Astronomy Final Exam Flashcards
ATYI the sun is a(n) _____ star
Above average
What is the brightest star
The sun
What is an example of extraordinary evidence
Seeing it for yourself
If Venus were southeast halfway up the sky it would be at…
135 degrees
Declination is analogous to
latitude
Ascension is similar to
longitude
Relative to the stars the sun appears to move…
West to east (eastward)
The moon moves
West to east (eastward)
What phase must the moon be in for a solar eclipse
New
What phase must the moon be in for a lunar eclipse
Full
Who used a calendar based on the movement of the moon
Babaloinans and Jews
Kepler’s first law states that…
An orbit is an eclipse-shape
An implication of Kepler’s second law is that
Planets move faster when closer to the sun
What is improved when the size of a telescope is increased
Light Gathering
What is improved when distant telescopes are wired together
Resolution
What do refractors suffer
Chromatic aberration
T/F all planets in our solar system orbit the sun in the same direction
True
T/F all planets in our solar system spin in the same direction
False
Order the following from most to least refractory/least to most volatile
- Methane/ammonia/water
- rock
- iron
- gas/hydrogen/helium
- Iron
- Rock
- Methane/ammonia/water
- Gas/hydrogen/helium
What is the earths atmosphere mostly composed of
Nitrogen
What additional factor is needed to explain solar systems that are different from our own
time scale at which the star blows out the excess matter, terminating planet growth
Which exoplanet discovery method gives the radius of the planet
Transit
In which part of the Em spectrum was the first exoplanet directly imaged
IR (infrared)
Order the layers of the sun from in to out
- RZ
- CZ
- EPZ
- EPZ
- RZ
- CZ
Which solar layer is the hottest
The corona
What is the sun’s spectral type
G2
How old is the earth
Between 4 and 5 billion years
If you were at the equator where would the north star appear
On the Horizon
Why do we see the same face of the moon at all times?
The spin and orbital periods of the moon are the same
Science has been more effective than other fields at determining the truth because of __
The eye
Due to tidal forces, the length of the day is getting __
Longer
T/F The moon is receding
True
If the wavelength of a wave is decreased without changing the medium, the frequency goes
Up
If a black body or star is two times hotter in kelvins, then it will emit how much more light?
Two to the fourth power (16x as much)
Who came up with the four equations relating electricity and magnetism
Maxwell
Who was the first to successfully measure the speed of light
Romer
What is composed of quarks
Neutrons and protons
Which protons have higher energy
Those with greater frequency
Which state of matter is most common in the universe
Plasma
Which purpose of a telescope is improved the most by increasing size?
Light gathering
Which was the first spacecraft caught into orbit around Saturn, landing on titan
Cassini
what is the order of Saturn’s rings, inside to outside
D C B Cassini A F G E
Where are most comets located
Oort cloud
Most __ come from icy bodies
meteors
Most __ come from rocky bodies
Meteorites
Who discovered Uranus
Herschel
Which planet has the largest volcano and largest impact basin
Mars
Which giant planed does not emit twice the energy it receives from the sun?
uranus
What is the only moon with a thick atmosphere
Titan
what is the largest moon
Ganamine
Which moon is most heavily cratered
Callisto
Where do astronomers believe most of the hydrogen and helium come from
the big bang
the earth has seasons because of
The earths tilt
Astrology is a pseudoscience because?
It pretends to be scientific but does not make accurately tested predictions
The ocean tides are highest when the moon is
about overhead
Why is the sky blue
Blue light is scattered by the atmosphere more than red light
What is the direction of you acceleration if you feel thrown left while turning
To the right
Are you accelerating if you are going straight up a hill at a constant speed?
No
If a truck has three times a car’s mass and you want it to have two times the acceleration how much force is needed?
6x
If a plane collides with a bird at high speed, which has more force
They have the same force
If a plane collides at a high speed with a bird, which has more acceleration
The bird
At the same temperature, which molecule moves faster? O2 or CO2?
O2
What is Newton’s third law of reaction force to you standing on the ground?
You are pulling up on the earth
What is the earths core composed of
Iron
What is the earths mantle composed of
Rock
Order the four terrestrial planets from youngest to oldest
- Earth
- Venus
- Mars
- Mercury
Give a geographical example of zone convergence
Himalayas
How many days on Venus make up one year on Venus
Two
The early Greeks believed that the planet ____ and ____ were two different gods, one seen in the morning and one in the evening
Mercury, Venus
What are Venus’s clouds composed of
Sulphuric acid
What are Jupiter and Saturn clouds composed of
Ammonia, ammonia hydrosulfide, water
What are Uranus and Neptune’s clouds made of?
Methane
What was the first spacecraft caught into orbit around Jupiter
Galileo
Most stars seen in the nighttime sky are __ luminous than the sun
More
Most stars in the universe are __ luminous than the sun
Less
In which kind of nebula do stars form
Absorption
Is there intelligent life out there in the universe? Is it visiting us?
Yes (probably), No
What is the order of the spectral types from hottest to coolest
O B A F G K M
Describe the scientific theory
A process where a hypothesis is tested and proven. They are not just guesses or ideas
List the cosmic order from smallest to biggest
- you
- earth
- solar system
- Milky Way Galaxy
- Local group
- local supercluster
- Universe
Who showed that the earth is spherical
Pythagoras
What is the most volcanically active body in the solar system?
Io
Reflectors use ___ and are the ___
Mirrors, largest
What is the sun’s primary source of energy?
Nuclear fusion
Are you accelerating if you are going over a hill at a constant speed?
Yes because you are changing direction
What direction (increase or decrease) is your acceleration if in an elevator you are stopping at the top
Acceleration decreases
Who discovered that Jupiter has four, moons providing support that not everything orbits the earth
Galileo
What’s the expected consequence
of increased greenhouse effect gases?
Increased surface temperature - Global warming
Who discovered Neptune
Adams/Leverrier
Give an example of zone divergence
Mid-Atlantic ridge
How long are mercury’s days/years?
One mercury day = two mercury years
