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Astronomy 10 Midterm
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Questions in this quiz (70)
1Which of the following has your "address" in the correct order?
- Ayou, Earth, solar system, Milky Way, Local Supercluster, Local Group
- Byou, Earth, solar system, Milky Way, Local Group, Local Supercluster
- Cyou, Earth, solar system, Local Group, Milky Way, Local Supercluster
- Dyou, Earth, Local Group, Local Supercluster, solar system, Milky Way
- Eyou, Earth, solar system, Local Group, Local Supercluster, Milky Way
2What is an astronomical unit?
- Aan basic unit used in astronomy
- Bthe length of time it takes Earth to revolve around the Sun
- Cthe average distance from Earth to the Sun
- Dthe diameter of Earth's orbit around the Sun
- Ethe average speed of Earth around the Sun
3Roughly how many stars are in the Milky Way Galaxy?
- A100 million
- B10 billion
- C1 billion
- D100 trillion
- E100 billion
4Which is the following statements about the celestial sphere in not true?
- AThe "celestial sphere" is just another name for our universe.
- BThe celestial sphere does not exist physically.
- CEarth is placed at the center of the celestial sphere.
- DFrom and location on Earth, we can see only half of the celestial sphere at any one time.
- EWhen we look into the sky, the stars all appear to be located on the celestial sphere.
5Which is of the following statements about the celestial equator is true at all latitudes?
- AIt cuts the dome of your sky exactly in half.
- BIt extends from your horizon due north, through your zenith, to your horizon due south.
- CIt lies along the band of light we call the Milky Way.
- DIt represents an extension of Earth's equator onto the celestial sphere.
- EIt extends from your horizon due east, through your zenith, to your horizon due west.
6What is the ecliptic?
- Awhen the Moon passes in front of the Sun
- Bthe Sun's apparent path along the celestial sphere
- Cthe Moon's apparent path along the celestial sphere
- Dthe Sun's daily path across the sky
- Ethe constellations commonly used in astrology to predict the future
7Which of the following correctly describes the meridian in your sky?
- Aa half-circle extending from your horizon due east, through the north celestial pole, to your horizon due west
- Ba half-circle extending from your horizon due east, through your zenith, to your horizon due west
- Cthe boundary between the portion of the celestial sphere you can see at any moment and the portion that you cannot see
- Dthe point directly over your head
- Ea half-circle extending from your horizon due north, through your zenith, to your horizon due south
- Aa half-circle extending from your horizon due east, through the north celestial pole, to your horizon due west
8How may arcseconds are in 1°?
- A3,600
- B100
- C10,000
- D360
- E60
9What is a circumpolar star?
- Aa star that is close to the north celestial pole
- Ba star that is visible from the Arctic or Antarctic circles
- Ca star that makes a daily circle around the celestial sphere
- Da star that is close to the south celestial pole
- Ea star that always remains above your horizon
- Aa star that is close to the north celestial pole
10Which of the following is not a phase of the Moon?
- Athird-quarter moon
- Bnew moon
- Cfirst-quarter moon
- Dfull moon
- Ehalf moon
- Athird-quarter moon
11If the Moon is setting at 6 AM, the phase of the Moon must be
- Awaning cresent
- Bfirst quarter
- Cnew
- Dthird quarter
- Efull
12How did Eratosthenes estimate the size of the Earth in 240 BC?
- Aby observing the duration of a solar eclipse
- Bby comparing the maximum altitude of the Sun in two cities at different latitudes
- Cby measuring the size of Earth's shadow on the Moon in a lunar eclipse
- Dby sending fleets of ships around Earth
- EWe don't know how he did it since all his writings were destroyed.
13Where was the Sun in Ptolemy's model of the universe?
- Abetween the orbits of Venus and Mars
- Bslightly offset from the center
- Cat the outer edge, beyond Saturn's orbit
- Dat the center
- Ebetween Earth and the Moon's orbit
- Abetween the orbits of Venus and Mars
14The controversial book of this famous person, published in 1543 (the year of his death), suggested that Earth and other planets orbit the Sun.
