Exam One

Question 1

What is Astronomy?

Answer 1

Finding patterns among stars, our place in the universe, connection to the universe, and the origin of the universe.

Question 2

What is a Solar System?

Answer 2

A star and its surrounding
planets, comets, asteroids, etc… that
exists inside a galaxy.

Question 3

What is a Star?

Answer 3

A large, glowing ball of gas that generates

heat and light through nuclear fusion.

Question 4

What is a Planet?

Answer 4

A moderately large object that orbits a star;
it shines by reflected light. Planets may be
rocky, icy, or gaseous in composition.

Question 5

What is a Moon or Satellite?

Answer 5

An object that orbits

a planet.

Question 6

What is an Asteroid?

Answer 6

A relatively small and rocky object that

orbits a star

Question 7

What is a Comet?

Answer 7

A relatively small and icy object that orbits

a star.

Question 8

What is a Galaxy?

Answer 8

A massive system of stars (and
other stuff) that exists inside the
universe.

Question 9

Describe the Milky Way

Answer 9

The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy that contains 100 billion stars, that is just one of billions of galaxies, and is in a universe that is 13.8 billion years old.

Question 10

What is the Universe?

Answer 10

Everything; the entirety of

space and time.

Question 11

Describe the Speed of Light

Answer 11

Light travels at a finite speed (300,000 km/s)
We use this travel time of light to
measure the vast distances of the
universe.

Question 12

The farther away we look in distance,

the further back we…….

Answer 12

The farther away we look in distance,

the further back we look in time.

Question 13

What is a Light-Year?

Answer 13

The distance light can travel in one year.

9.5 trillion kilometers (6 trillion miles)

Question 14

What is a Hypothesis?

Answer 14

An idea that can explain a

phenomenon.

Question 15

What is a Theory?

Answer 15

A hypothesis which tests have failed

to disprove.

Question 16

What is a Physical Law?

Answer 16

Theories that have become very
well tested and are of fundamental
importance.

Question 17

Which of the following represents a scientific way
of looking at nature?
A. All ideas are equally valuable and should be
equally respected.
B. Well-established ideas should never be checked
or tested.
C. Nature informs us about the usefulness of our
ideas.

Answer 17

Which of the following represents a scientific way
of looking at nature?
A. All ideas are equally valuable and should be
equally respected.
B. Well-established ideas should never be checked
or tested.
C. Nature informs us about the usefulness of our
ideas.

Question 18

What is the Celestial Sphere?

Answer 18

The celestial sphere is a projection of Earth’s axes and equator into space.
The celestial sphere rotates around the north and south celestial poles each day.

Question 19

Why do the constellations we see depend on

latitude and time of year?

Answer 19

They depend on latitude because your position on Earth determines which constellations remain below the horizon.

Question 20

Why do the constellations we see depend on

latitude and time of year?

Answer 20

They depend on time of year because Earth’s orbit changes the apparent location of the Sun among the stars.

Question 21

Why do stars rise and set?

Answer 21

Earth rotates from west to east, so stars appear to circle from east to west.

Question 22

What does Circumpolar mean?

Answer 22

When a star doesn’t rises or set.

Question 23

*The Sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
Which way is Earth rotating?*
A. Toward the west
B. Toward the north
C. Toward the east
D. Toward the south

Answer 23

*The Sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
Which way is Earth rotating?*
A. Toward the west
B. Toward the north
*C. Toward the east*
D. Toward the south

Question 24

*From what location on Earth would all of the stars
on the celestial sphere be visible?*
A. Equator
B. North Pole
C. Prime Meridian
D. South Pole

Answer 24

*From what location on Earth would all of the stars
on the celestial sphere be visible?
A. Equator*
B. North Pole
C. Prime Meridian
D. South Pole

Question 25

What would the sky look like from a latitude of 30°N?
A. All stars would be circumpolar.
B. All stars would be visible.
C. No stars would be visible.
D. Some stars would be circumpolar; some would never
be visible.

Answer 25

What would the sky look like from a latitude of 30°N?
A. All stars would be circumpolar.
B. All stars would be visible.
C. No stars would be visible.
D. Some stars would be circumpolar; some would never
be visible.