets pass in front of throughout their cycles in the sky

d.
Our zodiac signs have shifted since they were first defined by the Ancient Greeks because of the precession of the Earth’s spin axis

Answer 14

b.
Your true zodiac sign is the constellation that passed through the zenith in the month that you were born

Question 15

What is the Augural text’s purpose?
a.
Text in the Mayan eclipse tables that teaches Mayans how to perform certain rituals

b.
Text in the Mayan eclipse tables that foretells of great times as a result of an eclipse

c.
Text from the Dresden Codex that talks about the Venus cycle

d.
Text in the Mayan eclipse tables that foretells of possible bad outcomes from an eclipse

Answer 15

d.
Text in the Mayan eclipse tables that foretells of possible bad outcomes from an eclipse

Question 16

The god Kukulkan’s name roughly translates to:
a.
Feathered dragon

b.
Plumed dragon

c.
Feathered lizard

d.
Plumed lizard

e.
Plumed serpent

Answer 16

e.
Plumed serpent

Question 17

What base was the Babylonian number system in?
a.
16

b.
20

c.
60

d.
2

e.
10

Answer 17

c.
60

Question 18

How long is the Venus cycle?
a.
29.5 days

b.
20 days

c.
584 days

d.
365.25 days

e.
584 years

Answer 18

c.
584 days

Question 19

In present day we call it Mercury, but it was originally named what by the Babylonians?
a.
Hermes

b.
Nabu

c.
Ishtar

d.
Aphrodite

Answer 19

b.
Nabu

Question 20

In the southern hemisphere, all stars appear to rotate around the south celestial pole. If you watched this motion over the course of one night, which direction would the circumpolar stars appear to be moving?
a.
east to west

b.
counter-clockwise

c.
clockwise

d.
west to east

e.
north to south

Answer 20

c.
clockwise

Question 21

What is one of the main reasons Thales began searching for explanations of natural phenomena without invoking the use of gods?
a.
Thales was exposed to multiple religion’s views on why various natural phenomena occur

b.
Thales was best known for setting the earth ‘afloat’ in space

c.
Thales was the first to create a model of the universe and use the model to solve issues

d.
Earthquakes were really easy to predict.

Answer 21

a.
Thales was exposed to multiple religion’s views on why various natural phenomena occur

Question 22

What specific measurement led Aristarchus to the belief that the Earth may not be at the centre of the solar system?
a.
He measured the Moon to be much further away than the Sun

b.
He measured the Sun to be much further away than the Moon

c.
He measured the size of the Sun to be much larger than the Earth

d.
He measured the size of the Sun to be much smaller than the Earth

e.
He measured the Moon to be about half the size of Earth

Answer 22

c.
He measured the size of the Sun to be much larger than the Earth

Question 23

Which of the following observations does not show us that Earth is round?
a.
Earth’s shadow on the Moon during a lunar eclipse is always round

b.
Distant ships disappear on the horizon bottom-first

c.
When an observer walks south, the southern constellations rise up more rapidly than they would if Earth were flat

d.
When the Sun is directly overhead, shadows on Earth disappear

Answer 23

d.
When the Sun is directly overhead, shadows on Earth disappear

Question 24

What did Aristotle believe about comets?
a.
They cannot be celestial bodies because they do not appear eternal

b.
They orbit the Earth in constant circular motion between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter

c.
They orbit the Sun in highly eccentric elliptical orbits

d.
They are new stars being born

Answer 24

a.
They cannot be celestial bodies because they do not appear eternal

Question 25

The model of which astronomer has the Antikythera Mechanism been tentatively attributed to, and why?
a.
Ptolemy, because the vases and other treasures discovered with the Antikythera Mechanism were known to have come from Alexandria, where Ptolemy lived

b.
Eudoxus, because the paths of the planets predicted by the device match their paths in his lifetime

c.
Hipparchus, because some of the device’s components appear to be based on his theory of the moon’s motion

d.
Apollonius, because the Roman writer Cicero declared that sophisticated astronomical devices were found among the ruins of Perga, where Apollonius lived

Answer 25

c.
Hipparchus, because some of the device’s components appear to be based on his theory of the moon’s motion

Question 26

What does the term ‘Sidereal Year’ refer to?
a.
The time it takes for the Sun’s position on the sky to move through the entire zodiac and return to its starting position

b.
The length of an epicycle of Mars

c.
The length of an epicycle of Jupiter

d.
The time it takes between two successive summer solstices, for example

e.
The time it takes for the Sun to orbit the Earth once

Answer 26

a.
The time it takes for the Sun’s position on the sky to move through the entire zodiac and return to its starting position