- ATycho Brahe
- BCopernicus
- CKepler
- DGalileo
- EPtolemy
- ATycho Brahe
15He discovered that the orbits of planets are ellipses.
- ACopernicus
- BGalileo
- CKepler
- DTycho Brahe
- EPtolemy
- ACopernicus
16He discovered that Jupiter has moons.
- AAristotle
- BGalileo
- CTycho Brahe
- DKepler
- EPtolemy
- AAristotle
17If your mass is 60 kg on Earth, what would your mass be on the Moon?
- A10 lb
- B50 kg
- C60 kg
- D10 kg
- E60 lbs
18What would happen if the Space Shuttle were launched with a speed greater than Earth's escape velocity?
- AIt would orbit Earth at a faster velocity
- BIt would travel in a higher orbit around Earth.
- CIt would be in an unstable orbit.
- DIt would travel away from Earth into the solar system.
- EIt would take less time to reach its bound orbit.
19The force of gravity is an inverse square law. This means that, if you double the distance between two large masses, the gravitational force between them
- Aalso doubles
- Bstrengthens by a factor of 4
- Cweakens by a factor of 2
- Dis unaffected
- E weakens by a factor of 4
20According to the universal law of gravitation, if you double the masses of both attracting objects, then the gravitational force between them will
- Anot change at all
- Bdecrease by a factor of 4
- Cincrease by a factor of 4
- Dincrease by a factor of 2
- Edecrease by a factor of 2
21An atom in an excited state contains more of what type of energy than the same atom in the ground state?
- Agravitational potential energy
- Bthermal energy
- Celectric potential energy
- Dmass-energy
- Ekinetic energy
22The wavelength of a wave is
- Athe distance between where the wave is emitted and where it is absorbed.
- Bthe distance between two adjacent peaks of the wave.
- Cthe distance between a peak of the wave and the next trough.
- Dhow strong the wave is.
- Eequal to the speed of the wave times the wave's frequency.
23How are wavelength, frequency, and energy related for photons of light?
- ALonger wavelength means lower frequency and lower energy.
- BLonger wavelength means higher frequency and lower energy.
- CLonger wavelength means higher frequency and higher energy.
- DLonger wavelength means lower frequency and higher energy.
- EThere is no simple relationship because different photons travel at different speeds.
24From lowest energy to highest energy, which of the following correctly orders the different categories of electromagnetic radiation?
- Ainfrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X rays, gamma rays, radio
- Bradio, X rays, visible light, ultraviolet, infrared, gamma rays
- Cvisible light, infrared, X rays, ultraviolet, gamma rays, radio
- Dradio, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X rays, gamma rays
- Egamma rays, X rays, visible light, ultraviolet, infrared, radio
25When an electron in an atom goes from a higher energy state to a lower energy state, the atom
- A absorbs several photons of a specific frequency.
- Bemits a photon of a specific frequency.
- Cabsorbs a photon of a specific frequency.
- Dcan absorb a photon of any frequency.
- Ecan emit a photon of any frequency.
26The spectra of most galaxies show redshifts. This means that their spectral lines
- Ahave wavelengths that are shorter than normal.
- Bhave normal wavelengths, but absorption of light makes them appear red.
- Chave wavelengths that are longer than normal.
- Dhave a higher intensity in the red part of the spectrum.
- Ealways are in the red part of the visible spectrum.
27From laboratory measurements, we know that a particular spectral line formed by hydrogen appears at a wavelength of 121.6 nanometers (nm). The spectrum of a particular star shows the same hydrogen line appearing at a wavelength of 121.8 nm. What can we conclude?
- AThe star is getting hotter.
- BThe star is moving toward us.
- CThe star is moving away from us.
- DThe "star" actually is a planet.
- EThe star is getting colder.
28How does the Sun's mass compare with that of the planets?
- AIt is a hundred times more massive than Earth.
- BIt is a thousand times more massive than all the planets combined.
- CIt is a thousand times more massive than Earth.
- DIt is a hundred times more massive than all the planets combined.
