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

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

Question 2

When I throw a ball while sitting on a spinning carousel, the ball will seem to me to have a curved path. The reason for that is...

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

Question 3

What is the rate of change of velocity called?

Position.
Acceleration.
Momentum.

Question 4

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 5

An ellipse has...

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

Question 6

The Tropic of Capricorn...

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 7

Who collected the accurate orbital data on planetary motions?

Galileo Galilei.
Tycho Brahe.
Johannes Kepler.

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

Question 9

During a new moon...

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

Question 10

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 11

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 12

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

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

Question 13

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

Twice as large.
Half as large.
The same.

Question 14

During the summer:

The Sun is high in the sky.
The Sun is low in the sky.
The Sun is closest to the Earth.

Question 15

Galileo's discoveries which supported the Copernican model included:

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.
The phases of Venus and the phases of the Moon.

Question 16

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 17

The far side of the Moon is...

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

Question 18

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

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

Question 19

Which of the following is always conserved?

Force
Mass
Angular momentum

Question 20

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

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

Question 21

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

Right ascension 40°
Declination 40°
Latitude 40°

Question 22

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

Question 23

An object in the Oort cloud...

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

Question 24

Which book was the first to describe a heliocentric model?

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

Question 25

Where on Earth can a lunar eclipse be seen from?

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