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- 1. Multiple Choice
Which observation best supported Aristotle's model of the universe?
Movement of celestial bodies across the sky
Vary brightness of planets over time
Occasional backward movement of planets
Annual cycle of the four seasons
- 2. Multiple Choice
What is true of the sun in a geocentric model?
It hovers in a fixed position in the sky
It revolves around Earth
It dims and brightens periodically
It stands at the center of the universe
- 3. Multiple Choice
What new concept did Ptolemy add to Aristotle's model?
Prime Mover
Celestial Spheres
Epicycles
Heliocentrism
- 4. Multiple Choice
According to Copernicus, the rising and setting of the sun is due to:
Its own movement
The movement of starts and planets
Earth's tilt
Earth's rotation
- 5. Multiple Choice
What is the most likely explanation for why Copernicus published his ideas when he did?
He was eager to make a name for himself
He still had doubts about the heliocentric model
He was reluctant to contradict the Church
He needed a new source of income
- 6. Multiple Choice
The Copernican Revolution marked an ideological shift toward:
Direct observation
Spiritual faith
Christian doctrine
Greek wisdom
- 7. Multiple Choice
Which of the following best illustrates Kepler's contribution to our understanding of planetary orbits?
- 8. Multiple Choice
The Prime Mover is to the geocentric model as ___ is to the heliocentric model.
The Sun
God
Gravity
Copernicus
- 9. Multiple Choice
Place these events in chronological order:
A) Galileo discovers Jupiter's moons
B) Copernicus proposes heliocentric model
C) Newton develops law of gravitation
D) Ptolemy revises Aristotle's model
A, B, C, D
D, A, B, C
D, B, A, C
A, C, D, B
- 10. Multiple Choice
Which of the following statements is an opinion?
Copernicus recognized inaccuracies in the geocentric model
The first heliocentric model was too complicated to be the most important scientific advance of its time
Clerics were expected to uphold the teachings of the Catholic Church
Copernicus spent decades refining his heliocentric model
- 11. Multiple Choice
What can you conclude about the trial at which Galileo was forced to apologize for his views?
Galileo's lawyer was unqualified
Galileo was wrong to publish views that offended the church
Galileo's opinions about the solar system were incorrect
It was probably not a fair trial
- 12. Multiple Choice
What's the most likely reason that Galileo kept studying physics after the Pop put him under house arrest?
Pursuing knowledge was more important to him than the Pope's approval
He wanted to develop a new theory to gain the Pope's approval
He assumed the Pope would eventually forgive him and let him go
He wanted to use physics to prove that the sun revolved around the Earth
- 13. Multiple Choice
What was the biggest difference between Galileo's work and the work of previous scientists?
Galileo had the benefit of a telescope, so he could see that the sun didn't move.
Galileo wasn't a religious man, so he didn't feel as pressured by the influence of religious leaders.
Galileo was one of the first scientists to rely heavily on the scientific method rather than abstract theory.
Galileo was the first scientist to publish theories about the solar system.
- 14. Multiple Choice
What did Aristotle say would happen if you dropped two balls of different masses?
The more massive ball would land first.
The less massive ball would land first.
The balls would land at the same time.
The gravitational pull between them would cause them to collide.
- 15. Multiple Choice
What did Galileo argue about falling objects?
The rate of an object's fall depends on its weight.
An object's mass is independent of its rate of falling.
Falling objects will continue to pick up speed until they disintegrate.
Gravity has no major effect on falling objects.
- 16. Multiple Choice
Why was it so controversial when Galileo disputed Aristotle's theories?
Because Aristotle's theories had been proved right many times.
Because Aristotle was one of the founders of the Catholic Church.
Because Aristotle was a close friend of the Pope.
Because Aristotle's theories had been popular for 2000 years.
