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- 1. Multiple Choice
A photograph showing circular star trails is evidence that the Earth
rotates on its axis
revolves around the sun
has a nearly circular orbit
has a nearly spherical shape
- 2. Multiple Choice
The diagram shows an instrument made from a drinking straw, protractor, string and rock. This instrument was most likely used to measure the
distance to a star
altitude of a star
mass of the Earth
mass of the suspended weight
- 3. Multiple Choice
How would a three-hour time exposure photograph of stars in the northern sky appear if the Earth did not rotate?
- 4. Multiple Choice
The diagram represents a Foucault pendulum in a building in New York State. Points A and A' are fixed points on the floor. As the pendulum swings for six hours, it will
appear to change position because of Earth's rotation
appear to change position because of Earth's revolution
continue to swing between A and A' because of inertia
continue to swing between A and A' because of air pressure
- 5. Multiple Choice
Diagram II shows two pegs tipped over by the swinging pendulum at the beginning of the demonstration. Which diagram shows the pattern of standing pegs and fallen pegs after several hours?
- 6. Multiple Choice
The predictable change in the direction of swing of a Foucault pendulum provides evidence that
Sun rotates on its axis
Sun revolves around the Earth
Earth rotates on its axis
Earth revolves around the Sun
- 7. Multiple Choice
Areas within a time zone generally keep the same standard clock time. In degrees of longitude, approximately how wide is one standard time zone?
7 1/2 degrees
15 degrees
23 1/2 degrees
30 degrees
- 8. Multiple Choice
In which type of model are the Sun, other stars, and the Moon in orbit around the Earth?
heliocentric model
tetrahedral model
concentric model
geocentric model
- 9. Multiple Choice
Which diagram best represents a heliocentric model of a portion of the solar system? [Key: E = Earth, P = Planet, S = Sun diagrams are not drawn to scale]
- 10. Multiple Choice
The Earth's orbit around the Sun is best described as
a perfect circle
an oblate spheroid
a very eccentric ellipse
a slightly eccentric ellipse
- 11. Multiple Choice
As the Earth moves from position B to position C, what change will occur in the gravitational attraction between the Earth and the Sun?
it will decrease, only
it will increase, only
it will decrease, then increase
it will remain the same
- 12. Multiple Choice
The diagram represents the elliptical orbit of the Earth around the sun. According to the distances shown in the diagram and the ESRT, which equation should be used to find the eccentricity of the Earth's orbit?
- 13. Multiple Choice
According to the Reference Table, what is the approximate eccentricity of the ellipse shown?
0.50
2.0
0.25
4.0
- 14. Multiple Choice
The diagram represents the Earth's orbital path around the Sun. The Earth takes the same amount of time to move from A to B as from C to D. Which values are equal within the system?
The shaded sections of the diagram are equal in area
The distance from the Sun to the Earth is the same as pont A and at point D
The orbital velocity of the Earth at point A equals its orbital velocity at point C
The gravitational force between the Earth and the Sun at oint B is the same as the gravitational force at point D
- 15. Multiple Choice
Planet A has a greater man distance from the Sun than planet B. On the basis of this fact, which further comparison can be correctly made between the two planets?
Planet A is larger
Planet A's revolution period is longer
Planet A's speed of rotation is greater
Planet A's day is longer
- 16. Multiple Choice
Compared with the Earth's orbit, the comet's orbit has
less eccentricity
more eccentricity
the same eccentricity
- 17. Multiple Choice
The diagram represents the path of a planet in an elliptical orbit around a star. Points A, B, C and D indicate four orbital positions of the planet. The eccentricity of the planet's orbit is approximately
0.18
0.65
1.55
5.64
- 18. Multiple Choice
The diagram represents the path of a planet in an elliptical orbit around a star. Points A, B, C and D indicate four orbital positions of the planet. Which graph best represents the gravitational attraction between the star and the planet?
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