- EIt is about as massive as all the planets combined.
29Which planet has the highest average surface temperature, and why?
- AJupiter, because it is so big
- BVenus, because of its dense carbon dioxide atmosphere
- CMercury, because it is closest to the Sun
- DMars, because of its red color
- EMercury, because of its dense carbon dioxide atmosphere
30Which planet, other than Earth, has visible water ice on it?
- AMars
- BMercury
- CVenus
- Dthe Moon
- EJupiter
31Which of the following is furthest from the Sun?
- ANeptune
- BPluto
- Ca comet in the Kuiper belt
- Dan asteroid in the asteroid belt
- Ea comet in the Oort cloud
32 Which is the densest planet in the solar system?
- AVenus
- BMars
- CMercury
- DEarth
- EJupiter
33The planet closest in size to Earth is
- AMars
- BVenus
- Cthe Moon
- DPluto
- EMercury
34Which of the following is not a characteristic of the inner planets?
- AThey all have solid, rocky surfaces.
- BTheir orbits are relatively closely spaced.
- CThey have very few, if any, satellites.
- DThey are relatively smaller than the outer planets.
- EThey all have substantial atmospheres.
35Which of the following is not a characteristic of the outer planets?
- AThey are all large balls of gas.
- BTheir orbits are separated by relatively large distances.
- CThey are primarily made of hydrogen and helium.
- DThey all have rings.
- EThey have very few, if any, satellites.
36Why did the solar nebula heat up as it collapsed?
- ACollisions among planetesimals generated friction and heat.
- BThe shock wave from a nearby supernova heated the gas.
- CRadiation from other nearby stars that had formed earlier heated the nebula.
- DNuclear fusion occurring in the core of the protosun produced energy that
heated the nebula. - EAs the cloud shrank, its gravitational potential energy was converted to kinetic
energy and then into thermal energy.
37What kind of material in the solar nebula could remain solid at temperatures as high
as 1,500 K, such as existed in the inner regions of the nebula?- Amolecules such as methane and ammonia
- Bhydrogen compounds
- Cmetals
- Drocks
- Esilicon-based minerals
38What was the frost line of the solar system?
- Athe distance from the Sun where temperatures were low enough for metals to condense, between the Sun and the present-day orbit of Mercury
- Bthe distance from the Sun where temperatures were low enough for hydrogen compounds to condense into ices, between the present-day orbits of Mars and Jupiter
- Cthe distance from the Sun where temperatures were low enough for rocks to
condense, between the present-day orbits of Mercury and Venus - Dthe distance from the Sun where temperatures were low enough for hydrogen and helium to condense, between the present-day orbits of Jupiter and Saturn
- Ethe distance from the Sun where temperatures were low enough for asteroids
to form, between the present-day orbits of Venus and Earth
39According to the nebular theory, what are asteroids and comets?
- AThey are the shattered remains of collisions between planets.
- BThey are chunks of rock or ice that condensed long after the planets and moons had formed
- CThey are chunks of rock or ice that were expelled from planets by volcanoes.
- DThey are the shattered remains of collisions between moons.
- EThey are leftover planetesimals that never accreted into planets.
4040) Most of the planets discovered around other stars
- AA) are found around neutron stars.
- BB) are more massive than Earth and orbit very far from the star.
- CC) are more massive than Earth and orbit very close to the star.
- DD) are less massive than Earth and orbit very far from the star.
- EE) are less massive than Earth and orbit very close to the star.
4141) Rank the five terrestrial worlds in order of size from smallest to largest:
- AA) Moon, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars.
- BB) Moon, Mercury, Mars, Venus, Earth.
- CC) Mercury, Venus, Earth, Moon, Mars.
- DD) Mercury, Moon, Venus, Earth, Mars.
- EE) Mercury, Moon, Mars, Earth, Venus.
4242) Which of the terrestrial worlds has the strongest magnetic field?
- AMars
- BB) the Moon
- CMercury
- DEarth
- EVenus
43Which of the following most likely explains why Venus does not have a strong magnetic field?
