Astronomy Spring 2024

Earth’s spherical shape results in an uneven distribution of sunlight reaching Earth’s surface.

This uneven distribution is most directly responsible for differences in which climatic variable at different latitudes on Earth’s surface?

• temperature

• average humidity

• wind speed

• annual rainfall

The Sun produces energy by converting

• oxygen nuclei to nitrogen nuclei.

• hydrogen nuclei to helium nuclei.

• oxygen nuclei to carbon dioxide.

• helium nuclei to hydrogen nuclei.

Which is true about the way sunlight changes from winter to summer?

• Sunlight travels faster in summer.

• Sunlight is more intense in summer.

• Sunlight has higher wavelengths in summer.

• Sunlight has greater frequencies in summer.

The diagram on the left shows the tilt of Earth's axis.

What would be the most likely result if the angle of the axis of Earth decreased to zero?

• Intensity of sunlight would be the same in all places.

• There would be no occurrence of different seasons.

• Days would be longer than nights all through the year.

• There would be no changing of the phases of the moon.

Which of the following is the best summarizes Kepler's Third Law of Motion?

• The farther a planet is from the Sun, the longer the period of revolution.

• The farther a planet is from the Sun, the shorter the period of revolution.

• All planets have the same period of revolution.

• All planets are an equal distance from the Sun.

Examine the diagram above. At which position is the northern hemisphere experiencing its shortest daylight hours?

• position B

• position D

• position A

• position C

How does the tilt of Earth’s axis affect the seasons?

• by influencing the rate of chemical reactions occurring in the atmosphere

• by changing the amount of direct solar energy reaching the surface of Earth

• by changing the speed of the rotation of Earth

• by deflecting the harmful rays of radiation emitted by the sun

Which type of electromagnetic radiation does NOT reach the surface of Earth from the Sun?

• ultraviolet light

• gamma rays

• radio waves

• visible light

The diagram shows an arrangement of Earth, the Sun, and the Moon at a given time.

Which is most likely occuring at Point X due to the positions of the illustrated bodies?

• daytime

• stronger magnetic field

• early snowfall

• high tide

Nutation is the slight change in the angle of Earth's tilt from 22.1° to 24.5°. What effect does nutation have on Earth?

• The length of the year may vary.

• There may be changes in the tides.

• The length of day may vary.

• There may be changes in seasonal effects.