- 17. Multiple Choice
Place the following events in sequence:
A) Galileo is fired from the University of Pisa
B) Galileo builds his first telescope
C) Galileo is put under house arrest
A, B, C
B, A, C
B, C, A
C, A, B
- 18. Multiple Choice
Which of the following is an opinion about Galileo?
Galileo was an early proponent of the scientific method
The Catholic Church was incorrect when it claimed the sun revolved around the earth.
Galileo was among the first scientists to use a telescore.
Galileo was the smartest man in Italy during his lifetime.
- 19. Multiple Choice
Why did the Catholic Church put Galileo under house arrest?
For saying that the universe is 14 billion years old.
For never going to church.
For saying the planets revolved around the sun.
For refusing to believe in Jesus Christ.
- 20. Multiple Choice
How does Aristotle's model of the solar system compare to Copernicus's model?
Aristotle though the sun revolved around the earth; Copernicus thought all planets revolved around the sun.
Copernicus thought the sun revolved around the earth; Aristotle thought all planets revolved around the sun.
Aristotle though the moon revolved around the earth; Copernicus thought it revolved around the sun.
Aristotle thought the moon revolved around the sun; Copernicus thought it revolved around the earth.
- 21. Multiple Choice
How did Newton's invention of the reflecting telescope affect the field of astronomy?
It allowed astronomers to see clearer images, without distorted or lost colors
It allowed astronomers to discover the existence of Jupiter and Saturn
It made astronomers realize that sunlight contains different colors
It allowed astronomers to realize that the earth revolves around the sun
- 22. Multiple Choice
According to Newton, what kinds of objects are affected by gravity?
Only objects inside the earth's atmosphere, like apples
Only objects that orbit the sun, like planets
Only objects with a lot of mass, like human beings
All objects in the universe
- 23. Multiple Choice
What can you infer from the fact that Newton was elected President of the Royal Society?
His personality made him popular among his fellow scientists
His fellow scientists understood the importance of his scientific achievements
His fellow scientists appreciated the work he'd done for the Royal Mint
He was a good friend of the King of England
- 24. Multiple Choice
What type of object could you best measure using calculus?
A very large geometric object, like an Egyptian pyramid
An object with curves and irregular surfaces
An object so distant you need binoculars to see it
A very close object, like anything under a microscope
- 25. Multiple Choice
How is the moon's orbit around the earth related to an apple falling from a tree?
The earth's gravity keeps the moon in orbit, and also pulls objects toward the ground.
The earth, the moon, and an apple are all spherical, so they all have gravity.
The moon's gravity holds apples on tree branches, while the earth's gravity pulls apples toward the ground.
The moon's gravity affects bodies of water; the earth's gravity affects solid objects.
- 26. Multiple Choice
At the Royal Mint, Isaac Newton helped catch and punish counterfeiters. What is a counterfeiter?
Someone who breaks the law of physics
Someone who criticizes the king
Someone who publishes inaccurate scientific theories
Someone who prints fake money
- 27. Multiple Choice
Legend has it that a fallen apple was key to Newton's ideas on gravity. What term could you use to describe the apple in this capacity?
Dangerous
Omen
Inspiration
Delicious
- 28. Multiple Choice
What conclusion can you draw from the story of Isaac Newton's life?
He wasn't nearly as smart as Einstein
He revolutionized several different fields within math and science
His contributions to math and science were unrecognized until after he died
His most important contributions came with the Royal Mint
- 29. Multiple Choice
Isaac Newton proved himself to be a polymath. If the prefix "poly-" means "many," what can you infer about what a polymath is?
It's someone who comes up with hundreds of scientific equations over his lifetime
It's someone who is interested in many different fields of study
It's someone who develops mathematical proofs about polynomials
It's someone who memorizes the multiplication tables
- 30. Multiple Choice
Sir Isaac Newton is buried at Westminster Abbey in London. Which of these other famous people is most likely to also be buried there?
George Washington
King Louis XIV of France
Queen Elizabeth I
Albert Einstein
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