Question 1

We cannot see a new moon in our sky because .

Accepted Answer

A)  it is above the horizon during the daytime
B)  it is obscured by Earth's shadow
C)  no sunlight is illuminating the Moon
D)  a new moon is quite near the Sun in the skyE) C) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 2

If the Sun passes almost in front of the center of our Milky Way Galaxy, it does so

Accepted Answer

A)  once a month.
B)  only in 2012, at the end of the Mayan calendar.
C)  once a year.
D)  once a day.E) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 3

It's 6 a.m. and the Moon is at its highest point in your sky (crossing the meridian) . What is the Moon's phase?

Accepted Answer

A)  third quarter
B)  new
C)  full
D)  first quarterE) All of the above
F) C) and D)

Question 4

The Moon is nearly tidally locked to the Earth, which means the Moon's rotation period is almost the same as its orbital period. If you were camped at the equator of the Moon, you would experience (approximately)

Accepted Answer

A)  (14 × 24) hours of darkness followed by (14 × 24) hours of sunshine.
B)  sunshine (day) all the time.
C)  sunshine all the time, except when the Earth blocks the Sun.
D)  14 hours of darkness followed by 14 hours of sunshine.E) None of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 5

Which of these (hypothetical) modifications would cause lunar eclipses to happen once per month?

Accepted Answer

A)  Change the Moon's orbital plane so it tilts the opposite way.
B)  Make the Moon orbit the Earth twice as fast.
C)  Change the orbital plane of the Moon so it lies in the same plane as Earth's orbit around the Sun.
D)  Relocate the Moon to twice its current distance from the Earth.E) B) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 6

How many arcminutes are in one degree?

Accepted Answer

A)  360
B)  60
C)  3600
D)  10,000
E)  100F) None of the above
G) C) and D)

Question 7

In South Africa, it's usually quite warm around the time of the December solstice and quite cool around the time of the June solstice.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

You can find the tilt of Earth's axis by measuring the angle between your horizon and the North Star.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Cognitive Dissonance? You are talking to a friend who insists that the seasons are caused by a varying Earth- Sun distance over the course of a year. What other fact does your friend likely know that completely contradicts this view of how the seasons are caused? Can you think of other examples of two beliefs that many people feel are both true but which completely contradict each other? How does science view this situation?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive dissonance refers to the menta...

Question 10

Your friend tells you that last night, they saw Mars high in the sky at midnight. You conclude that

Accepted Answer

A)  Mars must be at its farthest distance from the Earth.
B)  Mars must be in retrograde.
C)  Your friend must be mistaken: Mars can never be seen at midnight.
D)  Mars must be at its closest distance from the Sun.E) A) and B)
F) C) and D)

Question 11

Has Polaris always been the "North Star"?

Accepted Answer

A)  No, because the Milky Way blocked our line of site to it for a long time.
B)  Yes, because the stars are unchanging.
C)  No, because it is a young star that only formed a few hundred years ago.
D)  No, because the Earth's axis slowly changes the direction it points.E) B) and C)
F) None of the above

Question 12

By locating the north celestial pole (NCP) in the sky, how can you determine your latitude?

Accepted Answer

A)  The direction of the NCP is the same as your latitude.
B)  The altitude of the NCP is your angular distance from the North Pole.
C)  The direction of the NCP is the angular distance from the North Pole.
D)  The altitude of the NCP is the same as your latitude.
E)  The altitude of the NCP is the same as your distance from the North Pole.F) A) and B)
G) B) and C)

Question 13

Which of the following best describes why we have seasons on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  The varying speed of Earth in its orbit around the Sun gives us summer when we are moving fastest and winter when we are moving slowest.
B)  The tilt of Earth's axis causes the northern hemisphere to be closer to the Sun than the southern hemisphere in summer, and vice versa in winter.
C)  The tilt of Earth's axis causes different portions of the Earth to receive more or less direct sunlight at different times of year.
D)  Earth's elliptical orbit means we are closer to the Sun and therefore receive more intense sunlight at some times of year than at others.E) A) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 14

At approximately what time would a full moon be on your meridian?

Accepted Answer

A)  midnight
B)  6 P.M.
C)  9 A.M.
D)  6 A.M.
E)  noonF) C) and D)
G) B) and D)

Question 15

Consider the following statement, and explain whether or not it is sensible: Last night I saw Mars move westward through the sky in its apparent retrograde motion.

Accepted Answer

This statement does not make sense becau...

Question 16

How many arcseconds are in one degree?

Accepted Answer

A)  360
B)  60
C)  10,000
D)  100
E)  3,600F) C) and D)
G) D) and E)

Question 17

Which of the following statements about circumpolar stars is true at all latitudes?

