Question 1

Newton's Law of Gravity would explain why Saturn, so far from the Sun, moves so slowly across the sky.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

How can astronomers determine the mass of the Sun?

Accepted Answer

Using Newton's Laws, we know that gravit...

Question 3

We are at ________ in January, when we are closest to the Sun in our elliptical orbit.

Accepted Answer

The answer of We are at ________ in January, when...

Question 4

A fatal flaw with Ptolemy's model is its inability to predict the observed phases of

Accepted Answer

A)   the Sun during an eclipse.
B)   the Moon in its monthly cycle.
C)   Mercury and Venus.
D)   Mars and Jupiter.
E)   Jupiter and Saturn.F) A) and D)
G) D) and E)

Question 5

Because he failed to observe stellar ________, Aristotle wrongly concluded we could not be in orbit around the Sun.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Because he failed to observe stellar ________,...

Question 6

The Law of Universal Gravitation was developed by

Accepted Answer

A)   Kepler.
B)   Galileo.
C)   Newton.
D)   Copernicus.
E)   Einstein.F) C) and D)
G) A) and B)

Question 7

The parallax shift of a star would be greater if viewed from Mars than from Earth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

How did Ptolemy explain the retrograde motion of Mars?

Accepted Answer

Mars will retrograde on the in...

Question 9

Explain Occam's Razor.

Accepted Answer

Occam's Razor is the principle...

Question 10

According to Copernicus, the retrograde motion for Mars must occur

Accepted Answer

A)   at inferior conjunction, when Mars laps the Earth and passes between us and the Sun.
B)   at superior conjunction, when Mars lies on the far side of the Sun.
C)   at quadrature, when Mars lies exactly 90 degrees east or west of the Sun.
D)   at greatest elongation, when Mars can get up to 47 degrees from the Sun.
E)   at opposition, when the Earth overtakes Mars and passes between Mars and the Sun.F) A) and D)
G) All of the above

Question 11

Why do Newton's Laws show a force must be acting on the planets?

Accepted Answer

The planets are moving in elliptical orb...

Question 12

How much stronger is the gravitational pull of the Sun on Earth, at 1 AU, than it is on Saturn at 10 AU?

Accepted Answer

A)   5X
B)   10X
C)   25X
D)   100X
E)   250XF) A) and B)
G) B) and D)

Question 13

Which of the following was NOT a contribution of Galileo to astronomy?

Accepted Answer

A)   Sunspots showed the Sun was rotating on its axis, like the Earth does.
B)   The four moons of Jupiter are a model for the solar system motions in general.
C)   The phases of Venus prove it orbits completely around the Sun.
D)   The changing appearance of Saturn's rings corresponds to our seasons.
E)   The craters and mountains of the Moon prove it a world in its own right.F) A) and D)
G) A) and C)

Question 14

The Ptolemaic model of the universe

Accepted Answer

A)   explained and predicted the motions of the planets with deferents and epicycles.
B)   is the basis of our modern cosmology.
C)   could not account for the stellar parallax observed by Hipparchus.
D)   describes the orbits of the planets as being ellipses, not circles.
E)   always kept Mars and Mercury between the Earth and Sun.F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 15

It took two centuries for the Copernican model to replaced the Ptolemaic model because

Accepted Answer

A)   in Copernicus' time, there were no telescopes.
B)   the Church wouldn't let anyone talk about Copernicus' model for 200 years.
C)   there was no scientific evidence to support either model until Galileo made his observations.
D)   the Ptolemaic model was simpler and more aesthetically pleasing.
E)   the Copernican model required complicated new terms to explain it correctly.F) B) and E)
G) B) and C)

Question 16

Using Newton's first law, describe the motion of a body is moving in the absence of any net external force.

Accepted Answer

in a strai...

Question 17

To explain retrograde motion as well as changes in planetary brightness, Ptolemy's model used ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of To explain retrograde motion as well as...

Question 18

Galileo's observations of the phases of ________ could not be explained by Ptolemy's epicyclic model.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Galileo's observations of the phases of ________...

Question 19

Galileo's observations of sunspots proved the Sun was rotating, like the Earth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

How does Kepler's First Law refine the Copernican model greatly?

Accepted Answer

Copernicus, like the Greeks, thought all...

Exam 3: The Solar System

The Law of Universal Gravitation was developed by

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Galileo's observations of the phases of ________ could not be explained by Ptolemy's epicyclic model.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Newton's Law of Gravity would explain why Saturn, so far from the Sun, moves so slowly across the sky.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following was NOT a contribution of Galileo to astronomy?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why do Newton's Laws show a force must be acting on the planets?

Correct AnswerverifiedThe planets are moving in elliptical orb...View AnswerShow Answer

How did Ptolemy explain the retrograde motion of Mars?

Correct AnswerverifiedMars will retrograde on the in...View AnswerShow Answer

A fatal flaw with Ptolemy's model is its inability to predict the observed phases of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

It took two centuries for the Copernican model to replaced the Ptolemaic model because

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The parallax shift of a star would be greater if viewed from Mars than from Earth.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Because he failed to observe stellar ________, Aristotle wrongly concluded we could not be in orbit around the Sun.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How much stronger is the gravitational pull of the Sun on Earth, at 1 AU, than it is on Saturn at 10 AU?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

We are at ________ in January, when we are closest to the Sun in our elliptical orbit.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Galileo's observations of sunspots proved the Sun was rotating, like the Earth.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How does Kepler's First Law refine the Copernican model greatly?

Correct AnswerverifiedCopernicus, like the Greeks, thought all...View AnswerShow Answer

Explain Occam's Razor.

Correct AnswerverifiedOccam's Razor is the principle...View AnswerShow Answer

According to Copernicus, the retrograde motion for Mars must occur

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Using Newton's first law, describe the motion of a body is moving in the absence of any net external force.

Correct Answerverifiedin a strai...View AnswerShow Answer

The Ptolemaic model of the universe

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How can astronomers determine the mass of the Sun?

Correct AnswerverifiedUsing Newton's Laws, we know that gravit...View AnswerShow Answer

To explain retrograde motion as well as changes in planetary brightness, Ptolemy's model used ________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
The planets are moving in elliptical orb...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified
Mars will retrograde on the in...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
Copernicus, like the Greeks, thought all...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified
Occam's Razor is the principle...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
in a strai...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
Using Newton's Laws, we know that gravit...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified