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Basic Astronomy & Earth Dimensions

Total questions: 100

Worksheet time: 2hrs 35mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

From which set of polar and equatorial diameters can the actual shape of the Earth be inferred (determined)?

a)

polar diameter = 12,756 km / equatorial diameter = 12,714 km

b)

polar diameter = 12,714 km / equatorial diameter = 12,756 km

c)

polar diameter = 12,714 km / equatorial diameter = 12,714 km

d)

polar diameter = 12,756 km / equatorial diameter = 12,756 km

2.

The diagram above represents the Earth's polar and equatorial diameters. The Earth's polar circumference must be...

a)

less than the equatorial circumference

b)

greater than the equatorial circumference

c)

the same as the equatorial circumference

3.

The best evidence that the Earth has a spherical shape would be provided by

a)

the prevailing wind direction at many locations on the Earth's surface

b)

the change in the time of sunrise and sunset at a single location during 1 year

c)

the time the Earth takes to rotate on its axis at different times of the year

d)

photographs of the Earth talken from space

4.

Measurements taken from space show the Earth to be

a)

greatest in diameter at the Equator

b)

pear shaped

c)

greatest in diameter at the Poles

d)

the perfect sphere

5.
The actual shape of Earth is best described as 
a)
a perfect sphere
b)
an oblate spheroid
c)
an oblong spheroid
d)
flat like pancake
6.
The Earth is slightly flattened at the polar regions due to 
a)
its revolution around the Sun
b)
the gravitational pull of the Sun & Moon
c)
its rotation on the axis
d)
storms from the Sun
7.
A sailor observes the north star (Polaris) at an altitude of 25o above the norther horizon. What is their latitude?
a)
65S
b)
25N
c)
65N
d)
25S
8.
The Earth Science student pictured above is measuring the altitude of Polaris. What is their latitude?
a)
42o N
b)
48o N
c)
42o S
d)
48o S
9.
What is a good model of Earth?
a)
Baseball
b)
Orange
c)
Meatball
d)
Ping Pong Ball
10.

If an observer on Earth views Polaris on the horizon, the observer is located at the ...

a)

North Pole (900 north)

b)

Tropic of Cancer (23.50 north)

c)

Equator (00)

d)

Tropic of Capricorn (23.50 south)

11.
Which lines of the coordinate system meet at the poles?
a)
Latitude
b)
Longitude
12.
Which lines of the coordinate system are parallel?
a)
Latitude
b)
Longitude
13.

What causes the moon to appear to change shape?

a)

moon craters

b)

moon marias

c)

moon phases

d)

moon eclipses

14.

What does a solar system contain?

a)

a group of stars

b)

a star and the planets close to it

c)

the planets and moons around a star

d)

a star and the planets and other objects that revolve around it

15.

What causes day and night on earth?

a)

earth rotating on its axis

b)

earth revolving around the sun

c)

earth's tilt

d)

the moon orbiting earth

16.

An orbit is...

a)

a planet spinning on an axis

b)

the distance between a planet and the sun

c)

the speed a planet moves around the sun

d)

the path an object takes around another object in space

17.

Which of the following is a good demonstration of earth's rotation on its axis?

a)

a spinning top

b)

a bouncing ball

c)

a falling rock

d)

a train on a track

18.

A planet can have 1 or more moons. What is another word to describe what a moon is to a planet?

a)

an asteroid

b)

a comet

c)

a star

d)

a satellite

19.

Which is true about the diagram above?

a)

In the Northern Hemisphere it is fall, and in the Southern Hemisphere it is spring.

b)

In the Northern Hemisphere it is winter, and in the Southern Hemisphere it is spring.

c)

In the Northern Hemisphere it is spring, and in the Southern Hemisphere it is summer.

d)

In the Northern Hemisphere it is summer, and in the Southern Hemisphere it is winter.

20.

Which moon phase would you see from earth?

a)

full moon

b)

crescent moon

c)

third quarter moon

d)

first quarter moon

21.

How long does it take the moon to revolve around the earth?

a)

about as long a one of earth's seasons

b)

about as long as one rotation of Earth

c)

about as long as one rotation of the moon

d)

about as long as one revolution of Earth around the sun

22.

About how long will it take for Earth to move from point Y to point Z?

a)

6 months

b)

1 year

c)

12 hours

d)

24 hours

23.

Which position would allow us on Earth to see a new moon?

a)

1

b)

2

c)

3

d)

4

24.

Which statement is true about every planet in our solar system?

a)

They have satellites

b)

They rotate on their axes

c)

They are made of rock

d)

They have nitrogen in their atmosphere

25.

Which moon phase would someone on earth see?

a)

full moon

b)

first quarter

c)

new moon

d)

last quarter

26.

How do scientists classify different types of galaxies?

a)

by shape

b)

by color

c)

by number of stars

d)

by temperature

27.

Carla sees a small object streak across the night sky. It trails a bright stream of light behind it. Which of the solar system’s objects does Carla see?

a)

a moon

b)

a comet

c)

an asteroid

d)

a dwarf planet

28.

According to the diagram, which of the following correctly states the season for the given location?

a)

It is spring at location G

b)

It is winter at location H

c)

It is fall at location J

d)

It is summer at location K

29.

Imagine that the moon started rotating faster. How would it look different if you were looking at it from Earth?

a)

The moon would appear dimmer

b)

The moon appear brighter

c)

You could see different sides of the moon

d)

The moon would move across the sky more quickly

30.

If the mass of the Sun increased what would happen to the amount of gravity it exerts?

a)

nothing would happen

b)

it will decrease

c)

it will stay the same

d)

it would also increase

31.

