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WorksheetsAstronomy Fall Semester Final Review
Total questions: 100
Worksheet time: 51mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
The scientific method can never guarantee truth, but it can be used to draw conclusions with a much higher degree of reliability than other systems of knowledge.
a)
True
b)
False
2.
It is easy to investigate UFOs scientifically because there is so much physical evidence.
a)
True
b)
False
3.
Bad data or poor evidence will not stand the test of time, because other scientists will try and replicate the experiment.
a)
True
b)
False
4.
Telescopes are used to gather light from sources that are too faint for the eye to see.
a)
True
b)
False
5.
Astronomy has little to no connection with other branches of science such as physics, chemistry, and geology.
a)
True
b)
False
6.
Physicists looked at the birth dates and professions of 23,000 people and found a tendency for professions to cluster among the star signs.
a)
True
b)
False
7.
Which object orbits Earth in both the Earth-centered (geocentric) and Sun-centered (heliocentric) models of our solar system?
a)
Earth
b)
Moon
c)
Sun
d)
Polaris
8.
In which type of model are the Sun, other stars, and the Moon in orbit around the Earth?
a)
Geocentric model
b)
Heliocentric model
c)
Tetracentric Model
d)
Concentric Model
9.
In which type of model are the Earth, other planets, and the Moon in orbit around the Sun?
a)
Geocentric model
b)
Heliocentric model
c)
Tetracentric Model
d)
Concentric Model
10.
Aristotle concluded that the Earth is spherical from the curvature of its shadow on the ...
a)
Sun during a solar eclipse
b)
Moon during a solar eclipse
c)
Earth during a lunar eclipse
d)
Moon during a lunar eclipse
11.
The term Zodiac refers to ...
a)
a group of constellations lying near the ecliptic
b)
the head of the Celestial Empire
c)
a method for making astrological predictions
d)
the light from Saturn's rings
12.
Which of the following is the smallest?
a)
a galaxy
b)
the Earth
c)
the Sun
d)
the Universe
13.
As viewed from the Earth, some planets appear to double back in their orbits for a while (retrograde motion). This is due to:
a)
the fact that the planets are in orbit about the Sun rather than about the Earth.
b)
the planets move on secondary orbits called epicycles, whose centers are in orbit about the Earth.
c)
the planets really do reverse their motion through space, because of outside forces.
d)
none of the other answers is correct.
14.
The diagram above shows one model of a portion of the universe. Which Greek philosopher’s cosmology does the diagram represent?
a)
Ptolemy
b)
Socrates
c)
Aristotle
d)
Aristarchus
15.
Which of the following correctly describes the movement of Earth, Moon and Sun?
a)
Sun revolves around Moon, Moon revolves around Earth.
b)
Sun and Moon revolve around Earth.
c)
Moon revolves around Earth, Earth revolves around Sun.
d)
Moon revolves around Sun, Earth revolves around Moon.
16.
The diagram above represents a simple geocentric model. Which object is represented by the letter x?
a)
Moon
b)
Sun
c)
Polaris
d)
Earth
17.
Which statement best describes the geocentric model of our solar system?
a)
The Earth is located at the center of the model.
b)
All planets revolve around the Sun.
c)
The Sun is located at the center of the model.
d)
All planets except the Earth revolve around the Sun.
18.
In current scientific opinion, Stonehenge is considered to have been ...
a)
the site of ancient fertility rites
b)
an astronomical observatory.
c)
an ancient flying saucer base.
d)
an ancient city
19.
Ptolemy thought that the planets orbit the Earth rather than the Sun. How did he explain the retrograde motion of planets like Jupiter?
a)
The Sun roamed about among the planets and pulled them out of their circular orbits.
b)
The planets moved on a separate circle called, an epicycle, whose center in turn circled a point near Earth.
c)
The planets moved in very elongated ellipses, and their speed in orbit changed radically over the course of a year.
d)
The planets moved along a circle centered on the Earth, sometimes in a forward direction and sometimes in a backward direction.
20.
If we created a calendar to represent the age of the universe broken down in to 12 months, humans would appear in ...
a)
January
b)
September
c)
March
d)
December
21.
Cepheid variables are examples of standard candles, stars whose intrinsic brightness we know for certain.
a)
True
b)
False
22.
Astronomers often use redshift to determine the distances to other planets in our solar system.
a)
True
b)
False
23.
