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

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

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

Question 2

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

Right ascension 40°
Latitude 40°
Declination 40°

Question 3

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 fall at the same rate.
The 2 kg object will fall faster.
The 1 kg object will fall faster.

Question 4

The far side of the Moon is...

Always facing away from Earth.
Sometimes facing away from Earth and sometimes towards it.
Always facing towards Earth.

Question 5

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

Twice as large.
Half as large.
The same.

Question 6

Where on Earth can a lunar eclipse be seen from?

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

Question 7

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 8

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

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

Question 9

The law of inertia says that...

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

Question 10

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 11

During the summer:

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

Question 12

What is the difference between mass and weight?

Mass is the gravitational force on the object, weight is the amount of matter in the object.
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.

Question 13

When the Earth is closest to the Sun...

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

Question 14

What is the rate of change of velocity called?

Acceleration.
Momentum.
Position.

Question 15

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 16

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 17

An object in the Kuiper belt...

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

Question 18

A lunar eclipse is created...

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

Question 19

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 20

Who collected the accurate orbital data on planetary motions?

Galileo Galilei.
Tycho Brahe.
Johannes Kepler.

Question 21

Which of the following is always conserved?

Mass
Momentum
Velocity

Question 22

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 23

Why were Galileo's books banned?

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

Question 24

Galileo's discoveries which supported the Copernican model included:

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

Question 25

An ellipse has...

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