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Intro to Astronomy - Space and Time

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 40mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The first modern astronomer to propose a Sun-centered universe was ________.

a)

Eratosthenes

b)

Ptolemy

c)

Copernicus

d)

Galileo

2.
Light Years are a measure of:
a)
time
b)
speed
c)
distance
d)
light
3.
A light year is...
a)
The speed light travels
b)
How long it takes light to get to you from the sun
c)
The distance light can travel in a year
d)
How many years it takes light to be emitted
4.

To express the distance between the Milky Way galaxy and the Andromeda galaxy, the most appropriate unit of measure is the -

a)

meter

b)

kilometer

c)

light year

d)

astronomical unit

5.
The special theory of relativity was derived by:
a)
Galileo
b)
Newton
c)
Einstein
d)
Sitter
6.

There are two clocks one is stationary on the earth the other is traveling close to the speed of light around the earth. If we put the clocks back together after the second clock makes it back from its trip, the times are compared. What do you expect to occur?

a)

More time elapsed on the stationary clock

b)

More time elapsed on the traveling clock

c)

No time has changed between them

7.

Compared to clocks in a stationary reference frame moving clocks run ___________, according to special relativity

a)

faster

b)

slower

c)

at the same rate

8.
What is the equivalence principle? 
a)
gravity and acceleration are the same thing
b)
constant speed and at rest are the same thing
c)
gravity is curvature of space
d)
gravity and constant velocity are the same thing
9.
According to Newton, gravity was a force.... According to Einstein, gravity is a ________.  
a)
force
b)
curvature
c)
mystery
d)
constant velocity
10.
What is gravitational lensing?
a)
slowing down of time around a black hole
b)
light bending around a massive object
c)
light moving in a straight line around a massive object
d)
light bending as it goes from one medium to another
11.
Which theory explains the geometric description of gravity as a curvature of spacetime around massive bodies? 
a)
Theory of Special Relativity
b)
Law of Universal Gravitation
c)
Theory of General Relativity
d)
Photoelectric Theory 
12.

Which best describes why the moon orbits the Earth.... according to General Relativity?

a)

Gravity force from the Earth pulls on the moon

b)

Gravity force from the Earth pushes on the moon

c)

The moon moves around the curvature in spacetime created by the Earth's mass

13.

What does "Vernal" mean?

a)

Yearly

b)

Something related to springtime

c)

Equal days and nights

d)

It's a type of tradition

14.

What does "Equinox" mean?

a)

Yearly

b)

Something related to springtime

c)

Equal days and nights

d)

It's a type of tradition

15.

What is Exoplanet short for?

a)

Extraterrestrial Planet

b)

Experimental Observable Planet

c)

Extra Out-There Planet

d)

Extrasolar Planet

16.

An astronomical unit is...

a)

The average distance between the earth and the moon

b)

The average distance between the sun and the earth

c)

The average distance between the sun and the next nearest star, Proxima Centauri

d)

The average speed light travels between the sun and the earth

17.

A person who studies the movement of celestial bodies for the purpose of religion or fortune telling

a)

Astrologer

b)

Astronomer

c)

Cosmologist

d)

Cosmetologist

18.
Who made great advancements to our telescope which helped him be the first to see various things in outer space?
a)
Galileo Galilei
b)
Aristotle
c)
Johannes Kepler
d)
Tycho Brahe
19.

The person who discovered that our galaxy was not the entire universe

a)

Hubble

b)

Einstein

c)

Copernicus

d)

Galileo

20.

According to the equivalence principle, no experiment can be done to measure the difference between being at rest in a gravitational field and being in a frame of constant acceleration.

a)

True

b)

False