Kepler's Laws, Barycenter, Fusion/Fission, Sun's Energy

Which of the following best describes Kepler's Third Law?

• The planets move in elliptical orbits with the Sun at one focus.

• The square of a planet's orbital period is proportional to the cube of its average distance from the Sun.

• The planets sweep out equal areas in equal times.

• All planets move in perfect circular orbits around the Sun.

What is the term for the point where the gravitational forces of two orbiting bodies balance each other?

• The barycenter

• The Lagrange point

• The periapsis

• The apoapsis

Neap tides occur:

• During the full and new phases of the Moon

• When the Sun and Moon are at right angles relative to the Earth

• When the Earth, Moon, and Sun are aligned

• When the Earth is at perihelion

What is the primary reaction that powers the sun?

• Where heavy atomic nuclei split into smaller fragments

• Where light atomic nuclei combine to form heavier nuclei

• That occurs in nuclear power plants to generate electricity

• In which neutrons are emitted from a nucleus

In which part of the Sun does nuclear fusion primarily occur?

• The chromosphere

• The corona

• The core

• The photosphere

Kepler’s Second Law states that a planet sweeps out equal areas in equal times. What does this imply about the planet's speed?

• The planet moves faster when it is closer to the Sun and slower when it is farther away

• The planet moves at a constant speed throughout its orbit

• The planet moves in a perfect circle around the Sun

• The planet moves slower when it is closer to the Sun and faster when it is farther away

The planets move in elliptical orbits with the Sun at one focus. What is this statement describing?

• The barycenter

• The core

• The gravitational pull of the Moon

• Kepler's First Law

In which part of the Sun does nuclear fusion primarily occur?

• The core

• The photosphere

• The corona

• The chromosphere

What is the term for the reaction in which a heavy nucleus splits into smaller nuclei, releasing a significant amount of energy?

• Nuclear fusion

• Nuclear fission

• Radioactive decay

• Electromagnetic radiation

What natural phenomenon on Earth is influenced by the Moon's gravitational pull?

• Earthquakes

• Tides

• Volcanic eruptions

• Wind patterns