Question 1

The intellectual foundation of science is

Accepted Answer

A)   observation, faith, and acceptance.
B)   rejection of all observations that disagree with theory.
C)   logical derivation entirely from fundamental principles.
D)   observation, logic, and skepticism.E) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 2

What was Tycho Brahe's conclusion regarding his parallax measurements of the stars?

Accepted Answer

A)   The parallax motion occurred too quickly for Tycho to detect with the equipment available to him at the time. Thus, he concluded that Earth is motionless.
B)   The parallax motion was too small for Tycho to detect with the equipment available to him at the time. Thus, he concluded that Earth is motionless.
C)   Tycho was able to measure parallax motion for the stars and thus concluded that the solar system is geocentric.
D)   Tycho was able to measure parallax motion for the stars and thus concluded that the solar system is heliocentric.E) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 3

When observing planetary motions from Earth, the phrase "direct motion" refers to the

Accepted Answer

A)   slow westward motion of the planet from night to night compared to the background stars.
B)   apparent westward motion of the planet (and the Sun, the Moon, and stars)  across the sky due to the rotation of Earth.
C)   motion of the planet directly toward or away from Earth in certain parts of the planet's orbit.
D)   slow eastward motion of the planet from night to night compared to the background stars.E) A) and C)
F) All of the above

Question 4

In ancient Greece, the philosopher Aristotle put forth the idea that

Accepted Answer

A)   the universe is governed by regular laws.
B)   the Sun is the center of the solar system.
C)   Earth is only one of hundreds of planets scattered throughout the galaxy.
D)   gravitation keeps the planets in their orbits.E) A) and B)
F) None of the above

Question 5

A gravitational force is exerted by a large mass on a small mass a certain distance away. If the separation is increased to 3 times its original value and the large and small masses are then switched, what will happen to the gravitational force?

Accepted Answer

A)   It will remain the same.
B)   It will increase by a factor of 3.
C)   It will decrease by a factor of 3.
D)   It will decrease by a factor of 9.E) C) and D)
F) A) and B)

Question 6

A force can give a certain mass a certain acceleration. If one doubles the force and doubles the mass, the acceleration of this object will be

Accepted Answer

A)   a quarter of the original acceleration.
B)   half the original acceleration.
C)   the same as the original acceleration.
D)   twice the original acceleration.E) B) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 7

Which one of these is NOT part of the scientific method?

Accepted Answer

A)   propose a new experiment
B)   take a formal vote at a recognized international scientific conference
C)   modify existing theory
D)   make predictionsE) C) and D)
F) B) and D)

Question 8

When Venus is at superior conjunction, it is

Accepted Answer

A)   at its smallest distance from Earth.
B)   at its greatest angle from the Sun as seen from Earth.
C)   traveling at its greatest speed in its orbit.
D)   at its greatest distance from Earth.E) B) and D)
F) C) and D)

Question 9

Which of these planetary configurations or positions is impossible for one of the outer planets?

Accepted Answer

A)   opposition
B)   conjunction
C)   perihelion
D)   inferior conjunctionE) B) and D)
F) A) and D)

Question 10

A certain object in space is accelerating. From this, it is known for certain that its speed

Accepted Answer

A)   or its direction of travel is changing, or possibly both.
B)   is changing.
C)   and its direction of travel are both changing.
D)   or its direction of travel is changing, but not both.E) B) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 11

Galileo observed Venus to go through a full range of phases. Which other planet should also display a full range of phases when viewed from Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)   Mercury
B)   Mars
C)   Jupiter
D)   any other planetE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 12

An astronomer has a massive purple object in her laboratory. If she were to take it to the Moon, which of its characteristics would be guaranteed to change?