A scale drawing of the solar system on a single sheet of paper is a useful way to show both the sizes of planets AND the distances between them at the same time.
a)
True
b)
False
24.
The Milky Way is part of the Laniakea Supercluster
a)
True
b)
False
25.
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only planet known to harbor life.
a)
True
b)
False
26.
The distance from Mars to the Sun is approximately ______.
a)
1 Astronomical Units
b)
1.5 Light Years
c)
1 Light Year
d)
1.5 Astronomical Units
27.
Consider two stars (Stars A and B) that both exhibit parallax. If Star A appears to move back and forth by a greater amount than Star B, which star is closer to you?
a)
Star A
b)
Star B
c)
Both are at an equal distance
d)
More information is needed
28.
What unit of measurement does 9.46x1012 km represent?
a)
the diameter of the Moon
b)
1 Astronomical Unit
c)
1 Light-Year
d)
the diameter of the Sun
29.
Where is our solar system located within the Milky Way Galaxy?
a)
very near the center of the galaxy
b)
in the halo of the galaxy
c)
the far edge of the galaxy's visible disk
d)
roughly half way between the center and and the edge of the disk
30.
The distance between the Sun and Earth about 110 times the diameter of the Sun. If you were to use a 12-inch basketball to represent the Sun, how far away would it have to be from the Earth to be an accurate scale model?
a)
30-feet
b)
10-feet
c)
110-feet
d)
1-foot
31.
What is parallax?
a)
the angle formed by Earth and two celestial bodies located at 90 degrees from Earth
b)
the apparent difference in the position of an object, as we viewed from a different position
c)
the apparent difference in the position of an object, viewed at the same time each year
d)
the average distance between a celestial object and Earth
32.
Your friend argues that all the stars in a typical constellation are approximately the same distance from Earth.Is your friend correct?
a)
No. Some stars are closer to Earth.
b)
Yes. All the stars in a typical constellation are the same distance from Earth.
c)
No. Equally bright stars are the same distance from Earth.
d)
No. The brighter stars are always closer to Earth
33.
You are observing a star about 95 trillion km (10 light years) away. How old is the most recent information you can get about this star?
a)
95 trillion seconds
b)
10 years
c)
100 years
d)
Need more information.
34.
What is the distance from the Sun to the Earth?
a)
9.46 X 1012 km
b)
1 astronomical unit
c)
8.3 minutes
d)
1 light-year
35.
An astronomical unit is equivalent to what?
a)
150,000 miles
b)
150 million kilometers
c)
150,000 kilometers
d)
150 million miles
36.
What is the distance of an object from Earth if the object is 7 AU from the sun? (Assume that both Earth and the object are located in the same direction from the sun.)
a)
5 AU
b)
6 Au
c)
7 AU
d)
8 AU
37.
A television advertisement claiming that a product is light-years ahead of its time does not make sense because ________.
a)
a light-year is an astronomically large unit, so a product could not possibly be so advanced
b)
it uses "light-years" to talk about time, but a light-year is a unit of distance
c)
it doesn't specify the number of light-years
d)
light-years can only be used to talk about light
38.
How do scientists define an astronomical unit?
a)
the distance from one end of the solar system to the other
b)
the distance between Earth and the Sun
c)
the distance between Earth and the Moon
d)
the distance from one end of the Milky Way galaxy to the other
39.
A light-year is a measure of what?
a)
time
b)
velocity
c)
speed
d)
distance
40.
Which of the following is a good definition of the universe?
a)
The universe is the totality of everything that exists.
b)
The universe is a small part of the galaxy.
c)
The universe is a collection of stars and planets.
d)
The universe is a fictional concept created by humans.
41.
No matter where you live on Earth, the Sun always rises and sets every day.
a)
True
b)
False
42.
No matter where you are on Earth, the Sun is directly overhead at noon.
a)
True
b)
False
43.
All directions are South from the North Pole.
a)
True
b)
False
44.
The Sun, the Moon, the planets and all of the stars rise in the East and set in the West.
a)
True
b)
False
45.
As viewed from Earth, some planets appear to double back in their orbits for while, called retrograde motion. This is due to ...
a)
the fact that the planets orbit around the Sun rather than the Earth.
b)
the planets move on secondary orbits called epicycles.
c)
the planets really do reverse direction
d)
none of the above
46.
