History of Astronomy Quiz

What evidence did Aristotle use to conclude that Earth is spherical?

• The Earth's shadow on the moon is always round.

• The Earth's shadow on the moon is curved.

• The Earth's shadow on the moon is flat.

• The Earth's shadow on the moon changes shapes.

Which model of the solar system did Ptolemy support?

• Heliocentric model

• Geocentric model

• Epicyclic model

• Retrograde model

For how many years was the geocentric model the accepted view of the universe?

• 1000 years

• 1500 years

• 2000 years

• 2500 years

The major contribution of Copernicus to the field of astronomy was (a)   .

• He proposed the retrograde motion
• He discovered the moons of Mars
• He created the detailed heliocentric model
• He invented the telescope

Match the following descriptions to the correct astronomical enhancements made by Tycho Brahe.

• What did Tycho Brahe's observations particularly enhance the accuracy of, related to celestial positioning?

• The positions of planets and stars

• What did Tycho Brahe's observations particularly enhance the accuracy of, related to Earth's geometry?

• The size of the Sun

• What did Tycho Brahe's observations particularly enhance the accuracy of, related to comet trajectories?

• The orbits of comets

• What did Tycho Brahe's observations particularly enhance the accuracy of, related to solar measurements?

• The shape of the Earth

What shape is the path of each planet around the sun according to Kepler's First Law of Planetary Motion?

• Circle

• Ellipse

• Square

• Triangle

According to Kepler's First Law, the sun is located (a)   in relation to the ellipse of a planet's orbit.

• At the center
• At one of the foci
• Outside the ellipse
• At the midpoint of the major axis

The eccentricity of an ellipse measures (a)   .

• The distance between the foci
• The length of the major axis
• How elongated the ellipse is
• The radius of the ellipse

How can the value of eccentricity be calculated?

• E = d / L

• E = L / d

• E = d * L

• E = L - d

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

Match the following descriptions of a planet's speed at perihelion with the correct statements.

• What happens to a planet's speed when it experiences retrograde motion?

• It slows down

• What happens to a planet's speed as it approaches perihelion?

• It reverses direction

• What happens to a planet's speed when it is at its average distance from the sun?

• It speeds up

• What happens to a planet's speed as it moves away from perihelion?

• It remains constant

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-1

NGSS.MS-PS3-5