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

Where on Earth can a solar eclipse be seen from?

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

Question 2

Which book was the first to describe a heliocentric model?

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

Question 3

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 4

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

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

Question 5

What is the rate of change of position called?

Momentum.
Acceleration.
Velocity.

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

A synodic 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 8

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

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

Question 9

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 10

An ellipse has...

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

Question 11

When the Earth is closest to 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

The Tropic of Cancer...

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

Question 13

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 14

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

Half as large.
The same.
Twice as large.

Question 15

An object in the Kuiper belt...

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

Question 16

Who collected the accurate orbital data on planetary motions?

Johannes Kepler.
Tycho Brahe.
Nicolaus Copernicus.

Question 17

Which of the following is always conserved?

Velocity
Mass
Momentum

Question 18

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

Question 19

The far side of the Moon is...

Always facing towards Earth.
Sometimes facing away from Earth and sometimes towards it.
Always facing away from Earth.

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?

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

Question 21

During a new 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 22

Galileo's discoveries which supported the Copernican model included:

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

Question 23

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

Right ascension 40°
Longitude 40°
Declination 40°

Question 24

During the winter:

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

Question 25

If the Sun had a mass half 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.