ASTR 1P01/02: Introduction to Astronomy I/II

Practice Exam

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

An ellipse has...

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

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

Why were Galileo's books banned?

Because the Catholic Church feared his scientific discoveries would undermine the Church's authority.
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.

Question 4

What is the rate of change of velocity called?

Momentum.
Position.
Acceleration.

Question 5

Galileo's discoveries which supported the Copernican model included:

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

Question 6

Planet A has an orbital period of 100 Earth days. Planet B has an orbital period of 200 Earth days. Which planet is closer to the Sun?

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

Question 7

Why can't we feel the Earth moving?

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

Question 8

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

Twice as large.
The same.
Half as large.

Question 9

Who collected the accurate orbital data on planetary motions?

Tycho Brahe.
Johannes Kepler.
Nicolaus Copernicus.

Question 10

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

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

Question 11

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

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

Question 12

Which of the following is always conserved?

Momentum
Velocity
Mass

Question 13

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 14

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

Right ascension 40°
Declination 40°
Latitude 40°

Question 15

During a full moon...

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

Question 16

What is the difference between mass and weight?

There is no difference; they are two words that mean the same thing.
Mass is the amount of matter in the object, weight is the gravitational force on the object.
Mass is the gravitational force on the object, weight is the amount of matter in the object.

Question 17

During the summer:

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

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

Question 19

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 20

A sidereal day is...

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

Question 21

An object in the Kuiper belt...

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

Question 22

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

Question 23

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 24

A solar eclipse is created...

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

Question 25

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.