Astronomy History

In the model proposed by Nicolaus Copernicus', which object was at the center of the universe?

• Sun
• Earth
• Milky Way galaxy
• Mars

Ancient Greeks believed, the earth to be the center of the universe. What do we call this model?

• Geocentric universe
• Heliocentric universe
• Copernican model
• Earthcentric

What telescope is pictured above?

• Big
• Newton
• Hubble
• Potato

Planets orbit the Sun in a shape called a(n)

• circle
• ellipse
• focus
• perihelion

In a geocentric model of the solar system:

• the Earth and planets orbit the Sun.
• the Sun and planets orbit the Earth.
• the Earth orbits the sun, but the other planets orbit the Earth.
• the Sun orbits the Earth, but the other planets orbit the Sun.

In a heliocentric model of the solar system:

• the Earth and planets orbit the Sun.
• the Sun and planets orbit the Earth.
• the Earth orbits the sun, but the other planets orbit the Earth.
• the Sun orbits the Earth, but the other planets orbit the Sun.

Galileo was famous for using the ____________ for the first time to practice observational astronomy.

• telescope
• astrolabe
• dumbwaiter
• tricorder

Which of the following is not one of Kepler�s Laws of Planetary Motion?

• A line segment joining a planet and the Sun sweeps out equal areas during equal intervals of time.
• The orbit of a planet is an ellipse with the Sun at one of the two foci.
• The square of the orbital period of a planet is proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of its orbit.
• The speed of a planet orbiting the sun stays constant unless acted on by another planet in close proximity.

Which of these is a correct prediction using Newton's gravitational theory?

• The closer the objects, the greater the gravitational force
• The closer the objects, the weaker the gravitational force
• The larger the objects, the weaker the gravitational force
• Anything smaller than an asteroid can't generate a gravitational force

Galileo:

• invented the telescope.
• discovered four of Jupiter's moons.
• discovered that Saturn had phases.
• was burned at the stake for his belief in the heliocentric model.