Regents Review #2 Astronomy

Base your answer to the following question on the diagram and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagram represents Earth in its orbit around the Sun. Locations A through D represent four positions of Earth in its orbit. Earth is closest to the Sun (perihelion) at position A, and farthest from the Sun (aphelion) at position C. Which change in seasons occurs in the Northern Hemisphere at position D?

• Winter is ending and spring is beginning.

• Spring is ending and summer is beginning.

• Summer is ending and fall is beginning.

• Fall is ending and winter is beginning.

Which diagram best represents the regions of Earth in sunlight on June 21 and December 21? [NP indicates the North Pole and the shading represents Earth's night side. Diagrams are not drawn to scale.]

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The graph shows the change in tide heights of the Hudson River at Newburgh, New York. According to the graph, the time difference between high tide and the next low tide is approximately

• 2 hours

• 3 hours

• 6 hours

• 12 hours

Base your answer to the following question on the diagram and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagram represents the Moon at different positions, labeled A, B, C, and D, in its orbit around Earth. During which Moon phase could an observer on Earth see a lunar eclipse occur?

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Base your answer to the following question on the diagram and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagram represents eight numbered positions of the Moon in its orbit around Earth. A solar eclipse might be observed from Earth when the Moon is at which position?

• 1

• 5

• 3

• 7

The best evidence of Earth's rotation is provided by

the

• Foucault pendulum and global warming

• Foucault pendulum and Coriolis effect

• Moon phases and global warming

• Moon phases and Coriolis effect

Planets that are closest to the Sun are identified as

• low-density Jovian

• low-density terrestrial

• high-density Jovian

• high-density terrestrial

Compared to terrestrial planets, Jovian planets have

• smaller equatorial diameters and shorter periods of revolution

• smaller equatorial diameters and longer periods of revolution

• larger equatorial diameters and shorter periods of revolution

• larger equatorial diameters and longer periods of revolution

Which graph best indicates the densities of the planets in our solar system?

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Scientists infer that the Big Bang occurred approximately

• 4.6 billion years ago

• 7 billion years ago

• 9 billion years ago

• 13.8 billion years ago