Accepted Answer

A)  You cannot see them from the Southern Hemisphere.
B)  They always remain above your horizon.
C)  They make relatively small circles, traveling clockwise around the north celestial pole.
D)  They are the stars close to the north celestial pole.
E)  Like all other stars, they rise in the east and set in the west.F) A) and C)
G) A) and E)

Question 18

If the Moon is 3rd quarter phase, when does it rise?

Accepted Answer

A)  sunrise
B)  never
C)  midnight
D)  sunset
E)  noonF) B) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 19

Which of the following never goes in retrograde motion?

Accepted Answer

A)  Jupiter
B)  Saturn
C)  Venus
D)  Mars
E)  the SunF) A) and B)
G) C) and D)

Question 20

Which of the following statements about the celestial sphere is not true?

Accepted Answer

A)  When we look in the sky, the stars all appear to be located on the celestial sphere.
B)  The celestial sphere does not exist physically.
C)  The "celestial sphere" is another name for our universe.
D)  The Earth is placed at the center of the celestial sphere.E) C) and D)
F) B) and C)

Exam 2: Discovering the Universe for Yourself

If the Moon is 3rd quarter phase, when does it rise?

Correct Answer
verified

Your friend tells you that last night, they saw Mars high in the sky at midnight. You conclude that

Correct Answer
verified

We cannot see a new moon in our sky because .

Correct Answer
verified

Has Polaris always been the "North Star"?

Correct Answer
verified

At approximately what time would a full moon be on your meridian?

Correct Answer
verified

In South Africa, it's usually quite warm around the time of the December solstice and quite cool around the time of the June solstice.

Correct Answer
verified

How many arcminutes are in one degree?

Correct Answer
verified

By locating the north celestial pole (NCP) in the sky, how can you determine your latitude?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of these (hypothetical) modifications would cause lunar eclipses to happen once per month?

Correct Answer
verified

How many arcseconds are in one degree?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following statements about the celestial sphere is not true?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following statements about circumpolar stars is true at all latitudes?

Correct Answer
verified

If the Sun passes almost in front of the center of our Milky Way Galaxy, it does so

Correct Answer
verified

You can find the tilt of Earth's axis by measuring the angle between your horizon and the North Star.

Correct Answer
verified

The Moon is nearly tidally locked to the Earth, which means the Moon's rotation period is almost the same as its orbital period. If you were camped at the equator of the Moon, you would experience (approximately)

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
Cognitive dissonance refers to the menta...
View Answer

Which of the following best describes why we have seasons on Earth?

Correct Answer
verified

It's 6 a.m. and the Moon is at its highest point in your sky (crossing the meridian) . What is the Moon's phase?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following never goes in retrograde motion?

Correct Answer
verified

Consider the following statement, and explain whether or not it is sensible: Last night I saw Mars move westward through the sky in its apparent retrograde motion.

Correct Answer
verified
This statement does not make sense becau...
View Answer

Exam 2: Discovering the Universe for Yourself

If the Moon is 3rd quarter phase, when does it rise?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Your friend tells you that last night, they saw Mars high in the sky at midnight. You conclude that

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

We cannot see a new moon in our sky because .

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Has Polaris always been the "North Star"?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

At approximately what time would a full moon be on your meridian?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In South Africa, it's usually quite warm around the time of the December solstice and quite cool around the time of the June solstice.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How many arcminutes are in one degree?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

By locating the north celestial pole (NCP) in the sky, how can you determine your latitude?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of these (hypothetical) modifications would cause lunar eclipses to happen once per month?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How many arcseconds are in one degree?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following statements about the celestial sphere is not true?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following statements about circumpolar stars is true at all latitudes?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

If the Sun passes almost in front of the center of our Milky Way Galaxy, it does so

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

You can find the tilt of Earth's axis by measuring the angle between your horizon and the North Star.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Moon is nearly tidally locked to the Earth, which means the Moon's rotation period is almost the same as its orbital period. If you were camped at the equator of the Moon, you would experience (approximately)

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AICognitive dissonance refers to the menta...View AnswerShow Answer

Which of the following best describes why we have seasons on Earth?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

It's 6 a.m. and the Moon is at its highest point in your sky (crossing the meridian) . What is the Moon's phase?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following never goes in retrograde motion?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Consider the following statement, and explain whether or not it is sensible: Last night I saw Mars move westward through the sky in its apparent retrograde motion.

Correct AnswerverifiedThis statement does not make sense becau...View AnswerShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
Cognitive dissonance refers to the menta...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
This statement does not make sense becau...
View Answer