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

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 2

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 3

When I throw a ball while sitting on a spinning carousel, the ball will seem to me to have a curved path. The reason for that is...

The Coriolis force.
That Earth is rotating around the Sun.
That Earth is rotating around its axis.

Question 4

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

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

Question 5

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

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

Question 6

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

The same.
Half as large.
Twice as large.

Question 7

The major axis of an ellipse...

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

Question 8

The Tropic of Cancer...

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

Question 9

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 10

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 11

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

Right ascension 40°
Declination 40°
Latitude 40°

Question 12

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 13

Which of the following is always conserved?

Mass
Velocity
Momentum

Question 14

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 2.
It would increase by a factor of 4.

Question 15

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

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

Question 16

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 17

What is the rate of change of position called?

Acceleration.
Velocity.
Momentum.

Question 18

The far side of the Moon is...

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

Question 19

Who collected the accurate orbital data on planetary motions?

Tycho Brahe.
Nicolaus Copernicus.
Johannes Kepler.

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

Question 21

During the winter:

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

Question 22

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 23

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

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

Question 24

When the Earth is farthest from the Sun...

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

Question 25

In which latitudes does the Sun shine for 24 or more hours?

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