Which constellation is named after a mythical hunter?
a)
Ursa Major
b)
Spica
c)
Gemimi
d)
Orion
47.
One of the oldest constellations, with connections to both Asia and N.America going back as far as 10,00 years BCE.
a)
Ursa Major
b)
Spica
c)
Gemimi
d)
Orion
48.
The North celestial pole is within a couple of degrees of what star?
a)
Polaris
b)
Zenith
c)
Betelgeuse
d)
Celestial Equator
49.
Which planet is NOT visible through naked eye observations?
a)
Neptune
b)
Venus
c)
Jupiter
d)
Earth
50.
What do stars in a constellation have in common?
a)
distance from Earth
b)
size
c)
birghtness
d)
general direction from Earth
51.
The sky is divided into ___ officially recognized constellations.
a)
53
b)
88
c)
15
d)
27
52.
The term Zodiac refers to ...
a)
the light from Saturn's rings
b)
the head of the Celestial Empire
c)
a method for making astrological predictions
d)
a group of constellations lying near the ecliptic
53.
Your latitude in the Northern Hemisphere is also the altitude of what?
a)
the zenith
b)
the nadir
c)
the celestial equator
d)
the north star
54.
The reference point (0 degrees) for declination is what?
a)
the zenith
b)
the celestial equator
c)
Betelgeuse
d)
Polaris
55.
The equivalent of terrestrial longitude in the equatorial coordinate system is what?
a)
declination
b)
precession
c)
right ascension
d)
the hoizon
56.
The point directly above the observer's head is called what?
a)
zenith
b)
Polaris
c)
celestial equator
d)
Betelgeuse
57.
What star can be used to find direction in the Northern Hemisphere?
a)
Rigel
b)
Spica
c)
Arcturus
d)
Polaris
58.
On the star chart above what constellation is located at the zenith?
a)
Ursa Minor
b)
Auriga
c)
Pegasus
d)
Leo
59.
On the star chart above what constellation would see on the horizon looking north?
a)
Ursa Minor
b)
Auriga
c)
Pegasus
d)
Leo
60.
On the star chart above what constellation is rising?
a)
Ursa Minor
b)
Auriga
c)
Pegasus
d)
Leo
61.
On the star chart above what constellation is setting?
a)
Ursa Minor
b)
Auriga
c)
Pegasus
d)
Leo
62.
On June 21st what constellation is visible high in the sky at midnight?
a)
Pisces
b)
Sagittarius
c)
Gemini
d)
Virgo
63.
On June 21st what constellation is “in the Sun”?
a)
Pisces
b)
Sagittarius
c)
Gemini
d)
Virgo
64.
Three months after June 21st, what constellation is visible high in the sky at midnight?
a)
Pisces
b)
Sagittarius
c)
Gemini
d)
Virgo
65.
The gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun on Earth’s oceans causes tides.
a)
True
b)
False
66.
The phases of the Moon are caused by the changing shadow of the Earth on the surface of the Moon.
a)
True
b)
False
67.
The Moon always receives the same amount of sunlight.
a)
True
b)
False
68.
Tidal force act not only on Earth’s water, they also act on Earth’s rocks and mountains.
a)
True
b)
False
69.
Which letter corresponds with the moon phase waning gibbous?
a)
A
b)
C
c)
U
d)
E
70.
Which letter corresponds with the moon phase waxing crescent?
a)
E
b)
F
c)
W
d)
K
71.
The moon phase cycle lasts about 29.5 days. Given this information, about how long does it take the Moon to wax from new moon to 1st quarter?
a)
three days
b)
one week
c)
two weeks
d)
four weeks
72.
The moon phase cycle lasts about 29.5 days. Given this information, about how long does it take the Moon to wax from new moon to full moon?
a)
three days
b)
one weeks
c)
two weeks
d)
four weeks
73.
Which of the following is in the correct chronological order?
a)
waning crescent, third quarter, waning gibbous, new moon
b)
waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter
c)
new moon, waning gibbous, first quarter, waning crescent
d)
waxing crescent, new moon, waning crescent, first quarter
74.
A student notices when she goes to the beach that sometimes the water rises as high as the pier. At other times of the day, the water barely covers the pillars under the pier. These differences in water level are primarily due to the gravitational influence of which of the following?
a)
The Sun
b)
The Moon
c)
Asteroids
d)
Moonquakes
75.
