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 synodic 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 2

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 3

When the Earth is closest to the Sun...

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

Question 4

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 5

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

Question 6

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 7

The far side of the Moon is...

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

Question 8

Which book was the first to describe a heliocentric model?

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

Question 9

An ellipse has...

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

Question 10

A lunar eclipse is created...

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

Question 11

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 12

During the winter:

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

Question 13

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 14

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

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

Question 15

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

Latitude 40°
Declination 40°
Right ascension 40°

Question 16

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

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

Question 17

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 18

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

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

Question 19

What is the rate of change of position called?

Momentum.
Velocity.
Acceleration.

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

Question 21

In which latitudes can the Sun be at the zenith?

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

Question 22

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

The same.
Half as large.
Twice as large.

Question 23

Who collected the accurate orbital data on planetary motions?

Johannes Kepler.
Nicolaus Copernicus.
Tycho Brahe.

Question 24

Which of the following is always conserved?

Momentum
Velocity
Mass

Question 25

Why can't we feel the Earth moving?

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