ASTR 1P01/02: Introduction to Astronomy I/II

Practice Exam

Please solve the following questions. This is not a real exam, it will not be graded, and you do not need to submit your solutions to anyone. The questions are simply intended to help you practice for the real exam.

These questions will not appear in the exam itself. Students who don't genuinely attempt to solve the questions on their own, and only memorize the solutions, will have a very hard time in the actual exam!

This sample exam is online, but the real exam will be given in person, at a time and place indicated on the course website.

THIS IS NOT THE ACTUAL EXAM!
THIS IS JUST A PRACTICE EXAM!
THE REAL EXAM IS IN PERSON!

If you need any clarifications for these questions, you can ask for them on the course Teams channel.

Question 1

What is the Local Group?

A cluster of stars that the Sun belongs to.
A cluster of galaxies located near the Milky Way.
A cluster of galaxies that the Milky Way belongs to.

Question 2

The orbits of the planets in Ptolemy's model are...

Epicycles.
Squares.
Ellipses.

Question 3

"All my friends believe in astrology. Clearly, it must be true!" This is an example of...

The appeal to popularity fallacy.
The correlation implies causation fallacy.
The appeal to tradition fallacy.

Question 4

Which of the following is a reliable source of information about astronomy?

Any YouTube channel that has "astronomy" in the title.
The website for the James Webb Space Telescope, a space telescope operated by NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, and the European Space Agency.
Social media posts.

Question 5

Are lab experiments a very important aspect of astronomy?

Yes.
No.
They used to be in ancient times, but not anymore.

Question 6

One full rotation of the Earth around its axis corresponds to...

A day.
A year.
A month.

Question 7

Astrology is...

A pseudo-science, which means it claims to be a science but does not use the scientific method to test the validity of hypotheses.
A science, which means it is based on theories that are proven to be 100% correct and can never be disputed.
A science, which means it uses the scientific method to test the validity of hypotheses.

Question 8

When a planet is in retrograde...

The Earth is passing by it and temporarily moving faster than it.
It is moving backwards in its orbit.
You should not start any new relationships.

Question 9

A celestial object which can produce its own light is...

A star.
A planet.
Either a star or a planet.

Question 10

Did the Greeks believe that the Earth was at the center of the universe?

Yes, because they did not observe stellar parallax.
Yes, because they observed stellar parallax.
No, because they did not observe stellar parallax.

Question 11

What did Dean and Kelly's 2003 review of 40 astrology experiments conclude?

The astrology can accurately predict an individual's personality traits.
The astrology cannot accurately predict an individual's personality traits.
The astrology can accurately predict an individual's personality traits, but only if that person believes in astrology.

Question 12

Two scientists have published competing hypotheses. Since they contradict each other, only one can be correct. How will we determine which hypothesis is correct?

The hypothesis whose predictions have been verified in experiments is the correct one.
The hypothesis from the scientist with a PhD from the more prestigious university is the correct one.
The hypothesis that is easier to understand is the correct one.

Question 13

In science, what is a hypothesis?

An idea that is 100% correct and will never be replaced.
An idea that has been rigorously tested and is correct to the best of our current knowledge.
An idea that has not yet been tested.

Question 14

How many constellations does the Sun appear to pass through over the course of a year?

24
13
12

Question 15

Which planet's orbits are larger than the Earth's orbit?

Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Mercury and Venus.
Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Question 16

Which of the following numbers is the smallest?

5 × 10⁶
4 × 10⁵
2 × 10⁷

Question 17

What is Occam's razor?

The principle that says simpler theories have more predictive value than complex ones, and therefore should be preferred.
The principle that says complex theories have more predictive value than simpler ones, and therefore should be preferred.
The principle that says simpler theories are easier to understand than complex ones, and therefore should be preferred.

Question 18

I am located 40 degrees south of the equator and 20 degrees east of the Prime Meridian. What are my coordinates?

Latitude 20° S, longitude 40° E
Latitude 40° S, longitude 20° E
Latitude 20° E, longitude 40° S

Question 19

What is the Barnum effect?

The astrological phenomenon that ensures the horoscope actually describes each individual person accurately.
The effect that produces astrological predictions.
The cognitive bias that makes people think a horoscope describes them individually, while in fact it is intentionally vague enough to describe anyone.

Question 20

What was Ptolemy's important text on astronomy?

Enuma Anu Enlil.
The Tetrabiblos.
Almagest.

Question 21

When was stellar parallax first measured successfully?

By Friedrich Bessel, in 1838.
By the ancient Greeks, around 2,000 years ago.
By the Babylonians, around 4,000 years ago.

Question 22

Orion is...

A galaxy.
A constellation.
An asterism.

Question 23

I am in the north pole. What is directly above me?

The celestial equator.
The north celestial pole.
The south celestial pole.

Question 24

A radio message was sent in 2150 from Earth to the distant planet Wolf 359 c, approximately 8 light-years away. When will the message get to the other planet? (Remember: radio waves travel at the speed of light.)

In the year 2150.
In the year 2160.
In the year 2158.

Question 25

Ptolemy's model...

Is still used by astronomers today due to its accuracy.
Is still used by astronomers today due to its simplicity.
Is not used by astronomers today due to its inaccuracy.