Exceptionally high tides that occur during a full moon phase are called:
a)
Spring Tides
b)
Neap Tides
c)
High Tides
d)
Low Tides
76.
Why does the moon appear to move across the sky during the night?
a)
It travels around Earth every day.
b)
Earth rotates on its axis.
c)
It is extremely far away.
d)
All objects in space are moving.
77.
Which of the following correctly describes the movement of Earth, Moon and Sun?
a)
Moon revolves around Sun, Earth revolves around Moon.
b)
Sun revolves around Moon, Moon revolves around Earth.
c)
Moon revolves around Earth, Earth revolves around Sun.
d)
Sun and Moon revolve around Earth.
78.
Which of the following describes the currently held theory of the Moon’s formation?
a)
Our Moon is an escaped moon from another planet
b)
The Moon was formed with the solar system from clouds of gas and dust
c)
A planet about the size of Mars hit the Earth and a piece of the molten mixture of the two planets spun off to make the moon
d)
The Moon was formed elsewhere and was caught by Earth’s gravity as it passed by
79.
Where would you look to see the Full Moon when it starts to rise?
a)
Northern Horizon
b)
Eastern Horizon
c)
Western Horizon
d)
Southern Horizon
80.
A solar eclipse happens when the Earth moves between the moon and the Sun.
a)
True
b)
False
81.
What causes the seasons to change?
a)
The warming and cooling of Earth's core.
b)
The distance from the sun.
c)
Earth's tilt in relation to the sun.
d)
Earth's rotation on its axis.
82.
What happens when the area in which you live tilts away from the sun?
a)
It is summer.
b)
It is spring.
c)
It is winter.
d)
It is fall.
83.
What season is it in the Southern Hemisphere when it is fall in the Northern Hemisphere?
a)
winter
b)
spring
c)
summer
d)
fall
84.
Why does the area around the equator stay the same temperature all year?
a)
The equator rotates slower than the poles.
b)
The equator remains the same distance from the sun.
c)
The equator always receives direct sunlight.
d)
The equator has 18 hour days.
85.
In the Northern Hemisphere, on which day will you receive the most daylight?
a)
September 21
b)
December 21
c)
March 21
d)
June 21
86.
Which season is taking place in the Southern Hemisphere in Position 1?
a)
Winter
b)
Spring
c)
Summer
d)
Fall
87.
Which season is taking place in the Northern Hemisphere in Position 2?
a)
Winter
b)
Spring
c)
Summer
d)
Fall
88.
Which season is taking place in the Northern Hemisphere in Position 3?
a)
Winter
b)
Spring
c)
Summer
d)
Fall
89.
One rotation of Earth is equal to
a)
24 hours
b)
365 days
c)
3 months
d)
1 month
90.
Objects in the sky appear to move from _______ to _______.
a)
East to West
b)
West to East
c)
North to South
d)
South to North
91.
If Earth rotated slower, we would have...
a)
shorter days.
b)
longer days.
c)
shorter years.
d)
longer years.
92.
Which day has an equal amount of daylight and darkness (12hrs, 12hrs)?
a)
Spring Equinox
b)
Winter Solstice
c)
Winter Equinox
d)
Fall Solstice
93.
Where on Earth can you experience entire days of darkness?
a)
The equator
b)
The poles
c)
The Tropic of Cancer
d)
The Tropic of Capricorn
94.
When will the sun reach the highest altitude at noon?
a)
December
b)
March
c)
September
d)
June
95.
The Northern Hemisphere gets __________ sunlight in the winter, which leads to _________ temperatures.
a)
less direct, hotter
b)
less direct, colder
c)
more direct, hotter
d)
more direct, colder
96.
Which angle of sunlight produces the most heat?
a)
90 degrees (directly overhead)
b)
23.5 degrees
c)
30 degrees
d)
0 degrees (on the horizon)
97.
Which movement of Earth causes day and night?
a)
rotation
b)
revolution
c)
tango
98.
Which season is taking place in the Southern Hemisphere in Position 4?
a)
Winter
b)
Spring
c)
Summer
d)
Fall
99.
What is Earth's annual motion around the sun called?
a)
Rotation
b)
Revolution
100.
What is the degree of tilt of the Earth?
a)
90 degrees
b)
30 degrees
c)
0 degrees
d)
23.5 degrees
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