Here
are 726 sample multiple choice questions. The answers are scrambled... the
correct answer corresponds to different letters in different questions. Many of
the questions on the quizzes and final will be drawn from this set, but also
included here are many things that I will not cover in the course and therefore
will not ask you about.
NOTE:
Latex-style special symbols are used. ^ indicates that the following character
(or set of characters enclosed by {}) is a supersript.
1.
[1pt]
The term Zodiac refers to
A)
the light from Saturn's rings.
B) a
method for making astrological predictions.
C) a
group of constellations lying near the ecliptic.
D)
the head of the Celestial Empire.
E)
all constellations named after animals.
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2.
[1pt]
You have just won 100 million dollars on that
hit TV survival show ``Astronomy Midterm No. 1''. How much money is this?
A)
\$10$^8$
B)
\$100,000
C)
\$10$^6$
D)
\$10$^{100}$
E)
Enough for a 20-minute phone call.
-----------
3.
[1pt]
In current scientific opinion, Stonehenge is
considered to
have
been
A)
the site of ancient fertility rites.
B) an
ancient burial ground.
C) an
ancient flying saucer base.
D) an
astronomical observatory.
E)
the site of early Christian rituals.
-----------
4.
[1pt]
You have just won $10^4$ dollars on that hit
TV survival show ``Astronomy Midterm No. 1''. How much money is this in real
money?
A)
\$40,000
B)
\$100,000
C)
\$10,000
D)
\$40
E)
Enough for a 20-minute phone call.
-----------
5.
[1pt]
If the Moon is very close to a certain star
in the sky, how
long
will it be before the Moon is again close to the same
star?
A) 24
hours
B)
one year
C)
one week
D)
one month
E) 23
hours 56 minutes
-----------
6.
[1pt]
Which of the following is NOT an example of
the conservation of angular momentum?
A)
Kepler's 2nd law (planets sweep out equal areas in their orbits in equal
amounts of time).
B) A
bicycle does not fall over when it is moving.
C) A
rocket is propelled forward by hot gas shooting out the back.
D)
All of the other answers are examples of the conservation of angular
momentum.
E) A
student spinning on a stool pulls in his arms and speeds up.
-----------
7.
[1pt]
In ancient times, how did people primarily
tell the
difference
between planets and stars?
A)
The planets moved relative to the stars.
B)
None of the other answers is correct.
C)
The planets looked bigger.
D)
The planets showed phases.
E)
The planets didn't twinkle.
-----------
8.
[1pt]
Which of the following is NOT an example of
the conservation of angular momentum?
A planet moves slowest in its orbit
A)
the closer it is to its satellites.
B)
when it is farthest from the Sun.
C)
when it is closest to the Sun.
D)
when it is in opposition.
E)
the greater its mass.
-----------
9.
[1pt]
Most Greek astronomers believed that the
Earth is immobile
because
they did not observe
A)
eclipses of the Sun.
B)
retrograde motion of the planets.
C)
All of the other answers are correct.
D)
stellar motion.
E)
parallaxes for the stars.
-----------
10.
[1pt]
A planet moves fastest in its orbit
A)
when it is in opposition.
B)
when it is closest to the Sun.
C)
the greater its mass.
D)
when it is farthest from the Sun.
E)
the closer it is to its satellites.
-----------
11.
[1pt]
In the geocentric concept if the universe,
which direction
does
the celestial sphere appear to rotate about the
stationary
Earth? In the heliocentric universe, which
direction
does the earth rotate?
A)
geocentric: east to west; heliocentric: west to east
B)
geocentric: west to east; heliocentric: west to east
C)
geocentric: west to east; heliocentric: east to west
D)
geocentric: east to west; heliocentric: east to west
-----------
12.
[1pt]
The rings of Saturn were discovered by
A)
Kepler.
B)
Ptolemy.
C)
Copernicus.
D)
Galileo.
-----------
13.
[1pt]
Aristotle concluded that the Earth is
spherical from the
curvature
of its shadow on the
A)
Sun during a solar eclipse.
B)
Earth during a lunar eclipse.
C)
Earth during a solar eclipse.
D)
Moon during a lunar eclipse.
E)
Moon during a solar eclipse.
-----------
14.
[1pt]
Sunspots were discovered by
A)
Newton.
B)
Kepler.
C)
Galileo.
D)
Copernicus.
-----------
15.
[1pt]
Aristarchus argues
A)
for a flat Earth.
B)
for a geocentric universe.
C)
that planets move on epicycles.
D)
that the Sun is twice as large as the Moon.
E)
for a heliocentric universe.
-----------
16.
[1pt]
The higher the frequency of light
A)
the longer (larger) its wavelength.
B)
the shorter (smaller) its wavelength.
C)
the greater its velocity in a vacuum.
D)
the redder it will be.
-----------
17.
[1pt]
Aristarchus estimated the relative distances
to the Sun and
Moon by
observing the
A)
angle between the half Moon and the Sun in the sky.
