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Astronomy Half Way Test Review

Total questions: 57

Worksheet time: 32mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Earth, the Sun, and billions of stars are contained within

a)

a single constellation

b)

the milky way galaxy

c)

the solar system

d)

a giant cloud of gs

2.

The theory that the universe is expanding is supported by data from the

a)

nuclear decay of radioactive materials

b)

nuclear fusion of radioactive materials

c)

blue shift of light from distant galaxies

d)

red shift of light from distant galaxies

3.

A red shift in the light from very distant galaxies suggests that the universe is

a)

Fixed and Stationary

b)

Moving randomly

c)

contracting

d)

expanding

4.

The current temperature indicated by the cosmic microwave background radiation is

a)

higher than the temperature at which water boils

b)

between the temperature at which water boils and room temperature

c)

between room temperature and the temperature at which water freezes

d)

lower than the temperature at which water freezes

5.

In which sequence are the items listed from least total mass to greatest total mass?

a)

solar system, Milky Way, universe

b)

Milky Way, solar system, universe

c)

universe, Milky Way, solar system

d)

Milky Way, universe, solar system

6.

Which statement best describes the age of our solar system and the universe?

a)

The universe is at least twice as old as our solar system.

b)

Our solar system is at least twice as old as the universe.

c)

Our solar system and the universe are estimated to be 5 billion years old.

d)

Our solar system and the universe are estimated to be 10 billion years old.

7.

A lightyear is

a)

the distance traveled by light in one year

b)

the distance the Earth moves in one year

c)

the time it takes light to go once around the Earth's orbit

d)

the time it takes light to travel one year

8.

Billions of stars in the same region of the universe are called

a)

Solar systems

b)

asteriod belts

c)

constellations

d)

galaxies

9.

A blue shift of the light from a star indicates that the star

a)

will soon become a main sequence star

b)

will soon become a giant star

c)

is moving closer to Earth

d)

is moving away from Earth

10.

The diagram shows the spectral lines for an element.

Which diagram best represents the spectral lines of this element when its light is observed coming from a star that is moving away from Earth?

a)
b)
c)
d)
11.

The more that the spectral lines of a star are shifted to the red end of the spectrum

a)

the larger it is

b)

the faster it is rotating

c)

the hotter it is

d)

the faster it is moving away from us

12.

Light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation are given off by stars using energy released during

a)

nuclear fusion

b)

conduction

c)

convection

d)

radioactive decay

13.

What celestial phenomenum most affects radio communication and other electrical atmospheric changes for us on earth?

a)

solar eclipses

b)

solar flares

c)

meteorites entering the atmosphere

d)

lunar eclipses

14.

As the sun ages it will be composed of

a)

more hydrogen and less helium

b)

more helium and less hydrogen

c)

more oxygen and less carbon

d)

less oxygen and more carbon

15.

The fuel of the sun is

a)

hydrogen

b)

helium

c)

oil

d)

oxygen

16.

Approximately how many times larger is the diameter of the sun compared to the earth?

a)

10 times

b)

100 times

c)

1000 times

d)

10000 times

17.

Which star has a surface temperature most similar to the surface temperature of Alpha Centauri?

a)

Polaris

b)

Betelgeuse

c)

Procyon B

d)

Sirius

18.

Which sequence of stars is listed in order of increasing luminosity?

a)

Spica, Rigel, Deneb, Betelgeuse

b)

Polaris, Deneb, 40 Eridani B, Proxima Centauri

c)

Barnards Star, Alpha Centauri, Rigel, Spica

d)

Procyon B, Sun, Sirius, Betelgeuse

19.

The star Algol is estimated to have approximately the same luminosity as the star Aldebaran approximately the same temperature as the Rigel. Algol is best classified as a

a)

main sequence

b)

red giant

c)

white dwarf

d)

red dwarf

20.

In the H-R diagram, 90 percent of all stars fall

a)

in the Red Dwarf region.

b)

in the Supergiant region.

c)

among the White Dwarfs.

d)

on the Main Sequence.

21.

Which property primarily determines whether a giant star or a supergiant star will form?

a)

mass

b)

color

c)

shape

d)

composition

22.

What causes clouds of dust and gas to form a protostar?

a)

magnetism

b)

gravitational attraction

c)

expansion of matter

d)

cosmic background radiation

23.

Which star has the greatest probability of producing a supernova explosion?

a)

Barnard's Star

b)

Betelgeuse

c)

Procyon B

d)

Sun

24.

A diagram with a geocentric model would have which object in the middle?

a)

Earth

b)

Sun

c)

Moon

d)

Polaris

25.

The modern heliocentric model of planetary motion states that the planets travel around

a)

The Sun is slightly elliptical orbits

b)

the Sun in circular orbits

c)

Earth in slightly elliptical orbits

d)

Earth in circular orbits

26.

Which motion causes some constellations to be visible in New York State only during winter nights and other constellations to be visible only during summer nights?

a)

Stars in constellations revolve around Earth.

b)

Stars in constellations revolve around the Sun.

c)

Earth revolves around the Sun.

d)

Earth rotates on its axis.

