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

Practice Exam #1

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

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

24
12
13

Question 2

Astronomy is...

A science, which means it uses 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 pseudo-science, which means it claims to be a science but does not use the scientific method to test the validity of hypotheses.

Question 3

Which supercluster does the Milky Way belong to?

The Pisces Supercluster.
The Leo Supercluster.
The Virgo Supercluster.

Question 4

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 simpler theories are easier to understand 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.

Question 5

Which of the following is not a reliable source of information about astronomy?

Encyclopedia Britannica.
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 6

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

Latitude 20° W, longitude 40° N.
Latitude 20° N, longitude 40° W.
Latitude 40° S, longitude 20° E.

Question 7

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

A year.
A day.
A month.

Question 8

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

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

Question 9

Which of the following numbers is the largest?

4 × 10⁵
9 × 10⁴
5 × 10⁶

Question 10

A very important part of the scientific method in astronomy is:

Testing hypotheses by comparing them against experimental results in the lab.
Testing hypotheses by comparing them against important books such as Ptolemy's Almagest.
Testing hypotheses by comparing them against observations.

Question 11

What was Ptolemy's important text on astronomy?

Enuma Anu Enlil.
Almagest.
The Tetrabiblos.

Question 12

When a planet is in retrograde...

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

Question 13

The Greeks believed that the Earth was at the center of the universe...

Because they observed stellar parallax.
Because they did not know about stellar parallax.
Because they did not observe stellar parallax.

Question 14

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

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

Question 15

What is stellar parallax?

The phenomenon where stars far from us appear to move relative to the fixed stars closer to us throughout the year.
The phenomenon where stars close to us appear to move relative to the fixed stars farther away from us throughout the year.
The phenomenon where all stars appear to move together in the sky throughout the year.

Question 16

The orbits of the planets in the solar system are...

Circles.
Epicycles.
Ellipses.

Question 17

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 that is easier to understand is the correct one.
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.

Question 18

Ptolemy's model...

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

Question 19

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

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.
The astrology can accurately predict an individual's personality traits.

Question 20

What tools do astrologers use to ensure that horoscopes correctly match each sign?

They use ancient wisdom that has been preserved since the time of the Babylonians.
They make the horoscope generic enough that it will automatically match anyone who reads it.
They carefully study the forces acting on us from the planets of the solar system, and deduce how our lives will be affected by them.

Question 21

A celestial object which cannot produce its own light is...

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

Question 22

A radio message was sent in 2150 from Earth to the distant planet Epsilon Eridani b, approximately 10 light-years away. When will the message get to the other planet? (Remember: radio waves travel at the speed of light.)

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

Question 23

In science, what is a hypothesis?

An idea that has not yet been tested.
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.

Question 24

The Big Dipper is...

A planet.
A constellation.
An asterism.

Question 25

"Last year, when Mars was in retrograde, I broke my arm. Clearly, there must be a connection!" This is an example of...

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