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

Galileo's discoveries which supported the Copernican model included:

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

Question 2

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 3

An ellipse has...

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

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?

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

Question 5

Where on Earth can a solar eclipse be seen from?

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

Question 6

Which is longer on Earth?

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

Question 7

If I halve the velocity of an object, its momentum will be...

Half as large.
Twice as large.
The same.

Question 8

During the winter:

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

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 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 10

A lunar eclipse is created...

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

Question 11

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

Declination 40°
Longitude 40°
Right ascension 40°

Question 12

What is the rate of change of position called?

Velocity.
Momentum.
Acceleration.

Question 13

Which book was the first to describe a heliocentric model?

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

Question 14

During a new moon...

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

Question 15

Why can't we feel the Earth moving?

Because, according to the geocentric model, it's not moving.
Because it's moving at a constant speed, and we only feel acceleration.
Because it's accelerating, and we only feel movement at constant speed.

Question 16

Who collected the accurate orbital data on planetary motions?

Tycho Brahe.
Johannes Kepler.
Galileo Galilei.

Question 17

Which of the following is always conserved?

Angular momentum
Force
Mass

Question 18

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

Question 20

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

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

Question 21

An object in the Oort cloud...

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

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?

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 23

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 24

When the Earth is farthest from the Sun...

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

Question 25

Foucault's pendulum demonstrates...

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