Physical Science Practice Quiz

What imaginary sphere surrounds Earth and appears to hold celestial objects in fixed positions?

• Astronomical Grid

• Celestial Dome

• Celestial Sphere

• Cosmic Ring

What is the apparent yearly path of the Sun across the sky?

• Solstice

• Meridian

• Ecliptic

• Equator

Which motion is responsible for the daily rising and setting of celestial objects?

• Precession

• Annual Motion

• Diurnal Motion

• Retrograde Motion

When does the vernal equinox occur?

• The Moon is full

• The Sun is at its highest point

• Day and night are equal in length

• The Sun is at its lowest point

What divides the celestial sphere into the Northern and Southern hemispheres?

• Celestial Equator

• Declination

• Ecliptic

• Zenith

What is precession?

• A planet’s backward motion

• Earth’s wobble over 26,000 years

• The Sun’s motion along the ecliptic

• The Moon’s changing phases

The geocentric model states that:

• The Earth orbits the Sun

• The Sun orbits the Earth

• The planets move in elliptical orbits

• Stars form fixed patterns

Who proposed a universe where celestial bodies move on transparent spheres centered on Earth?

• Copernicus

• Newton

• Galileo

• Aristotle

Which ancient astronomer added epicycles to explain planetary motion?

• Eudoxus

• Brahe

• Ptolemy

• Kepler

What is the heliocentric model?

• Earth is at the center

• The Sun is at the center

• The planets move in circular orbits

• The Moon has its own orbital system