Exam 1

Question 1

Which of the following is critical for a scientific hypothesis?

Answer 1

can be tested by observation

Question 2

In science if new observations (and these observations have been confirmed) disagree with a well established theory, what is the next step.

Answer 2

the theory must be modified.

Once the observations have been confirmed and repeated, then change is due.

Question 3

What is meant by a model in science?

Answer 3

A model is the description of actuality based on hypotheses and observations

Question 4

True or False: The Celestial Equator separates the Celestial Sphere into a north half and a south half?

Answer 4

True

Question 5

Today when modern astronomers are referring to the constellations (such as referring to locations of objects) they consider constellations to be

Answer 5

88 regions of sky, like puzzle pieces, covering the whole sky

Question 6

The path the sun makes in the sky over the course of the year (as seen in the Celestial Sphere model) is the

Answer 6

ecliptic

Question 7

The equinoxes are located at the intersections of the

Answer 7

the celestial equator and the ecliptic

Question 8

True or False: If you are living directly on the South Pole you will only be able to see half of the sky even if we take into consideration the rotation of the Earth.

Answer 8

True

Question 9

If we lived on the Earth’s equator, where would the north celestial pole be found in our sky (assuming you have no mountains, trees or houses blocking your view)?

Answer 9

On the horizon

Question 10

True or False: As we change latitude on the earth (go to different locations north and south) we would see different sets of stars.

Answer 10

True

Question 11

As we change latitude on the earth (go to different locations north and south) we would see different sets of stars.

Answer 11

Sounthwest

Question 12

True or False: For those who live on the equator, all the stars rise and set. (remember there are no actual stars at the exact locations for the Celestial poles.)

Answer 12

True

Question 13

In the course of a night as seen from here in Orem, stars move westward. If we are to always go out at the same time of day (ignoring daylight savings changes) over a few months, what direction would the stars shift?

Answer 13

Westward (The sun moves eastward with respect to the background stars and the earth must rotate a little more to have the same time of day on our solar clocks. This means that the stars will be a little more west each day)

Question 14

You go out at 10pm and see Orion just over the Mountain. One month later you are camping and you want to show Orion. What time should you go out to find it at the same place in the sky?

Answer 14

8 pm

Question 15

What is meant by the term synodic month?

Answer 15

The time is takes for the moon to complete all its phases

Question 16

In your own words, why does the Moon exhibit phases in the sky?

Answer 16

The moon exhibits phases because of the way it revolves and rotates around the earth. As it rotates we see the light wan and wax.

Question 17

If people on the Earth are seeing a full moon, what would someone on the Moon be seeing about the Earth. (Think in 3-D of the Sun, Earth, Moon system and what is happening to create phases of the Moon. What does the Earth look like to someone on the Moon.)

Answer 17

The earth would be in a new moon sort of phase.

Question 18

What is this phase?

D

Answer 18

First Quarter

Question 19

When does a solar eclipse occur?

Answer 19

Moon casts a shadow on the Earth

Question 20

Assuming no one relocated to witness the event, which type of eclipse would be visible to more people (also assume clear skies to all possible viewers.)

Answer 20

Lunar

Question 21

We can see the Moon during daylight hours sometimes.

Answer 21

True

Question 22

Think about the 3D orientation that produces a full moon as seen from Earth. About what time of day would that phase start to be visible in our sky, rising in the east? (Use the sun to determine your times; where is the sun when the full Moon is rising in the east?)

Answer 22

Sunset

Question 23

Most ancient Greeks used a geocentric model. What was at the center of their model.

Answer 23

The earth

Question 24

Our Celestial Sphere model that we used to describe the motion seen in the sky is which type of model?

Answer 24

Geocentric

Question 25

Galileo is credited with being the first person to look at the night sky with a telescope.

Answer 25

True

Question 26

Tycho

Answer 26

Significant number of planetary observations (because more data makes for better models)

Question 27

Kepler

Answer 27

determined by matching observations that the planets orbit the sun in ellipses and follow other laws (3)

Question 28

Copernicus

Answer 28

reintroduced the heliocentric model with circular orbits for the planets

Question 29

Galileo

Answer 29

Saw Venus exhibit phases of the moon among other things with a telescope

Question 30

Ptolemy

Answer 30

discovered ellipses and could locate plants locations

Question 31

How did Kepler and Copernicus differ in their models?

Answer 31

Kepler realized that the planets moved in an ellipse rather that circles. He was then able to predicts the movement of planets more accurately.

Question 32

According to Newton’s laws of motion, if an asteroid is traveling out in space and doesn’t feel any gravity (not possible, but let’s say it happens) what will happen to it?

Answer 32

Nothing, it wil keep going at the same speed in a straight line

Question 33

A big (massive) rock and a small (less massive) rock both pull gravitationally from the same distance on a third small rock. Which pulls stronger on the third rock?

Answer 33

Big Rock

Question 34

A comet way out by Pluto feels the gravitational pull of the sun.

Answer 34

True: It is less since it is far away and the comet isn’t very big, but it still feels gravity.

Question 35

If Earth were to be moved to a distance of 10 AU from the Sun how would that affect the gravitational pull between the Earth and the sun? (The Earth - Sun distance is actually 1 AU)

Answer 35

It would be weaker

Question 36

why does the Moon orbit the Earth and not fall into it or just fly off into space?

Answer 36

The Earth’s gravitational pull keeps the Moon from flying off into space in a straight line and the Moon’s speed keeps it from falling into the Earth.

Question 37

Two rocks are near each other in space and are not moving (again not likely, but just imagine). What will gravity cause to happen?

Answer 37

Gravity will cause them to move closer together.

Question 38

Why do tidal effects happen to any object?

Answer 38

because gravity is affected by distance

Question 39

As objects move closer toward each other, what happens to the gravitational pull between them?

Answer 39

It increases

Gravity is dependent on distance, so the closer objects are, the stronger the force.

Question 40

components of the Electromagnetic Spectrum

Answer 40

Visible Light, Radio, Ultraviolet, Microwave, Infrared, X-Ray
Gamma Rays

Question 41

True or False: Different colors of light are caused by different speeds.

Answer 41

False
all light travels at the speed of light or same speed. The different colors are differentiated by either wavelength, frequency or energy. They all are related.

Question 42

What information do spectral lines tell us?

Answer 42

Chemical Composition

Question 43

We take a spectra of a star and it looks like it has all the lines for Calcium (They are spaced from one another just like Calcium) but they are all shifted to shorter wavelength values by the same amount. What is going on?

Answer 43

The star is moving with respect to us on the Earth

Question 44

The Doppler effect can cause spectral lines to appear at longer or shorter wavelengths.

Answer 44

True. All spectral lines will be shifted the same amount based on the speed of the motion. The larger the speed the larger the motion. If the object is moving away the lines are shifted to longer wavelengths, if the object is moving towards us the lines are shifted to shorter wavelengths.

Question 45

Bigger telescopes are able to show fainter objects.

Answer 45

True