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

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 reach the ground at the same time.
The 2 kg object will reach the ground first.
The 1 kg object will reach the ground first.

Question 2

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.

Question 3

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

Latitude 40°
Right ascension 40°
Declination 40°

Question 4

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

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

Question 5

Who collected the accurate orbital data on planetary motions?

Nicolaus Copernicus.
Tycho Brahe.
Johannes Kepler.

Question 6

If the Earth had an orbital radius twice 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 4.

Question 7

The far side of the Moon is...

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

Question 8

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

Question 9

Which of the following is always conserved?

Mass
Angular momentum
Force

Question 10

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

Question 11

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

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

Question 12

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 13

A lunar eclipse is created...

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

Question 14

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 15

An object in the Oort cloud...

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

Question 16

A synodic 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 17

Where on Earth can a solar eclipse be seen from?

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

Question 18

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

Half as large.
Twice as large.
The same.

Question 19

What is the rate of change of position called?

Acceleration.
Momentum.
Velocity.

Question 20

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 orbited the Sun.
It assumed the planets moved in epicycles.

Question 21

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 22

Which book was the first to accurately describe how gravity works?

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

Question 23

Why can't we feel the Earth moving?

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

Question 24

During the summer:

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

Question 25

When the Earth is closest to the Sun...

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