Practice Test

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

In which latitudes can the Sun be at the zenith?

Between 66.6° N and 90° N.
Between 0° and 23.4° N.
Between 23.4° N and 66.6° N.

Question 2

Galileo's discoveries which supported the Copernican model included:

The moons of Jupiter and the phases of Venus.
The phases of Venus and the phases of the Moon.
The phases of the Moon and the fact that the Milky Way is composed of many individual stars.

Question 3

Which of the following is always conserved?

Velocity
Momentum
Mass

Question 4

The law of inertia says that...

Objects naturally tend to speed up with time unless a force acts on them.
Objects naturally tend to slow down with time unless a force acts on them.
Objects naturally tend to keep moving at a constant speed unless a force acts on them.

Question 5

If I halve the velocity of an object, its momentum will be...

Twice as large.
The same.
Half as large.

Question 6

I drop two objects in a vacuum. One has a mass of 1 kg and the other has a mass of 2 kg. What will happen?

The 1 kg object will fall faster.
Both objects will fall at the same rate.
The 2 kg object will fall faster.

Question 7

A synodic day is...

A body's rotation period with respect to itself.
A body's rotation period with respect to the fixed stars.
A body's rotation period with respect to the Sun.

Question 8

Which book was the first to accurately describe how gravity works?

Almagest.
On the Revolution of the Celestial Spheres.
Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy.

Question 9

Who collected the accurate orbital data on planetary motions?

Galileo Galilei.
Tycho Brahe.
Johannes Kepler.

Question 10

The major axis of an ellipse...

Is a line that passes through both focal points.
Is any line that passes through the center of the ellipse.
Is a line connecting any two points on the ellipse.

Question 11

What is the difference between mass and weight?

There is no difference; they are two words that mean the same thing.
Mass is the gravitational force on the object, weight is the amount of matter in the object.
Mass is the amount of matter in the object, weight is the gravitational force on the object.

Question 12

Which is longer on Earth?

A synodic day.
Both are the same length.
A sidereal day.

Question 13

A lunar eclipse is created...

When Earth casts a shadow on the Moon.
When the Moon casts a shadow on Earth.
When the Moon is hidden behind the Sun.

Question 14

A star is 40° north of the celestial equator. This means the star is at ...

Latitude 40°
Declination 40°
Right ascension 40°

Question 15

What is the rate of change of position called?

Acceleration.
Momentum.
Velocity.

Question 16

According to Galileo, a rolling ball slows down because...

It experiences no friction.
It experiences friction.
Its natural state is being at rest.

Question 17

Planet A has an orbital period of 200 Earth days. Planet B has an orbital period of 100 Earth days. Which planet is closer to the Sun?

Planet B.
There is not enough information to answer this question.
Planet A.

Question 18

During the June solstice, in the northern hemisphere...

The day is the longest day of the year.
The day is the shortest day of the year.
The day and night are the same length.

Question 19

What was the content of the book "Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems"?

It presented arguments in favor of the heliocentric model.
It was the first book to introduce the heliocentric model.
It presented arguments against the heliocentric model.

Question 20

If the Sun had a mass twice as large, how would the force of gravity between the Earth and the Sun change?

It would increase by a factor of 2.
It would decrease by a factor of 2.
It would increase by a factor of 4.

Question 21

An object in the Oort cloud...

Experiences more gravity from the Sun than an object of the same mass in the Kuiper belt.
Experiences the same amount of gravity from the Sun as an object of the same mass in the Kuiper belt.
Experiences less gravity from the Sun than an object of the same mass in the Kuiper belt.

Question 22

When the Earth is closest to the Sun...

It moves at the same rate as when it is at any other point.
It moves the fastest.
It moves the slowest.

Question 23

If the Earth had an orbital radius half as large, how would the force of gravity between the Earth and the Sun change?

It would increase by a factor of 4.
It would decrease by a factor of 4.
It would increase by a factor of 2.

Question 24

Which of the following aspects of Copernicus's heliocentric model was correct?

It assumed the planets moved in epicycles.
It assumed the planets orbited the Sun.
It assumed the epicycles moved at a constant speed.

Question 25

During the winter:

The Sun's rays hit the ground at a small angle relative to the surface.
The Sun's rays hit the ground at a zero angle relative to the surface.
The Sun's rays hit the ground at a large angle relative to the surface.