Question 27

Which of the following statements about Earth’s precession is FALSE?
Question 7Answer
a.
Due to precession, Polaris disappears every 26,000 years

b.
It was used to determine that the celestial globe on the Farnese status of Atlas was constructed from Hipparchus’ star catalogue

c.
It causes the Sun’s position in the sky at a given date and time to shift by a small angle each year

d.
It was discovered by Hipparchus

Answer 27

a.
Due to precession, Polaris disappears every 26,000 years

Question 28

Which of the following statements about The Almagest is FALSE?
Question 8Answer
a.
It was originally written entitled Mathematical Treatise by Ptolemy

b.
It is the name of the 2nd book that Aristarchus wrote and was thought lost to obscurity

c.
The title The Almagest is the Latin translation for the book’s Arabic title, which was The Greatest Book in Arabic

d.
It is often considered to be one of the first comprehensive astronomical textbooks

Answer 28

b.
It is the name of the 2nd book that Aristarchus wrote and was thought lost to obscurity

Question 29

Pythagoras built a very large cult/religion, who believed that…
a.
they should worship numbers and mathematical laws as if they were gods

b.
that the universe cannot be known fully, and we cannot trust our sense to observe it

c.
the universe was full of a fifth element called quintessence

d.
earthquakes are causes by water sloshing around underneath the ground we walk on

Answer 29

a.
they should worship numbers and mathematical laws as if they were gods

Question 30

Which of the following statements about Anaximander’s cosmology is FALSE?
a.
The Earth is spherical

b.
The Earth is embedded within rotating rings and cylinders containing the Sun, Moon, stars and planets

c.
It is geocentric

d.
The Earth is floating in space

Answer 30

a.
The Earth is spherical

Question 31

What did Pythagoras mean when he called the Universe a “cosmos”?
a.
The laws that describe motion on Earth are the same as the laws that describe motion in space

b.
The Universe is infinite in all directions

c.
The Universe is a harmonious system that obeys knowable laws

d.
The Universe is eternal

Answer 31

c.
The Universe is a harmonious system that obeys knowable laws

Question 32

What is one of the main reasons why Aristarchus’ heliocentric model was lost in obscurity and not really followed?
a.
The large following amassed by Aristarchus believed in the central fire

b.
Aristarchus himself did not believe in his model and dismissed the ideas

c.
Aristarchus’ model could not explain apparent planetary motions

d.
Philolaus’ model was much better

e.
The large following amassed by Aristotle believed in a geocentric universe, Aristarchus was much less popular

Answer 32

e.
The large following amassed by Aristotle believed in a geocentric universe, Aristarchus was much less popular

Question 33

In Philolaus’ model of the universe, what causes the daily rising and setting of the Sun that we observe on our sky?
a.
The Earth orbits the Sun once every 365 days

b.
The Earth spins on its axis once every 24 hours

c.
The Earth orbits around the central fire once every 24 hours

d.
Multiple nested crystal spheres are needed to create the diurnal motion we observe

e.
The Sun orbits the Earth once every 24 hours

Answer 33

c.
The Earth orbits around the central fire once every 24 hours

Question 34

When is Mars moving the slowest across the sky?
a.
During the retrograde portion of its motion through our sky

b.
Only when the Moon is in the sky at the same time

c.
During the direct motion portion of its motion through the sky

d.
Once a year

e.
Only when the nested spheres are perfectly aligned

Answer 34

a.
During the retrograde portion of its motion through our sky

Question 35

The Pythagoreans believed in two specific things about the Universe: that all celestial bodies move in perfect circles AND….
a.
the Earth cannot be moving as it does not appear to be moving

b.
the Sun is at the centre of the universe

c.
Earth is at the centre of the universe

d.
the Earth is a sphere

e.
the Central Fire is the source of all energy in the solar system

Answer 35

d.
the Earth is a sphere

Question 36

What is the definition of archaeoastronomy?
a.
the study of light, matter, and ancient peoples

b.
the study of the night sky, it’s physical processes, and their explanations

c.
the study of ancient sites and artifacts and their connections to the patterns in the day and night sky

d.
the study of ancient people, their customs, and their religions

Answer 36

c.
the study of ancient sites and artifacts and their connections to the patterns in the day and night sky

