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 ...

Declination 40°
Latitude 40°
Right ascension 40°

Question 3

An object in the Oort cloud...

Experiences the same amount of gravity from the Sun as an object of the same mass in the Kuiper belt.
Experiences more gravity from the Sun than 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 4

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

Half as large.
Twice as large.
The same.

Question 5

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

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

Question 6

Which is longer on Earth?

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

Question 7

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 8

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 9

The Tropic of Cancer...

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

Question 10

The far side of the Moon is...

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

Question 11

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

Question 12

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

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

Question 13

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

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

Question 14

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 fastest.
It moves the slowest.

Question 15

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 16

What is the rate of change of velocity called?

Momentum.
Position.
Acceleration.

Question 17

A sidereal day is...

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

Question 18

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

Question 19

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

Question 20

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 21

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 22

Who collected the accurate orbital data on planetary motions?

Johannes Kepler.
Tycho Brahe.
Galileo Galilei.

Question 23

Which of the following is always conserved?

Force
Mass
Angular momentum

Question 24

Why can't we feel the Earth moving?

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

Question 25

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.