40 questions
In our solar system, the orbits of our planets are best described as
circular, with the planet at the center
circular, with the sun at the center
elliptical, with the planet at one of the foci
elliptical, with the sun at one foci
Based on the diagram, what is the eccentricity of the ellipse in the diagram?
1.0
0.5
0.30
0.13
If the pins in the diagram were placed closer together, the eccentricity of the ellipse being constructed would
decrease
increase
remain the same
shape of Earth's moon
shape of an elliptical orbit
path of an earthquake wave
path of a projectile deflected by Earth's rotation
1.3
0.8
0.5
0.3
If Earth rotated from north to south, the North Star would appear to
set in the south
set in the north
move in a circle in the sky
remain stationary
When observed from a location in New York State for an entire night, the North Star (Polaris) appears to
rise in the east and set in the west
rise in the west and set in the east
move southward along an arc-shaped path
remain stationary in the sky
How would a three-hour time exposure photograph of stars in the northern sky appear if the earth did not rotate
6
2
8
4
The star Sirius is observed in the evening sky during the month of January. At the end of 3 hours, Sirius will appear to have moved
60 degrees
45 degrees
3 degrees
0 degrees
At which location below would the sun produce an andle of 23.5° relative to an observer's head, at noon on June 21?
0°
25.3° N
23.5° S
66.5°N
On December 21, at which latitude would an observer find the sun directly overhead?
0 degrees
23.5 degrees North
23.5 degrees South
90 degrees South
The sun's apparent daily movement across the sky is cause by
the sun's revolution around the earth
Earth's revolution around the sun
the sun's rotation on its axis
Earth's rotation on its axis
At 40 degrees North latitude, how many days a year is the sun directly overhead?
0
1
2
3
In New York State, to see the sun at noon, one would look towards the
North
South
East
West
A student in New York State obtained the data below by noting the altitude of the sun at noon for three consecutive months:
Month X- 27.0 degrees
Month Y- 23.5 degrees
Month Z- 25.5 degrees
The Data for month Y were obtained during
March
June
September
December
To a person located at 43 degrees North latitude, the sun appears to rise due east on
December 22
March 1
March 21
June 22
From September 21 to December 20 in the United States, the direction in which the sun sets
is always directly east
is always directly west
moves from the east towards the north
moves from the west towards the south
In the geocentric model, which motion would occur?
Earth would revolve around the sun
Earth would rotate on it's axis
The moon would revolve around the sun
The sun would revolve around the Earth
The apparent rising and setting of the sun as seen from Earth are caused by the
rotation of the sun
rotation of Earth
revolution of Earth
revolution of the sun
In the heliocentric model
the sun revolves around Earth
Earth revolves around the moon
Earth revolves around the sun
the moon revolves around the sun
Which planetary orbit model allows a scientist to predict the exact positions of the planets in the night sky for many years?
the planets' orbits are circles in a geocentric model
the planets' orbits are ellipses in a geocentric model
the planets' orbits are circles in a heliocentric model
the planets' orbits are ellipses in a heliocentric model
a galaxy
a planet
Earth's moon
another star
An angle of 23.5 degrees is formed between the axis of Earth and a line
from the center of Earth to polaris
from the center of Earth to the sun
perpendicular to the plane of Earth's orbit
perpendicular to the plane of the moon's orbit
The Foucault pendulum provides evidence of Earth's
rotation
revolution
insolation
inclination
On Earth, surface ocean currents rotate clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere because of the
Coriolis effect
Seasonal effect
Tidal effect
Doppler effect
Which statement provides the best evidence that Earth revolves around the sun?
The sun follows an apparent daily path, rising in the east and setting in the west
A Foucault pendulum appears to shift its direction of swing in a predictable manner
The stars appear to follow circular paths around the North Star (Polaris)
The seasons of spring, summer, fall, and winter repeat in a pattern.
Traditionally, most units of time are based upon
the motions of earth
the longitude of an observer
the motions of the moon
the real motions of the sun
If Earths rate of rotation decreased, there would be an increase in the
length of the seasons
sun's angle of insulation at noon
number of observable stars seen at night during the year
length of an Earth day
How long does Earth take to complete one orbit around the sun?
1 day
1 month
1 year
1 decade
Units of time are based on Earth's motion relative to other celestial objects. The year is best defined as Earth's motion relative to the
asteroids
sun
moon
planets
6 A.M
12 noon
6 P.M.
12 Midnight
Cities located on the same meridian must have the same
altitude
latitude
length of daylight
local solar time
Ship X and Y are sailing along the equator. The difference in local solar time between their locations is 2 hours. What is their difference in longitude?
0°
15°
30°
45°
If a full moon occurs on November 1, the next full moon phase will occur about
November 22
November 30
December 6
December 13
In the open ocean, a bulge of water two to three feet high that follows the moon's movement around Earth is a
tide
tsunami
wind wave
surface ocean current
A high tide occurs at Boston on a certain day at 3 P.M. The next tide may be expected to occur at
9:26 P.M. the same day
3:26 A.M. the following day
9: 52 A.M. the following day
3:52 P.M. the following day
During which event does our moon receive the least amount of sunlight?
a Jupiter eclipse
an Earth eclipse
a solar eclipse
a lunar eclipse
During which phase of the moon do solar eclipses occur?
new moon
first quarter moon
last quarter moon
full moon
the highest high tides and the lowest low tides
the highest high tides and the highest low tides
the lowest high tides and the lowest low tides
the lowest high tides and the highest low tides