Question 37

What do archaeologists believe Newgrange’s three inner chambers were used for?
a.
Honouring the Sun

b.
Sacrificing humans to the sun god

c.
Catching sunlight

d.
Burial of honoured people

e.
Honouring the summer solstice

Answer 37

d.
Burial of honoured people

Question 38

Newgrange appears to have been built around…
a.
3200 BCE, well after Stonehenge was first constructed

b.
3200 BCE, which was before Stonehenge was built

c.
3200 BCE, about the same time as Stonehenge

d.
1600 BCE, which was before Stonehenge was built

e.
it’s not known how old Newgrange is

Answer 38

b.
3200 BCE, which was before Stonehenge was built

Question 39

What is the Azimuth of the Zenith?
a.
270 deg

b.
45 deg

c.
We cannot define the azimuth of the zenith

d.
0 deg

e.
90 deg

Answer 39

e.
90 deg

Question 40

What is the Altitude of the Zenith?
a.
45 deg

b.
90 deg

c.
We cannot define the altitude of the Zenith

d.
270 deg

e.
0 deg

Answer 40

b.
90 deg

Question 41

What is the Altitude of the horizon?
a.
0 deg

b.
We cannot define the altitude of the Zenith

c.
90 deg

d.
45 deg

e.
270 deg

Answer 41

a.
0 deg

Question 42

If you viewed from above the north pole, which direction would the Earth appear to be spinning?
a.
Towards the Right

b.
West to east

c.
Counter clockwise

d.
Clockwise

e.
Towards the left

Answer 42

c.
Counter clockwise

Question 43

What does the term Equinox translate to?
a.
Equant point

b.
Equal night

c.
Sun standing still

d.
Sun equal

e.
Equal day

Answer 43

b.
Equal night

Question 44

Where is the Zenith?
a.
At the centre of the zodiac

b.
The point in the sky directly above you

c.
The point in the sky where the North Celestial Pole coincides with the Celestial Equator

d.
At the North Celestial Pole

Answer 44

b.
The point in the sky directly above you

Question 45

When the Heel stone was originally put in place, thousands of years ago, how would it have lined up with the Sun?
a.
On the winter solstice, the Sun would rise just to the left of the heel stone, when viewed from within the stone circle

b.
On the summer solstice, the Sun would rise just to the left of the heel stone, when viewed from within the stone circle

c.
On the vernal equinox, the Sun would rise directly behind the heel stone, when viewed from within the stone circle

d.
On the winter solstice, the Sun would rise directly behind the heel stone, when viewed from within the stone circle

e.
On the summer solstice, the Sun would rise directly behind the heel stone, when viewed from within the stone circle

Answer 45

b.
On the summer solstice, the Sun would rise just to the left of the heel stone, when viewed from within the stone circle

Question 46

What is the name of the stones that lay across the top of the archways of the Sarsen stones at Stonehenge?
a.
Timbers stones

b.
Bluestones

c.
Battle stones

d.
Lintels

Answer 46

d.
Lintels

Question 47

Which of the following correctly describes a “polar night”?
a.
a day in which the Sun remains above the horizon for 24 consecutive hours

b.
a day in which the Sun’s rising position reaches its furthest south position

c.
a day in which the Sun remains below the horizon for 24 consecutive hours

d.
a day in which the Sun’s rising position reaches its furthest north position

Answer 47

a.
a day in which the Sun remains above the horizon for 24 consecutive hours

Question 48

If you lived in the northern hemisphere, between which parts of the year would the Sun rise south of east?
a.
Summer solstice to autumnal equinox

b.
Winter solstice to summer solstice

c.
Vernal equinox to autumnal equinox

d.
Autumnal equinox to vernal equinox

e.
Summer solstice to vernal equinox

Answer 48

d.
Autumnal equinox to vernal equinox

Question 49

Why are summer days warmer than winter days?
a.
On summer days, the Sun spends more time above the horizon and reaches a higher altitude, thereby providing more direct light

b.
On summer days, the Sun reaches a lower altitude but spends more time above the horizon, thereby providing more hours of indirect light

c.
On summer days, the Sun spends less time above the horizon but reaches a higher altitude, thereby providing more direct light

d.
In summer, the Earth’s distance to the Sun is closer than the Earth’s distance in winter

e.
On summer days, the Sun spends less time above the horizon but reaches a higher altitude, thereby providing more indirect light

Answer 49

a.
On summer days, the Sun spends more time above the horizon and reaches a higher altitude, thereby providing more direct light