- AA) It is too large.
- BB) It does not have a metallic core.
- CC) It is too close to the Sun.
- DD) Its rotation is too slow.
- EE) It has too thick an atmosphere.
44Which two properties are most important in determining the surface temperature of a planet?
- AA) size and chemical composition
- BB) distance from the Sun and atmosphere
- CC) size and atmosphere
- DD) composition and distance from the Sun
- EE) internal temperature and atmosphere
4545) How large is an impact crater compared to the size of the impactor?
- AA) 10 times larger
- BB) 10-20 percent larger
- CC) 100 times larger
- DD) 1,000 times larger
- EE) the same size
4646) The relatively few craters that we see within the lunar maria
- AA) were formed by impacts that occurred after those that formed most of the
craters in the lunar highlands. - BB) were formed by impacts that occurred before those that formed most of the craters in the lunar highlands.
- CC) are sinkholes that formed when sections of the maria collapsed.
- DD) are volcanic in origin, rather than from impacts.
- EE) were created by the same large impactor that led to the formation of the maria.
- AA) were formed by impacts that occurred after those that formed most of the
47The Caloris Basin on Mercury covers a large region of the planet, but few smaller craters have formed on top of it. From this we conclude that
- AA) the Caloris Basin was formed by a volcano.
- BB) Mercury's atmosphere prevented smaller objects from hitting the surface.
- CC) the Caloris Basin formed toward the end of the solar system's period of heavy bombardment.
- DD) only very large impactors hit Mercury's surface in the past.
- EE) erosion destroyed the smaller craters that formed on the basin.
4848) Olympus Mons is a
- AA) shield volcano on Venus.
- BB) large lava plain on the Moon.
- CC) shield volcano on Mars.
- DD) stratovolcano on the Moon.
- EE) stratovolcano on Mercury.
4949) Why does Venus have such a great difference in temperature between its "no
atmosphere" temperature and its actual temperature?- AA) It has a slow rotation.
- BB) It is so close to the Sun.
- CC) It has a large amount of greenhouse gases in its atmosphere.
- DD) It has a high level of volcanic activity.
- EE) It has no cooling effects from oceans.
5050) Which of the following worlds has the most substantial atmosphere?
- AA) the Moon
- BB) Earth
- CMars
- DVenus
- EMercury
5151) Why doesn't Venus have seasons like Mars and Earth do?
- AA) Its rotation axis is not tilted.
- BB) It is too close to the Sun.
- CC) It does not have an ozone layer.
- DD) It does not rotate fast enough.
- EE) all of the above
5252) Where is most of the water on Mars?
- AA) in its polar caps and subsurface ground ice
- BB) distributed evenly throughout its atmosphere
- CC) in deep underground deposits
- DD) frozen on the peaks of its tall volcanoes
- EE) in its clouds
5353) How does Jupiter's core compare to Earth's?
- AA) It is the same size and mass.
- BB) It is about the same size but is 10 times more massive.
- CC) It is about 10 times larger in size and the same mass.
- DD) Jupiter doesn't have a core—it is made entirely from hydrogen and helium.
- EE) It is about 10 times larger both in size and mass.
5454) If we know the size of an asteroid, we can determine its density by
- AA) determining its mass from its gravitational pull on a spacecraft, satellite, or
planet. - BB) looking for brightness variations as it rotates.
- CC) spectroscopic imaging.
- DD) radar mapping.
- EE) comparing its reflectivity to the amount of light it reflects.
- AA) determining its mass from its gravitational pull on a spacecraft, satellite, or
5555) What is Jupiter's Great Red Spot?
- AA) the place where Jupiter's aurora is most visible
- BB) a hurricane that comes and goes on Jupiter
- CC) the place where reddish particles from Io impact Jupiter's surface
- DD) a large mountain peak poking up above the clouds
- EE) a long-lived, high-pressure storm
5656) The four Galilean moons around Jupiter are
- AA) all made of rock.
- BB) hydrogen and helium gas.
- CC) a mixture of rock and ice, with the ice fraction increasing with distance from Jupiter.
