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

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 2

What is the rate of change of velocity called?

Position.
Acceleration.
Momentum.

Question 3

What is the difference between mass and weight?

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

Question 4

Galileo's discoveries which supported the Copernican model included:

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.
The moons of Jupiter and the phases of Venus.

Question 5

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

Question 6

Which of the following is always conserved?

Mass
Force
Angular momentum

Question 7

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 8

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

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

Question 9

Why can't we feel the Earth moving?

Because, according to the geocentric model, it's not 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.

Question 10

The far side of the Moon is...

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

Question 11

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

Longitude 40°
Right ascension 40°
Declination 40°

Question 12

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 13

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

The same.
Twice as large.
Half as large.

Question 14

An ellipse has...

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

Question 15

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 16

Which is shorter on Earth?

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

Question 17

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

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

Question 18

An object in the Oort cloud...

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

Question 19

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

Question 20

During the June 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 21

When the Earth is farthest from 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 22

Foucault's pendulum demonstrates...

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

Question 23

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

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

Question 24

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

Question 25

Who collected the accurate orbital data on planetary motions?

Tycho Brahe.
Johannes Kepler.
Nicolaus Copernicus.