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

What was the content of the book "Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems"?

It presented arguments in favor of the heliocentric model.
It presented arguments against the heliocentric model.
It was the first book to introduce the heliocentric model.

Question 2

During the summer:

The Sun's rays hit the ground at a large angle relative to the surface.
The Sun's rays hit the ground at a zero angle relative to the surface.
The Sun's rays hit the ground at a small angle relative to the surface.

Question 3

An object in the Oort cloud...

Experiences more 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.
Experiences less gravity from the Sun than an object of the same mass in the Kuiper belt.

Question 4

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

Question 5

During the June 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 6

When the Earth is closest to the Sun...

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

Question 7

Galileo's discoveries which supported the Copernican model included:

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

Question 8

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

Question 10

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

Half as large.
Twice as large.
The same.

Question 11

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 12

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

Question 13

Which is shorter on Earth?

Both are the same length.
A sidereal day.
A synodic day.

Question 14

The major axis of an ellipse...

Is a line connecting any two points on the ellipse.
Is any line that passes through the center of the ellipse.
Is a line that passes through both focal points.

Question 15

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

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

Question 16

Who collected the accurate orbital data on planetary motions?

Tycho Brahe.
Johannes Kepler.
Galileo Galilei.

Question 17

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 18

Which of the following is always conserved?

Force
Angular momentum
Mass

Question 19

If the Sun had a mass 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 decrease by a factor of 2.
It would increase by a factor of 2.

Question 20

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

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

Question 21

What is the rate of change of velocity called?

Momentum.
Position.
Acceleration.

Question 22

The Tropic of Capricorn...

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

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

In which latitudes can the Sun be at the zenith?

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

Question 25

A sidereal 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.