- DD) all made of ice.
- EE) a mixture of rock and ice, with the rock fraction increasing with distance from Jupiter.
5757) Why are there no impact craters on the surface of Io?
- AA) Any craters that existed have been eroded through the strong winds on Io's surface.
- BB) Io did have impact craters but they have all been buried in lava flows.
- CC) Jupiter's strong gravity attracted the planetesimals more strongly than Io and thus none landed on its surface.
- DD) It is too small to have been bombarded by planetesimals in the early solar system.
- EE) Io's thick atmosphere obscures the view of the craters.
5858) Which moon has the most substantial atmosphere?
- AA) Mimas
- BB) Europa
- CC) Io
- DD) Ganymede
- EE) Titan
5959) How thick are Saturn's rings from top to bottom?
- AA) a few tens of thousands of kilometers
- BB) a few tens of meters
- CC) a few million kilometers
- DD) a few kilometers
- EE) a few hundred kilometers
6060) Which is closest to the average distance between asteroids in the asteroid belt?
- AA) 10 thousand km
- BB) 1 million km
- CC) 10 million km
- DD) 100 thousand km
- EE) 1 thousand km
61Why isn't there a planet where the asteroid belt is located?
- AA) There was too much rocky material to form a terrestrial planet, but not enough gaseous material to form a jovian planet.
- BB) There was not enough material in this part of the solar nebula to form a planet.
- CC) Gravitational tugs from Jupiter prevented material from collecting together to form a planet.
- DD) The temperature in this portion of the solar nebula was just right to prevent
rock from sticking together. - EE) A planet once formed here, but it was broken apart by a catastrophic collision.
6262) What do we call a small piece of solar system debris found on Earth?
- AA) meteorite
- BB) solar system debris
- CC) cometary fragment
- DD) meteoroid
- EE) meteor
6363) Halley's comet is named after the English scientist Edmund Halley because he
- AA) discovered it.
- BB) was the most famous astronomer in England during its appearance.
- CC) calculated its orbit and predicted that it would return in 1758.
- DD) was the first to see it in 1682.
- EE) was the first to publish pictures of it and report it to the International
Astronomical Union (IAU).
6464) What part of a comet points most directly away from the Sun?
- AA) the nucleus
- BB) the jets of gas
- CC) the dust tail
- DD) the coma
- EE) the plasma tail
6565) The core of the Sun is
- AA) composed of iron.
- BB) at the same temperature and density as the surface.
- CC) at the same temperature but denser than the surface.
- DD) hotter and denser than the surface.
- EE) constantly rising to the surface through convection.
6666) What two forces are balanced in what we call gravitational equilibrium?
- AA) the strong force and gravity
- BB) outward pressure and the strong force
- CC) the electromagnetic force and gravity
- DD) outward pressure and gravity
- EE) the strong force and kinetic energy
6767) What is the average temperature of the surface of the Sun?
- AA) 10,000 K
- BB) 1,000 K
- CC) 1 million K
- DD) 6,000 K
- EE) 100,000 K
6868) Which layer of the Sun do we normally see?
- AA) chromosphere
- BB) convection zone
- CC) photosphere
- DD) corona
- EE) radiation zone
6969) At the center of the Sun, fusion converts hydrogen into
- AA) radiation and elements like carbon and nitrogen.
- BB) radioactive elements like uranium and plutonium.
- CC) plasma.
- DD) helium, energy, and neutrinos.
- EE) hydrogen compounds.
7070) What is granulation in the Sun?
- AA) the bubbling pattern on the photosphere produced by the underlying convection
- BB) another name for the way sunspots look on the surface of the Sun
- CC) elements in the Sun other than hydrogen and helium
- DD) lumps of denser material in the Sun
- EE) dust particles in the Sun that haven't been turned into plasma
Information
- Description
- Midterm Review for Astronomy 10 with Professor Dunn at Sierra College
- Author
- Anna Hong
- Language
- English
- Views
- 73
- History
- Created on 23 Mar 2015 · updated on 19 Feb 2016
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