B)
shape of the Earth's shadow on the Moon.
C)
shape of the crescent Moon.
D)
apparent size of the Sun and Moon.
E)
time it took a letter to reach the Sun and Moon.
-----------
18.
[1pt]
The smaller the wavelength of light
A)
the larger its frequency.
B)
the smaller its frequency.
C)
the greater its velocity in a vacuum.
D)
the redder it will be.
-----------
19.
[1pt]
The difference in the lengths of shadows
simultaneously cast
by
identical sticks placed vertically in the ground at two
different
points on a meridian indicates that
A)
the Moon is spherical.
B)
the Sun is spherical.
C)
the Earth is spherical.
D)
the Earth is not flat.
-----------
20.
[1pt]
The spectral lines of a star are observed to
be shifted toward larger wavelengths. This shows that
A)
the star is very hot.
B)
the star is approaching us.
C)
the star is rather cool.
D) the star is sad.
E)
the star is receding from us.
-----------
21.
[1pt]
In order to account for the retrograde motion
of the
planets,
Ptolemy introduced the
A)
epicycle.
B)
equant.
C)
deferent.
D)
center of eccentric.
E)
ecliptic.
-----------
22.
[1pt]
The spectral lines of a star are observed to
be shifted toward smaller wavelengths. This shows that
A)
the star is rather cool.
B)
the star is very hot.
C)
the star is receding from us.
D)
the star is approaching us.
E)
light is moving more slowly than usual.
-----------
23.
[1pt]
In the Copernican theory, day and night are
accounted for by
A)
the rotation of the Earth.
B)
the rotation of the celestial sphere.
C)
the revolution of the Sun about the Earth.
D)
the revolution of the Earth about the Sun.
E)
the rotation of the Sun.
-----------
24.
[1pt]
A continuous spectrum is formed by
A)
all of the other answers are correct.
B) a
glowing steel ingot in a blast furnace.
C) a
hot frying pan.
D)
the photosphere of the Sun.
-----------
25.
[1pt]
Ptolemy and Copernicus both
A)
believed the Sun went around the Earth.
B)
believed the Earth went around the Sun.
C)
believed Mars would look faintest when at opposition.
D)
used uniform circular motion to explain planetary motion.
E)
made very accurate predictions of planetary motion.
-----------
26.
[1pt]
A continuous spectrum is formed by
A)
the expanding shell of gas in a Planetary Nebula.
B)
the fluorescent lights in the classroom.
C)
all of the other answers are correct.
D)
the photosphere of the Sun.
E)
gas that emits do to the de-excitation of electrons.
-----------
27.
[1pt]
The Copernican model of the solar system
allowed, for the
first
time, the measurement of
A)
the relative distances of the planets.
B)
the mass of the Earth.
C)
the relative masses of the planets.
D)
the distance of the Sun.
-----------
28.
[1pt]
The spectrum of a cloud of cool gas seen
against a bright background black body would show
A) a
Doppler shift.
B) a
continuous spectrum.
C)
either bright or dark lines, depending on distance.
D)
dark (absorption) lines.
E)
bright (emission) lines.
-----------
29. [1pt]
By using a Heliocentric model for the solar
system,
Copernicus
was able to find for the first time the
A)
synodic periods of the planets.
B)
distance to the Moon.
C)
cause of tides in the Earth's oceans.
D)
sidereal periods of the planets.
E)
diameters of the planets.
-----------
30.
[1pt]
The spectrum of a cloud of hot gas seen
against a dark background would show
A)
dark (absorption) lines.
B)
bright (emission) lines.
C)
either bright or dark lines, depending on distance.
D) a
Doppler shift.
E) a
continuous spectrum.
-----------
31.
[1pt]
Which of the following planets never reaches
opposition (as
seen
from the Earth)?
A)
Venus
B)
Jupiter
C)
Saturn
D)
Mars
-----------
32.
[1pt]
As a glowing black body gets cooler, what
happens to its color and what happens to the brightness of the light it emits?
A)
color gets more blue; doesn't change brightness.
B)
color gets more blue; emits less light.
C)
color gets more blue; emits more light.
D)
color gets more red; emits more light.
E)
color gets more red; emits less light.
-----------
33.
[1pt]
If Venus is seen in the west after the Sun
sets, next
morning
it will
A)
appear to have a considerably different phase.
B)
rise before the Sun.
C)
Venus is never in the west after sunset.
D)
rise after the Sun rises.
E) go
behind the Sun.
-----------
34.
[1pt]
As a glowing black body gets hotter, what
happens to its color and what happens to the brightness of the light it emits?
A)
color gets more blue; emits more light.
B)
color gets more blue; doesn't change brightness.
C)
color gets more red; emits more light.
D)
color gets more red; emits less light.
E) color
gets more blue; emits less light.
-----------
35.
[1pt]
Venus is closest to Earth at
A)
quadrature.
B)
greatest elongation.
C)
opposition.
D)
superior conjunction.
E)
inferior conjunction.
-----------
36.
