NEW
Font size
WorksheetsEE Unit 2 Astronomy Test Review
Total questions: 39
Worksheet time: 20mins
Structures in the universe are grouped into large systems, each of which are made up of smaller systems. Which of the following is the largest system of which Earth is only a very small part?
Jovian planets
Halley’s comet
Milky Way galaxy
Orion's Belt
Some constellations are more prominent in the night sky of North Carolina in winter, while other constellations are more prominent in the night sky in summer. Which best explains why this occurs?
Because of Earth's rotation on its axis
Because of stars revolving around Earth
Because of Earth revolving around the Sun
Because of the change in the barycenter of Earth
Just as biologists classify living things, astronomers classify galaxies. What feature is used to classify galaxies?
size
shape
color
brightness
The Milky Way galaxy looks like a band of light across the sky. Which observation would provide the BEST view of this band of light without a telescope?
observing only near the north or south pole
observing only during a lunar or solar eclipse
observing on any sunny, clear day
observing on any dark, clear night
What type of galaxy is the Milky Way?
spiral
elliptical
irregular
oval
A scientist is searching for areas where new solar systems might form. What feature is the scientist looking for?
a star similar to the Sun
a cloud of dust and gas
an oxygen-rich atmosphere
a gravitational acceleration of 9.8 m/sec^2
What do the Milky Way galaxy and other galaxies in the universe have in common?
They are similar in shape.
They rotate in the same direction.
They contain the same number of stars.
They have similar elements.
The diagram shows the relationship of the Sun and Earth if Earth’s axis were at a 90° angle relative to its orbit.How would seasons on Earth differ in this alignment compared to the actual alignment?
Current seasons on Earth would not be affected.
No point on Earth would experience a change in seasons.
The entire planet would experience the same season at all times.
Seasons would switch every six months instead of every three months.
One theory states that by the year 14000, the axis of Earth will point toward the star Vega. This is due to the very slow wobble of the axis of Earth. Which change is MOST likely to occur because of the movement of the axis?
Seasons will become more severe.
Winter and summer months will reverse.
Glacial coverage will expand near the poles.
More daylight will increase temperatures.
A direct alignment of bodies in the solar system can occur. This alignment causes which phenomenon at Point X on Earth?
low tides
full moon
solar eclipse
winter season
The influence of the Moon on the tides on Earth is greater than that of the Sun. Which BEST explains this?
The Moon is more similar in composition to Earth than the Sun.
The Moon has a smaller mass than Earth and the Sun.
The Moon has a higher density than the Sun.
The Moon is closer to Earth than the Sun.
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?
wind speed
temperature
annual rainfall
average humidity
The rotation of Earth on its axis is gradually slowing. This change in rotation rate will MOST likely cause the
length of days on Earth to become longer.
phases of the moon to change more slowly.
changing of seasons on Earth to occur more quickly.
length of the orbit around the Sun to become shorter.
Earth travels on an elliptical orbit around the Sun. When Earth is at the point labeled on the diagram, it moves most quickly in its orbit. Which BEST explains this more rapid motion of Earth?
The amount of solar heat reaching Earth is greatest at this point.
The Sun’s gravitational pull on Earth is strongest at this point.
Earth is closest to the Sun’s magnetic field at this point.
Earth is closest to the Sun’s radioactivity at this point.
A tide is the periodic rise and fall of the surface of the ocean. Several factors combine to cause the tides. Which has the greatest effect on the height of a tide?
the revolution of Earth around the Sun
the gravitational pull of the Moon
the gravitational pull of the Sun
the tilt of Earth on its axis
In some years, the month of February has 29 days instead of 28 days. Why is it necessary to sometimes add a day to the calendar?
The speed at which Earth orbits the Sun varies.
It takes the Moon about 27 days to revolve around Earth.
It takes Earth about 365.24 days to revolve around the Sun.
The Moon can complete more than one full cycle in some months.
The diagram shows the tilt of the axis of Earth. What would be the MOST likely result if the angle of the axis of Earth decreased to zero?
There would be no occurrence of different seasons.
Intensity of sunlight would be the same in all places.
Days would be longer than nights all through the year.
There would be no changing of the phases of the moon.
What is most likely to occur when the sun, moon, and Earth are aligned in a relatively straight line?
a decrease in global wind patterns
an increase in temperature near the equator
more earthquakes near the equator and fewer at the poles
a larger-than-normal height difference between low tide and high tide
How does the latitude of a region affect its climate?
by increasing the length of days throughout the year
by increasing the amount of energy the land can absorb
by determining the angle of sunlight throughout the year
by determining the rate that tectonic plates can move
The diagram shows the tilt of Earth and the angle of arriving sunlight caused by this tilt. Which conclusion is supported by the diagram?
The equator has the greatest number of deserts.
The Northern Hemisphere is experiencing daytime.
The tilt of Earth is causing icebergs to melt.
The Southern Hemisphere is experiencing summer.
