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

Why were Galileo's books banned?

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

Question 2

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

Right ascension 40°
Latitude 40°
Declination 40°

Question 3

In which latitudes can the Sun be at the zenith?

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

Question 4

Which is longer on Earth?

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

Question 5

An ellipse has...

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

Question 6

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 7

What is the rate of change of velocity called?

Acceleration.
Momentum.
Position.

Question 8

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 9

When the Earth is farthest from the Sun...

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

Question 10

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

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

Question 11

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 12

The Tropic of Cancer...

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 13

Which book was the first to describe a heliocentric model?

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

Question 14

During the winter:

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

Question 15

Who collected the accurate orbital data on planetary motions?

Tycho Brahe.
Johannes Kepler.
Galileo Galilei.

Question 16

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?

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

Question 17

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

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

Question 18

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 19

If I double the mass of an object, its momentum will be...

The same.
Half as large.
Twice as large.

Question 20

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?

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

Question 21

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

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

Question 22

The gravity on the surface of Mars is about 1/3 of the gravity on the surface of Earth. This means...

You weigh more on Earth than you would on Mars.
You weigh the same on Earth as you would on Mars.
You weigh less on Earth than you would on Mars.

Question 23

Which of the following is always conserved?

Force
Mass
Angular momentum

Question 24

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 25

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.