Quiz One Flashcards
The Earth is closest to the Sun in which month of the year?
Question 1Select one:
a.
June
b.
March
c.
January
d.
September
e.
July
January
If there really were a Santa Claus at the North Pole, what would the cycle of the seasons be like for him and Mrs. Claus?
Question 2Select one:
a.
pretty much the reverse of the seasons in the continental U.S., with winter in June, and summer in December
b.
the Sun only shines there during the two weeks before and after the Christmas holidays
c.
pretty much the same as in the continental United States
d.
six months of light, followed by six months of darkness (or at least dark twilight)
e.
the North Pole is always in darkness (it never sees the Sun, which is blocked by the Earth’s equator)
d.
six months of light, followed by six months of darkness (or at least dark twilight)
Why is there a 4-minute difference between the solar day and the sidereal day?
Question 3Select one:
a.
because the stars slowly change their orientations in the Galaxy
b.
because the Earth’s axis is tilted by about 23 degrees
c.
because the Earth is going around the Sun in the course of a year
d.
no one knows the reason; we just have to accept the difference as an unsolved mystery
e.
because the Earth’s rotation is variable, due to the pull of the Moon
c.
because the Earth is going around the Sun in the course of a year
What phase of the Moon must it be to have a solar eclipse?
Question 4Select one:
a.
it can be any phase as long as the orbits are lined up
b.
third quarter
c.
full moon
d.
new moon
e.
first quarter
d.
new moon
A friend of yours who takes her astronomy class very seriously challenges you to a contest to find the thinnest crescent moon you can find just after new moon? What time of day is best for looking for this very thin crescent?
Question 5Select one:
a.
noon
b.
just as the sun is setting, or just after
c.
late morning
d.
3 to 4 am
e.
midnight
b.
just as the sun is setting, or just after
The period of the moon’s rotation on its axis is
Question 6Select one:
a.
the same as its revolution around the Earth
b.
much shorter than its revolution around the Earth
c.
zero
d.
much longer than its revolution around the Earth
e.
longer or shorter depending on what part of the year we are in
a.
the same as its revolution around the Earth
In what location on Earth could an eager math student NOT use her solar-powered calculator at any time at all during the course of a day in June?
Question 7Select one:
a.
the equator
b.
the South Pole
c.
none of the above
d.
the North Pole
e.
anywhere on the International Date Line
b.
the South Pole
Which of the following is an important part of the reason it is hotter in summer in North America than in winter?
Question 9Select one:
a.
the nights are much longer in summer, allowing temperatures to stabilize
b.
the cloud cover over the entire surface of the Earth is much less in summer
c.
the Earth is closer to the Sun in summer
d.
the Sun’s rays hit the Earth more directly in the Summer, and spread out less
e.
we see the full Sun in summer, instead of one of its partial phases
d.
the Sun’s rays hit the Earth more directly in the Summer, and spread out less
If you want to locate someone precisely on the surface of the Earth, you specify her exact latitude and longitudE. If you want to locate a star precisely on the sky, you need to specify its exact:
Question 10Select one:
a.
solstice and equinox
b.
constellation
c.
north and east point
d.
meridian and great circle
e.
right ascension and declination
e.
right ascension and declination
A friend of yours (who has not had the benefit of an astronomy course) tells you about a report he has read in a tabloid newspaper. They claim that on the dark side of the Moon, which is never in sunlight, there is a secret base of aliens who cannot stand light, and who send UFO’s to Earth under the cover of darkness. Ignoring the UFO claim for a moment, what is the scientific error in this story?
Question 11Select one:
a.
there are no scientific problems with that story
b.
all sides of the Moon are illuminated by sunlight in the course of a month; there is no dark side
c.
sunlight cannot reach any side of the Moon, so every side of it is always looks the same
d.
since the moon is turning, we see all sides of it from Earth in the course of a month
e.
the dark side of the Moon is the one that faces the Earth and our telescopes would have spotted such a base
b.
all sides of the Moon are illuminated by sunlight in the course of a month; there is no dark side
A serial killer from a strange cult only kills his victims when the Moon is full. He leaves a note on the body of his latest victim, explaining that the murder was committed when the Moon was rising. What time of day did the murder take place?
Question 14Select one:
a.
roughly about midnight
b.
we don’t have enough information to answer this question
c.
roughly around noon
d.
roughly around sunset
e.
roughly around sunrise
d.
roughly around sunset
