Physical Science (Finals Exams) - Reviewer

What does the flat Earth model suggest about the shape of the Earth?

• The Earth is a perfect sphere.

• The Earth is a discoidal or flat plane.

• The Earth is an oblate spheroid.

• The Earth is shaped like a pyramid.

According to early Egyptians, Mesopotamians, and Homer, what was the shape of the world?

• A cube in the sky

• A sphere in space

• A flat disk in the ocean

• A pyramid surrounded by desert

Which of the following is NOT an argument by Aristotle to prove that earth is spherical in shape?

• The North Star is closer to the horizon for places nearer the equator.

• Earth was also spherical since the moon and the sun were both spherical.

• The shadows cast by tall buildings change length throughout the day, suggesting a round surface.

• When the ship sailed, the hull disappeared first, which implied that the surface of the earth was curved.

What does the fact that Pythagoras introduced the idea of a round Earth in the 6th century BC suggest about Greek’s thought during this period?

• Greeks universally believed the Earth was flat until the Middle Ages.

• Greeks relied solely on mythological explanations for the shape of the Earth.

• Greeks were among the first to consider Earth as part of a larger universe.

• Greeks rejected any observational or scientific reasoning regarding the Earth’s shape.

Which method did Eratosthenes use to estimate the circumference of the Earth?

• Analyzing the height of mountains

• Observing the phases of the moon

• Calculating the distance between two cities

• Measuring the angle of the sun's rays at two different locations

How do time zones provide evidence for the Earth's spherical shape?

• Time zones are determined by the distance from the North Pole.

• All countries use the same time zone, which shows that the Earth is flat.

• Time zones are all the same length and do not change regardless of location.

• The existence of multiple time zones reflects the Earth's rotation, which only makes sense if the Earth is spherical.

If a petroglyph shows the supernova of 1006 AD, how might this representation have been significant to Native American cultures at that time?

• It likely represented a mythological creature.

• It could have served as a warning about future disasters.

• It was simply an artistic expression with no specific meaning.

• It might have been a way to document an important celestial event for future generations.

What concept did Plato introduce regarding the movement of planets?

• Planets do not move but are fixed in place.

• Planets move in elliptical orbits around the sun.

• Planets follow perfect circular orbits around the Earth.

• Planets are influenced by the gravitational pull of the moon.

What is the key feature of the heliocentric theory proposed by Aristarchus?

• The universe is static and unchanging.

• The Earth is the center of the solar system.

• The planets orbit the Earth in circular paths.

• The sun is at the center of the solar system.

If Tycho Brahe's measurements of the positions of planets and stars were accurate, how might this have influenced later astronomers such as Johannes Kepler?

• Brahe's measurements would have been irrelevant to Kepler's studies.

• It would have made Kepler's work unnecessary, as Brahe already had all the answers.

• It would have discouraged Kepler from pursuing his own theories about planetary orbits.

• Accurate measurements would have given Kepler essential data to formulate his laws of planetary motion and deepen the understanding of celestial mechanics.