The temperate zones of the United States experience changing of seasons from winter to summer. Which is the reason for this annual change of seasons?
the rotation of Earth on its axis
the tilt of Earth’s axis of rotation
the distance of Earth from the Sun
the size and orbit of the Moon around Earth
India is in the Northern Hemisphere and Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere. In June, it is summer in India and winter in Australia. What is the main reason the seasons are opposite in the two countries?
because Earth is tilted on its axis
because the Sun rotates on its axis
because Earth revolves around the Sun
because of the distance between the countries
A low tide and a high tide occur in the oceans two times each day. Which factor has the greatest effect on the size of the tides?
air pressure differences
gravitational pull from the Sun
seasonal temperature variations
gravitational pull from the Moon
Which explains what is happening to the Sun’s volume?
Because of nuclear fusion, the Sun is becoming more massive. So, the Sun’s self-gravity is getting weaker, thus reducing the Sun’s volume.
Because of nuclear fusion, the Sun is becoming less massive. So, the Sun’s self-gravity is getting weaker, thus increasing the Sun’s volume.
Because of nuclear fusion, the Sun is becoming more massive. So, the Sun’s self-gravity is getting stronger, thus increasing the Sun’s volume.
Because of nuclear fusion, the Sun is becoming less massive. So, the Sun’s self-gravity is getting stronger, thus reducing the Sun’s volume.
How does the energy produced by the sun travel to Earth?
by the magnetic fields between the sun and Earth
by the convection of heat through particles in space
by the radiation of electromagnetic waves through space
by the process of conduction of heat between the sun and Earth
Nuclear fusion is the source of energy for stars. Besides hydrogen, which other element is MOST likely also common in stars?
helium
nitrogen
oxygen
uranium
Which subatomic particles are involved in the nuclear fusion that powers the Sun?
protons and neutrons
electrons and protons
only protons
only electron
What keeps stars such as the Sun from collapsing from their own self-gravity?
the centrifugal force created by rapid rotation
the electrical repulsion of nuclei in the plasma
the gravitational pull created by orbiting planets
the outward pressure created by nuclear fusion
The Sun and other stars are powered by nuclear fusion. Which of these statements correctly describes one of the processes that occur during nuclear fusion in stars?
Four hydrogen nuclei combine to become a helium nucleus, absorbing energy.
Four helium nuclei combine to become a hydrogen nucleus, releasing energy.
Four hydrogen nuclei combine to become a helium nucleus, releasing energy.
Four helium nuclei combine to become a hydrogen nucleus, absorbing energy.
In which layer of the Sun does nuclear fusion occur?
core
radiative zone
convection zone
chromosphere
The Sun transforms matter into energy through nuclear fusion. What can be inferred about the Sun from this fact?
The Sun is losing mass and hydrogen.
The Sun is losing volume and hydrogen
The Sun is losing mass and helium.
The Sun is losing volume and helium.
The Sun has enough hydrogen to fuel a lifetime of 100 billion years. But the Sun’s life expectancy is only 10 billion years. Which of the following accurately explains the reason for this discrepancy?
After converting ten percent of its mass to helium, the Sun will become a different kind of star and use fuel at a much faster rate.
After a billion years of fusion, the Sun will divide and become two stars and each will use more fuel than a single star would.
The Sun supplies gravitational potential energy to keep the planets in orbit, so the Sun uses much more fuel than it would if it existed alone.
The nuclear reaction that powers the Sun accelerates at an exponential rate, so the longer the reaction goes on, the faster it uses fuel.
A student observes the Milky Way galaxy in the night sky. Which characteristic of the galaxy makes it visible?
The galaxy’s stellar nebulae reflect the Sun’s light.
Billions of stars in the galaxy carry out nuclear fusion.
Tons of compressed matter begin to radiate visible light from the galaxy center.
The galaxy spins at a speed that generates a large amount of molecular friction.
The amount of elements heavier than hydrogen is constantly increasing in the universe. Which BEST identifies the bodies in which this change is taking place?
stars
planets
galaxies
solar systems
The oceans cover more of Earth’s surface than land does, and that partially explains why Earth’s surface is not uniformly heated by the Sun. Which statement accurately explains how oceans and land absorb and retain the Sun’s energy?
More energy is absorbed and stored by oceans than by land.
More energy is absorbed and stored by land than by oceans.
Although oceans absorb more energy than land, land stores more energy than oceans.
Although land absorbs more energy than oceans, oceans store more energy than land.
Which atmospheric phenomena are created by the interaction of charged particles with Earth’s magnetosphere?
auroras
tornadoes
rainbows
inversions
Which statement BEST explains an aspect of the differential heating of Earth’s surface by the Sun?
Liquids and solids absorb and store heat differently.
Photons interact differently with solids and liquids.
The atmosphere over the ocean is different than the atmosphere over land.
Photosynthesis in the oceans uses more solar energy than photosynthesis on land.
Which best describes how energy from the sun helps to maintain life on Earth?
It heats Earth’s atmosphere and surface, which helps stabilize temperatures on Earth and creates environments more favorable for life to exist.
It forms the ocean’s water and the oxygen in the atmosphere that organisms need for life functions.
It prevents the destruction of the magnetic field around Earth that protects all life forms.
It is absorbed by Earth’s mantle, which drives plate tectonics to form new land masses for organisms to live.
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.
