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

During a full moon...

Earth is between the Moon and the Sun.
The Moon is between Earth and the Sun.
The Sun is between Earth and the Moon.

Question 2

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 3

Foucault's pendulum demonstrates...

The Coriolis force.
That Earth is rotating around the Sun.
That Earth is rotating around its axis.

Question 4

Why were Galileo's books banned?

Because the Catholic Church feared the wrath of God due to his blasphemy against the holy scriptures.
Because the Catholic Church feared his scientific discoveries would undermine the Church's authority.
Because scientists of the time rejected his theories.

Question 5

The far side of the Moon is...

Sometimes dark and sometimes not dark.
Always dark.
Never dark.

Question 6

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

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

Question 7

The law of inertia says that...

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.
Objects naturally tend to speed up with time unless a force acts on them.

Question 8

During the winter:

The Sun is high in the sky.
The Sun is farthest away from the Earth.
The Sun is low in the sky.

Question 9

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

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

Question 10

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

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

Question 11

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

It assumed the planets moved in epicycles.
It assumed the Sun was at the center of the solar system.
It assumed the planets orbited the Sun.

Question 12

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

Half as large.
The same.
Twice as large.

Question 13

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

Right ascension 40°
Declination 40°
Latitude 40°

Question 14

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

Question 15

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 2 kg object will reach the ground first.
The 1 kg object will reach the ground first.
Both objects will reach the ground at the same time.

Question 16

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 17

The major axis of an ellipse...

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

Question 18

Who collected the accurate orbital data on planetary motions?

Tycho Brahe.
Galileo Galilei.
Johannes Kepler.

Question 19

Where on Earth can a solar eclipse be seen from?

Anywhere where the Moon is visible.
Only inside the shadow of the Moon.
Anywhere.

Question 20

Which of the following is always conserved?

Mass
Force
Angular momentum

Question 21

The Tropic of Capricorn...

Is at a latitude of approximately 23° N.
Is at a longitude of approximately 23° W.
Is at a latitude of approximately 23° S.

Question 22

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

Question 23

Galileo's discoveries which supported the Copernican model included:

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

Question 24

When the Earth is farthest from the Sun...

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

Question 25

What is the rate of change of velocity called?

Momentum.
Position.
Acceleration.