Question 50

Which of the following statements about Newton’s explanation for Earth’s precession is FALSE?
a.
Newton showed that a spinning sphere can develop a bulge around its equator

b.
Newton showed that Earth’s equatorial bulge is constantly being pulled on by the combined gravity of the other celestial bodies in our solar system

c.
Newton showed that the wobbling of Earth’s equatorial bulge is causing Earth’s spin axis to precess in a circle approximately every 26,000 years

d.
Newton showed that Earth’s equatorial bulge is causing Earth’s daily spin to slow down by a fraction of a second each year

Answer 50

d.
Newton showed that Earth’s equatorial bulge is causing Earth’s daily spin to slow down by a fraction of a second each year

Question 51

What did Newton develop in order to facilitate his formulation of the laws of motion?
a.
Trigonometry - a mathematical tool for solving the triangles created by breaking up an object’s motion into the vectors corresponding to its 3 dimensions

b.
Calculus - a mathematical language for describing motion precisely

c.
The concept of “impetus,” which allows an object’s motion to inherit the Earth’s motion

d.
Vector algebra - a mathematical tool for breaking up an object’s motion into its 3 dimensions

Answer 51

b.
Calculus - a mathematical language for describing motion precisely

Question 52

What did Newton propose about comets?
a.
They follow hyperbolic orbits, passing near the Sun only once, then continuing out of our solar system, never to be seen again

b.
They follow highly-elliptical orbits with the Sun at one focus point

c.
They follow circular orbits around the Sun

d.
They are atmospheric phenomena

Answer 52

b.
They follow highly-elliptical orbits with the Sun at one focus point

Question 53

When Newton passed sunlight through 2 identical prisms, what did he observe and what did he conclude from his observations?
a.
The light dispersed into a rainbow after the 1st prism, then recombined into white light after the 2nd prism, from which Newton concluded that sunlight is pure white light and that the rainbow was a result of contamination from the glass

b.
The light dispersed into a rainbow after the 1st prism, then recombined into white light after the 2nd prism, from which Newton concluded that sunlight is composed of all the colours of the rainbow

c.
The light dispersed into a rainbow after the 1st prism, then produced an even brighter rainbow after the 2nd prism, from which Newton concluded that sunlight is pure white light and that the rainbow was a result of contamination from the glass

d.
The light dispersed into a rainbow after the 1st prism, then produced an even brighter rainbow after the 2nd prism, from which Newton concluded that sunlight is composed of all the colours of the rainbow

Answer 53

b.
The light dispersed into a rainbow after the 1st prism, then recombined into white light after the 2nd prism, from which Newton concluded that sunlight is composed of all the colours of the rainbow

Question 54

Through the telescope, Galileo observed that planets appear as round worlds while the stars remain point-like. What did he conclude from this?
a.
The stars must be far more distant than the planets, which would explain why stellar parallax can’t be seen from Earth with the naked eye

b.
Stars and planets are the same type of celestial bodies, but planets appear as round worlds because they’re closer to Earth

c.
The stars are so much further away than the planets that it’s possible that there are planets in orbit around other stars but we can’t see them from Earth, even with the telescope

d.
The Milky Way is the combined light from numerous distant planets, which would explain its cloudy appearance when viewed with the naked eye

Answer 54

a.
The stars must be far more distant than the planets, which would explain why stellar parallax can’t be seen from Earth with the naked eye

Question 55

According to Newton, what does the Moon orbit around?
a.
The exact centre of the Earth

b.
A point slightly offset from the Moon’s centre

c.
A point in space exactly between the Earth & Moon

d.
A point slightly offset from Earth’s centre

Answer 55

d.
A point slightly offset from Earth’s centre

Question 56

Which of the following statements about Galileo’s discoveries with the telescope is FALSE?
a.
He observed bumps on either side of Saturn, which suggested that the celestial bodies are not necessarily perfect spheres

b.
He observed that sunspots appear closer together when they near the edge of the Sun’s surface, which proved that the Sun has imperfections on its surface

c.
He observed that the Milky Way is a gas cloud in our atmosphere

d.
He observed mountains and craters on the Moon, which proved that the Moon is not perfectly smooth

