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

A lunar eclipse is created...

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

Question 2

A sidereal day is...

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

Question 3

Which book was the first to describe a heliocentric model?

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

Question 4

An ellipse has...

One focal point.
Two focal points.
Three focal points.

Question 5

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

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

Question 6

Why were Galileo's books banned?

Because scientists of the time rejected his theories.
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.

Question 7

Which of the following is always conserved?

Velocity
Mass
Momentum

Question 8

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

The same.
Twice as large.
Half as large.

Question 9

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 10

In which latitudes does the Sun shine for 24 or more hours?

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

Question 11

What is the rate of change of position called?

Velocity.
Acceleration.
Momentum.

Question 12

During a full moon...

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

Question 13

Galileo's discoveries which supported the Copernican model included:

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

Question 14

An object in the Kuiper belt...

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

Question 15

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 16

During the winter:

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

Question 17

According to Aristotle, the natural state of matter is...

Moving at a constant speed.
Either being at rest or moving at a constant speed.
Being at rest.

Question 18

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

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

Question 19

If the Sun had a mass 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 increase by a factor of 2.
It would decrease by a factor of 2.

Question 20

The far side of the Moon is...

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

Question 21

When the Earth is farthest from the Sun...

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

Question 22

Why can't we feel the Earth moving?

Because it's accelerating, and we only feel movement at constant speed.
Because, according to the geocentric model, it's not moving.
Because it's moving at a constant speed, and we only feel acceleration.

Question 23

A star is 40° east of the March equinox. This means the star is at ...

Declination 40°
Longitude 40°
Right ascension 40°

Question 24

Who collected the accurate orbital data on planetary motions?

Johannes Kepler.
Tycho Brahe.
Galileo Galilei.

Question 25

What is the difference between mass and weight?

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