27.

A diagram of our current solar system with orbits that are not circular would be:

a)

geocentric, with elliptical orbits

b)

geocentric, with circular orbits

c)

heliocentric, with elliptical orbits

d)

heliocentric, with circular orbits

28.

Which inference can be made about the comet's orbit, when it is compared to Earth's orbit?

a)

Earth's orbit and the comet's orbit have the same distance between foci.

b)

Earth's orbit has a greater distance between foci than the comet's orbit.

c)

The comet's orbit has one focus, while Earth's orbit has two foci.

d)

The comet's orbit has a greater distance between foci than Earth's orbit.

29.

Which planet’s orbit around the Sun is most nearly circular?

a)

Mercury

b)

Neptune

c)

Pluto

d)

Venus

30.

Which object is located at one foci of the elliptical orbit of Mars?

a)

The Sun

b)

Betelgeuse

c)

Earth

d)

Jupiter

31.

Which sentence would create the largest gravity attraction?

a)

2 larger planets, closer together

b)

2 smaller planets, further apart

c)

2 larger planets, further apart

d)

2 smaller planets, closer together

32.

One factor responsible for the strength of gravitational attraction between a planet and the Sun is the

a)

degree of tilt of the planet's axis

b)

distance between the planet and the Sun

c)

planet's period of rotation

d)

amount of insolation given off by the Sun

33.

Which two characteristics do all Jovian planets have in common?

a)

small diameters and low densities

b)

small diameters and high densities

c)

large diameters and low densities

d)

large diameters and high densities

34.

The terrestrial planets differ from the Jovian planets because the terrestrial planets are

a)

less dense and larger

b)

less dense and smaller

c)

more dense and larger

d)

more dense and smaller

35.

Between which two planets are most asteroids located?

a)

Earth and Mars

b)

Mars and Jupiter

c)

Jupiter and Saturn

d)

Saturn and Uranus

36.

The atmosphere of Venus is composed primarily of

a)

hydrogen and helium

b)

Carbon Dioxide

c)

methane

d)

ammonia

37.

The gas giant planets are composed primarily of

a)

hydrogen and helium

b)

carbon dioxide

c)

iron

d)

rocky materials

38.

The velocity of a comet in its orbit around the Sun compared to the velocity of Earth around the Sun is

a)

always less

b)

always greater

c)

always the same

d)

sometimes less and sometimes greater

39.

This apparent path of the Sun through the sky is caused by

a)

Earth's revolution around the Sun

b)

Earth's rotation on its axis

c)

the Sun's revolution around Earth

d)

the Sun's rotation on its axis

40.

Which statement best explains why some constellations are not seen during all four seasons?

a)

Earth revolves around the Sun.

b)

Constellations revolve around the Sun.

c)

The Moon revolves around Earth.

d)

The Sun revolves around the center of the Milky Way.

41.

The further away the planet, the

a)

shorter the period of revolution, and the lower the velocity

b)

longer the period of revolution, and the lower the velocity

c)

shorter the period of revolution, and the higher the velocity

42.
An ellipse is drawn around two points called
a)
aphelion
b)
perihelion
c)
foci
d)
axis
43.
Planets orbit the Sun in a shape called a(n)
a)
circle
b)
ellipse
c)
focus
d)
perihelion
44.
The place where a planet is closest to the Sun as it orbits the Sun is called the
a)
perihelion
b)
aphelion
45.
The place where a planet is farthest away from the Sun in its orbit around the Sun is called the
a)
aphelion
b)
perihelion
46.
Where is the planet moving faster
a)
Position A to B
b)
Position B to C
c)
Position H to I
d)
Position I to J
47.
What has an eccentricity of zero
a)
a straight line
b)
a large ellipse
c)
a circle
d)
a small ellipse
48.
Kepler's 2nd Law deals with 
a)
the shape of the planets' orbits
b)
the speed/area the planet travels 
c)
the length of time it takes the planet to orbit the sun
49.
A planet moves __________ when it is farthest from the sun.
a)
faster
b)
slower
50.
Kepler's first law states that the orbits of the planets are oval in shape or 
a)
ellipses
b)
perfect circles
51.
The path a planet travels around the sun is called its 
a)
orbit
b)
ellipse
c)
barycenter
d)
precession
52.
Which diagram shows a planet with the least eccentric orbit?
a)
1
b)
2
c)
3
d)
4
53.
What is the maximum eccentricity an ellipse can be?
a)
0
b)
.5
c)
1
d)
42
54.
Calculate the eccentricity for the following orbit. 
a)
1.6
b)
0.8
c)
0.6
d)
1.2
55.
What is eccentricity? 
a)
a measurement of how elliptical an orbit is. 
b)
a measurement of the distance between the planet and the sun
c)
a measurement of how long the planet takes to rotate around the sun
d)
none of these
56.
What shape are the orbits of all planets in our solar system? 
a)
circular
b)
cylindrical 
c)
elliptical
d)
none of these
57.
When a planet orbits the Sun, one of the foci of the elliptical orbit is 
a)
the axis
b)
the perihelion
c)
the center
d)
the Sun