Answer 56

c.
He observed that the Milky Way is a gas cloud in our atmosphere

Question 57

According to Newton, which of the following statements about the Earth’s tides is FALSE?
a.
Neap tides are when the high tide is at its highest and spring tides are when the high tide is at its lowest

b.
High and low tides are due primarily to the Moon’s gravitational pull on Earth’s oceans

c.
High tides are highest at Full or New moon

d.
Spring and neap tides are due to the combined gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun on Earth’s oceans

Answer 57

a.
Neap tides are when the high tide is at its highest and spring tides are when the high tide is at its lowest

Question 58

What incorrect theory was included in the Dialogue and caused the Pope to reject the book?
a.
The theory that Earth’s tides are visible proof that the Earth moves

b.
The theory that sunspots are due to clouds in space that are passing in front of the Sun

c.
The theory that comets are atmospheric phenomena

d.
The theory that stellar parallax can’t be seen because the stars are too far away

Answer 58

a.
The theory that Earth’s tides are visible proof that the Earth moves

Question 59

Why was Halley’s Comet named for Edmund Halley?
a.
He was the 1st person to detect a comet with a telescope

b.
He used telescope observations to produce an accurate map of the comet’s path, which proved that comets originate from a belt between Mars and Jupiter

c.
He successfully predicted the comet’s next appearance

d.
He used telescope observations to produce an accurate map of the comet’s path, which proved that comets follow circular orbits around the Sun

Answer 59

c.
He successfully predicted the comet’s next appearance

Question 60

Which of the following is a correct implication of the inverse-square law of gravity?
a.
If the Moon’s distance to Earth was doubled, its gravitational attraction to Earth would be 2 times weaker

b.
If the Earth’s distance from the Sun was halved, its gravitational attraction to the Sun would be 4 times weaker

c.
If the Earth’s distance from the Sun was halved, its gravitational attraction to the Sun would be 2 times weaker

d.
If the Moon’s distance to Earth was doubled, its gravitational attraction to Earth would be 4 times weaker

Answer 60

d.
If the Moon’s distance to Earth was doubled, its gravitational attraction to Earth would be 4 times weaker

Question 61

How did Newton prove that the motion of the planets is driven by the Sun’s gravity?
a.
By showing that the law of gravity can be used to derive Kepler’s 3rd Law, which was known to correctly describe the motion of the planets

b.
By showing that an apple speeds up as it falls toward the ground, just as the planets speed up as they approach the Sun

c.
By demonstrating that if a cannonball were to be launched from Earth with a great enough speed, it would go into orbit

d.
By showing that the rate at which an apple falls toward the Earth is equal to the rate at which the planets orbit the Sun

Answer 61

c.
By demonstrating that if a cannonball were to be launched from Earth with a great enough speed, it would go into orbit

Question 62

Why did Halley suspect that the comets of 1531, 1607 and 1682 were the same comet?
a.
They were all retrograde and had tails of equal length and brightness

b.
They were all retrograde and separated by equal intervals of approximately 76 years

c.
They were all separated by equal intervals of approximately 76 years and had tails of equal length and brightness

d.
They were all separated by equal intervals of approximately 76 years, had tails of equal length, and their brightness dimmed with each sighting

Answer 62

b.
They were all retrograde and separated by equal intervals of approximately 76 years

Question 63

Which of the following statements about Robert Hooke is FALSE?
a.
He was hired by the Royal Society to demonstrate scientific experiments at the Society’s meetings

b.
One of the reasons he believed that gravity weakens with the square of distance is because light dims at the same rate

c.
He believed that the force that keeps the Moon in orbit around the Earth is different than the force that causes objects to fall toward the ground, whereas Newton realized that they were the same force

d.
He believed that the planets are driven by an invisible attractive force from the Sun that can act across empty space

Answer 63

c.
He believed that the force that keeps the Moon in orbit around the Earth is different than the force that causes objects to fall toward the ground, whereas Newton realized that they were the same force

Question 64

What did Newton correctly conclude from his measurements of the masses of Jupiter and Saturn?
a.
Jupiter and Saturn are gas giants, and the most massive planets in our solar system

b.
Jupiter is the most massive planet in our solar system, while Saturn is the least massive

c.
Saturn is the most massive planet in our solar system, while Jupiter is the least massive

d.
Jupiter and Saturn are gas giants and therefore the least massive planets in our solar system

Answer 64

a.
Jupiter and Saturn are gas giants, and the most massive planets in our solar system

