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

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

Half as large.
Twice as large.
The same.

Question 2

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 3

Galileo's discoveries which supported the Copernican model included:

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

Question 4

What is the rate of change of position called?

Velocity.
Acceleration.
Momentum.

Question 5

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

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

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

Question 7

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

Right ascension 40°
Longitude 40°
Declination 40°

Question 8

Where on Earth can a solar eclipse be seen from?

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

Question 9

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

Question 10

Who collected the accurate orbital data on planetary motions?

Tycho Brahe.
Galileo Galilei.
Johannes Kepler.

Question 11

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

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

Question 12

An ellipse has...

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

Question 13

During the winter:

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

Question 14

During a new moon...

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

Question 15

An object in the Kuiper belt...

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

Question 16

The Tropic of Cancer...

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

Question 17

Which of the following is always conserved?

Velocity
Momentum
Mass

Question 18

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

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

Question 19

Why were Galileo's books banned?

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.
Because scientists of the time rejected his theories.

Question 20

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 21

The far side of the Moon is...

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

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 law of inertia says that...

Objects naturally tend to speed up with time unless a force acts on them.
Objects naturally tend to keep moving at a constant speed unless a force acts on them.
Objects naturally tend to slow down with time unless a force acts on them.

Question 24

If the Sun had a mass twice 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 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.