Accepted Answer

A)   weight
B)   color
C)   density (mass per unit volume) 
D)   massE) B) and D)
F) C) and D)

Question 13

The synodic period of a superior planet as it moves around the Sun as viewed from Earth is defined as the time between

Accepted Answer

A)   conjunction and opposition on any orbit.
B)   two successive passages through identical configurations, for example, two successive conjunctions.
C)   two successive appearances of the planet at its highest point in the observer's sky.
D)   two successive passages of Earth through the vernal equinox.E) B) and D)
F) A) and D)

Question 14

In which country did Galileo make his astronomical discoveries?

Accepted Answer

A)   Greece
B)   England
C)   Italy
D)   PolandE) A) and B)
F) B) and C)

Question 15

Kepler's third law, as derived by Newton from the law of gravitation, applies

Accepted Answer

A)   to all situations where two objects orbit each other solely under the influence of their mutual gravitational attraction.
B)   only to situations similar to planets orbiting the Sun, where the mass of the orbiting body is small compared to the mass of the object being orbited.
C)   accurately only when close to the Sun and becomes less accurate with increasing distance from the Sun.
D)   only to planets orbiting the Sun.E) B) and C)
F) A) and B)

Question 16

The distance between a planet's aphelion point and its perihelion point is

Accepted Answer

A)   the semimajor axis of its ellipse.
B)   twice the semimajor axis of its ellipse.
C)   the eccentricity of its ellipse.
D)   twice the eccentricity of its ellipse.E) B) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 17

A significant contribution of Kepler to our understanding of the solar system was the

Accepted Answer

A)   discovery that Earth orbits the Sun.
B)   discovery that planetary orbits are not circular.
C)   observation of the phases of Venus.
D)   idea of a gravitational force between Earth and the Sun.E) A) and C)
F) All of the above

Question 18

The sidereal period of a planet is defined as the time between two successive

Accepted Answer

A)   passages of the planet in front of a particular point in the sky (e.g., a star)  as seen from the Sun.
B)   passages of the planet in front of a particular point in the sky (e.g., a star)  as seen from Earth.
C)   identical configurations (e.g., opposition to opposition) .
D)   greatest elongations (e.g., greatest western elongation to greatest eastern elongation) .E) None of the above
F) B) and C)

Question 19

A body whose velocity is constant

Accepted Answer

A)   can have any nonzero acceleration.
B)   has a positive acceleration.
C)   has zero acceleration.
D)   has a negative acceleration.E) B) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 20

When Mercury is at its farthest distance from Earth, it is at

Accepted Answer

A)   opposition.
B)   greatest elongation.
C)   inferior conjunction.
D)   superior conjunction.E) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

Exam 2: Gravitation and the Motion of the Planets

A certain object in space is accelerating. From this, it is known for certain that its speed

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In ancient Greece, the philosopher Aristotle put forth the idea that

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An astronomer has a massive purple object in her laboratory. If she were to take it to the Moon, which of its characteristics would be guaranteed to change?

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The synodic period of a superior planet as it moves around the Sun as viewed from Earth is defined as the time between

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A force can give a certain mass a certain acceleration. If one doubles the force and doubles the mass, the acceleration of this object will be

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The sidereal period of a planet is defined as the time between two successive

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A significant contribution of Kepler to our understanding of the solar system was the

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The intellectual foundation of science is

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What was Tycho Brahe's conclusion regarding his parallax measurements of the stars?

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Kepler's third law, as derived by Newton from the law of gravitation, applies

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The distance between a planet's aphelion point and its perihelion point is

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A gravitational force is exerted by a large mass on a small mass a certain distance away. If the separation is increased to 3 times its original value and the large and small masses are then switched, what will happen to the gravitational force?

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Which of these planetary configurations or positions is impossible for one of the outer planets?

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When Venus is at superior conjunction, it is

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Which one of these is NOT part of the scientific method?

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When observing planetary motions from Earth, the phrase "direct motion" refers to the

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In which country did Galileo make his astronomical discoveries?

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Galileo observed Venus to go through a full range of phases. Which other planet should also display a full range of phases when viewed from Earth?

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When Mercury is at its farthest distance from Earth, it is at

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A body whose velocity is constant

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