Question 65

Why are all large modern telescopes reflectors rather than refractors?
a.
Glass lenses can be made larger than the mirrors required to prevent the dispersion of light

b.
Large mirrors are more likely to warp due to temperature changes, whereas large glass lenses are more stable in varying temperatures

c.
Large glass lenses are more likely to warp due to temperature changes, whereas large mirrors are more stable in varying temperatures

d.
Mirrors can be made larger than the multi-layered glass lenses required to prevent the dispersion of light

Answer 65

c.
Large glass lenses are more likely to warp due to temperature changes, whereas large mirrors are more stable in varying temperatures

Question 66

Which of the following statements about a Galilean telescope is TRUE?
a.
It contains 2 mirrors, one of which reflects more light rays to the eye than the eye receives by itself

b.
It contains 2 lenses, one of which refracts more light rays to the eye than the eye receives by itself

c.
Kepler changed the primary lens to a mirror, which allows the telescope to be larger without causing chromatic aberration

d.
It contains 2 lenses, one of which removes the blurring effect of chromatic aberration

Answer 66

b.
It contains 2 lenses, one of which refracts more light rays to the eye than the eye receives by itself

Question 67

What enabled Newton to measure the masses of Jupiter and Saturn?
a.
They were the only planets (aside from Earth) with known moons, enabling an estimate of the planets’ masses using their moons’ orbital measurements combined with Kepler’s 3rd Law

b.
Due to their large size, they were the only planets for which an accurate size could be measured, enabling an estimate of their mass from their density

c.
Due to their distance from Earth, they were the only planets for which parallax could be seen, enabling an estimate of their mass from the parallax equation

d.
Due to their slow motion, they were the only planets for which an accurate distance could be measured, enabling an estimate of their mass using the inverse-square law of gravity

Answer 67

a.
They were the only planets (aside from Earth) with known moons, enabling an estimate of the planets’ masses using their moons’ orbital measurements combined with Kepler’s 3rd Law

Question 68

Which of the following explanations for planetary motion was taught by René Descartes?
a.
The planets are driven by an invisible attractive force from the Sun that can act across empty space

b.
The motion of the planets is driven by the revolutions of the crystal orbs

c.
The planets are driven around the Sun by a whirling vortex of fluid

d.
The planets are fixed in space – all components of their motion are due to the motion of the Earth

Answer 68

c.
The planets are driven around the Sun by a whirling vortex of fluid

Question 69

Why did Halley suspect that the comets of 1531, 1607 and 1682 were the same comet?
a.
They were all separated by equal intervals of approximately 76 years, had tails of equal length, and their brightness dimmed with each sighting

b.
They were all retrograde and separated by equal intervals of approximately 76 years

c.
They were all retrograde and had tails of equal length and brightness

d.
They were all separated by equal intervals of approximately 76 years and had tails of equal length and brightness

Answer 69

b.
They were all retrograde and separated by equal intervals of approximately 76 years

Question 70

Which of the following statements about The Dialogue is FALSE?
a.
It was written in the form of a conversation between three characters, one of which supports the Copernican cosmology, one of which supports the Ptolemaic model, and the third is a neutral observer

b.
It was written by Galileo with the permission of the Pope

c.
The character named Simplicio is a geocentrist

d.
It presents a debate between the Copernican cosmology and the Galilean model

Answer 70

d.
It presents a debate between the Copernican cosmology and the Galilean model

Question 71

In what way did Galileo’s discovery of Jupiter’s moons support heliocentrism?
a.
It showed that stars are much further than the planets, which explains why stellar parallax can’t be seen

b.
It showed that a planet with a moon can orbit the Sun without losing its moon

c.
It showed that the crystal orbs cannot exist physically in space

d.
It showed that the celestial bodies are not all eternal

Answer 71

b.
It showed that a planet with a moon can orbit the Sun without losing its moon

Question 72

Which of the following statements about the conflict between the Galileo and the Roman Catholic Church is FALSE?
a.
In the Christian Bible, the statement “Sun, stand Though still” was used to argue that the Sun must be in motion around the Earth

b.
In the book ‘Harmony of the Worlds’, Galileo presented his telescope observations, several of which contradicted Aristotle’s teachings about the celestial bodies

c.
Even before Galileo’s telescope observations, he believed that the Earth moves around the Sun, as indicated by his letters to Kepler

d.
Giordano Bruno, a known believer that the Earth orbits the Sun, was executed for expressing several opinions that were contrary to Bible scripture

Answer 72

b.
In the book ‘Harmony of the Worlds’, Galileo presented his telescope observations, several of which contradicted Aristotle’s teachings about the celestial bodies