[1pt]
You are observing a star about 95 trillion km
(10 lightyears) away. How old is the most recent information you can get about
this star?
A)
100 years
B)
300,000 seconds
C)
This can't be determined without having more information.
D) 95
trillion seconds
E) 10
years
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37.
[1pt]
At the time Mars is observed to be at western
quadrature, an
observer
on Mars would see the Earth at
A)
greatest western elongation.
B)
inferior conjunction.
C)
eastern quadrature.
D)
greatest eastern elongation.
E)
opposition.
-----------
38.
[1pt]
You are observing a star about 950 trillion
km (100 lightyears) away. How old is the most recent information you can get
about this star?
A)
100 years
B)
300,000 seconds
C) 10
years
D)
This can't be determined without having more information.
E)
950 trillion seconds
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39.
[1pt]
The time between oppositions of Mars is known
as Mars'
A)
rotation period.
B)
sidereal period.
C)
eccentric period.
D)
period of revolution.
E)
synodic period.
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40.
[1pt]
Which of the following is the smallest?
A)
the Earth
B)
the Universe
C) a
galaxy
D)
the Sun
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41.
[1pt]
The astronomer Tycho Brahe was known for his,
A)
use of the telescope.
B)
accurate observations of planet positions.
C)
theory of epicycles.
D)
observation of the Moon's features.
E)
measurement of the Earth's rotation.
-----------
42. [1pt]
Which of the following is the largest?
A) a
galaxy
B)
the Universe
C)
the Sun
D)
the Earth
-----------
43.
[1pt]
The discovery that planets move in elliptical
orbits with
the Sun
at the focus was made by
A)
Halley.
B)
Giordano Bruno.
C)
Tycho Brahe.
D)
Kepler.
E)
Galileo.
-----------
44.
[1pt]
Which of the following is NOT one of the four
fundamental forces?
A)
Angular Momentum
B)
Electromagnetism
C)
Gravity
D)
Strong nuclear force
E)
Weak nuclear force.
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45.
[1pt]
A planet moves faster in its orbit
A)
when it is farthest from the Sun.
B)
the greater its mass.
C)
when it is in opposition.
D)
the farther it is from it's satellites.
E)
when it is nearer the Sun.
-----------
46.
[1pt]
Which of the following is NOT one of the four
fundamental forces?
A)
Gravity
B)
Strong nuclear force
C)
Kinetic energy
D)
Electromagnetism
E)
Weak nuclear force.
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47.
[1pt]
If there had been no oceans on the Earth, the
Earth's
present
atmosphere would be largely composed of
A)
water
B)
nitrogen
C)
oxygen
D)
carbon dioxide
E)
carbon monoxide
-----------
48.
[1pt]
What does the term ``parallax'' refer to?
A)
The apparent jump of the position of a foregrond object relative to
distant objects when we look from two different points.
B)
The reversal of the apparent motion of the planets with respect to the
background stars.
C)
Two laxes.
D)
The shape of the orbit of the planets.
E)
The apparent slowing of time when it is measured from a rapidly moving
frame of reference.
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49.
[1pt]
The oldest rocks thus far found on the
Earth's surface have
ages of
about
A)
3.5 million years
B)
3.5 billion years
C) 35
years
D)
3.5 thousand years
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50.
[1pt]
When we view a foreground object from two
different points and see it appear to jump relative to the distant background, the
effect is called
A)
parallax
B)
retrograde motion
C)
conservation of angular momentum
D)
hyperventilation
E)
precession
-----------
51.
[1pt]
Galileo's studies of moving objects led to
the idea that a
moving
object
A)
will go faster the heavier it is.
B)
will seek its natural state of rest.
C) is
subject to the Universal Law of Gravity.
D)
requires a force to keep it moving.
E)
comes to rest only if a force stops it.
-----------
52.
[1pt]
According to Kepler's first law, the planets
each move in an elliptical orbit with the sun
A) at
the geometrical center.
B) at
one focus.
C) at
both foci.
D) on
the opposite side of the same ellipse.
-----------
53.
[1pt]
The four large moons around Jupiter were
discovered by
A)
Copernicus.
B)
Kepler.
C)
Ptolemy.
D)
Tycho Brahe.
E)
Galileo.
-----------
54.
[1pt]
Kepler's first law says that the planets move
in elliptical orbits with the sun at one focus of the ellipse. What is at the
other focus?
A)
Empty space.
B)
The Earth
C)
The Moon.
D)
Your ISP205 instructor.
E)
The planet in question.
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55.
[1pt]
Galileo's observation that Venus shows all of
the phases was
important
because it discredited
A)
Newton's law of gravitation.
B)
the Copernican theory.
C)
Kepler's Harmonic Law.
D)
the Ptolemaic theory.
-----------
56.
[1pt]
If a distant light source that emits
isotropically (i.e. equally in all directions) is moved to 1/2 of its previous
distance, how much does its flux change by? (how many times brighter does it
appear to be?)
A)
1/2