What is mass?

a)

the amount of pounds you are

b)

the amount of matter within an object

c)

the measure of the pull of gravity on an object

d)

no one knows

32.

In what shape do planets orbit around the Sun?

a)

elliptical

b)

irregular

c)

no one knows

d)

spiral

33.

What is the proof the universe started as a single point that exploded?

a)

galaxies are still shrinking around us

b)

galaxies are still moving away from us

c)

galaxies are still moving closer to us

d)

there is no proof

34.

Which planet is the closest to the Sun?

a)

Mercury

b)

Venus

c)

Earth

d)

Pluto

35.

Why do time zones exist on Earth?

a)

Because the Earth is a square

b)

Because the Earth is flat

c)

Because the Earth is round

d)

Because the Earth is a triangle

36.

What happens to ships on the ocean as they move away from view?

a)

They float upwards

b)

They disappear top first

c)

They stay visible

d)

They disappear bottom first

37.

What evidence do we have that the Earth is round?

a)

Stories from sailors

b)

Myths and legends

c)

Drawings from ancient times

d)

Photographic evidence

38.
Space and all the matter and energy in it.
a)
Space
b)
Solar System 
c)
Universe
d)
Sun
39.
Which of the following is the largest?
a)
star
b)
universe
c)
cluster
d)
galaxy
40.
The most commonly accepted theory that explains the beginning of our known universe is the -
a)
Theory of Evolution
b)
Big Bang Theory
c)
Cell Theory
d)
Blackhole theory
41.
Gravity is the force objects put on each other because of their ______.
a)
mass
b)
friendliness
c)
acceleration
d)
speed
42.

What is the biggest difference between the Geocentric Model and the Heliocentric Model?

a)

the shape of the planets' orbits

b)

the movement of the moon

c)

the center of the solar system

43.
This image shows the:
a)
Geocentric Solar System
b)
Heliocentric Solar System
44.

What is the name of this model?

a)

Heliocentric Model

b)

Geocentric Model

c)

Circle Model

d)

Aristotle Model

45.

Which scientific instrument did Galileo use to change the world?

a)

telescope

b)

spyglass

c)

mirror

d)

magnifying glass

46.

Most scientists believe the Big Bang Theory explains which of the following questions?

a)

How our planets and moons formed

b)

How our universe began

c)

How the sun turns hydrogen into helium

d)

How fast light travels through space

47.
How old do scientists think the Universe is?
a)
13.8 billion years old
b)
4.5 billion years old
c)
24,000 years old
d)
5 years old
48.

Where is the center of the universe located?

a)

There is no center of the universe.

b)

At the center of the Milky Way galaxy.

c)

14.5 billion light years away from Earth.

d)

In a large singularity near the Andromeda Galaxy.

49.
Which of the following is NOT true about the Big Bang Theory?
a)
It is the scientific explanation of how life began on Earth and evolved over time.
b)
It is the scientific explanation for the origin of the universe.
c)
It states that the universe expanded from a single point and is still expanding today.
d)
It states that the universe used to be much hotter and smaller.
50.
What does the Big Bang theory suggest?
a)
The universe was just there
b)
The Milky Way is the only solar system
c)
The universe is continually expanding
d)
The universe is collapsing in toward a single point
51.

Polaris cannot be seen. Where must the observer be?

a)

At the equator

b)

In the northern hemisphere

c)

In the southern hemisphere

d)

At the North Pole

52.

Based on the image, what is the altitude of Polaris?

a)

23.5 degrees

b)

66.5 degrees

c)

90 degrees

d)

It cannot be determined from the image

53.

Based on the image, what is the latitude of the observer?

a)

52 degrees S

b)

66.5 degrees N

c)

52 degrees N

d)

It cannot be determined from the image

54.

What hemisphere is the observer in?

a)

Northern hemisphere

b)

Southern hemisphere

c)

Eastern hemisphere

d)

Western hemisphere

55.

Can you see Polaris from the southern hemisphere?

a)

Yes, always

b)

No, never

c)

Only during the day

d)

Only during the night

56.

What is a solar eclipse?

a)

When the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, blocking the Sun's light

b)

When the Earth passes between the Sun and Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon

c)

When the Sun moves behind the Earth, causing darkness

d)

When the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow

57.

What causes a hemisphere to be in the summer season?

a)

It's closer to the sun.

b)

It's receiving the direct rays of the sun.

c)

It's tilted away from the sun.

d)

The axis is pointed towards the north star.

58.

What is the main cause of the seasons?

a)

earth's tilted axis

b)

earth's distance from the sun

c)

earth's elliptical orbit

d)

earth's rotation on its axis

59.
Imaginary line that runs through the north & south poles of earth.
a)
axis
b)
equator
c)
latitude
d)
degrees
60.

Imaginary line that runs around the earth at 0 degrees

a)

axis

b)

equator

c)

longitude

d)

degrees

61.

Which statement about polaris is best illustrated by the diagrams shown below?

a)

polaris is located in a winter constellation

b)

polaris is located at the zenith at each location.

c)

polaris' apparent movement through the sky follows a south-to-north orientation.

d)

polaris' altitude is equal to a locations latitude.

62.
The 0 degree line of latitude is the ___________.
a)
Equator
b)
Prime Meridian
c)
International Date Line
d)
Contour line
63.
a)
The map shows lines of longitude.
b)
The map shows lines of latitude.
64.
a)
The map show the lines of longitude.
b)
The map shows the lines of latitude.
65.
The earth's rate of rotation is...
a)
1 degree per day
b)
15 degrees per hour
c)
15 degrees per day
d)
365 days per year
66.

The Sun is made of...

a)

Water and Ice

b)

Hydrogen

c)

Magnesium

d)

Hydrogen and Helium

67.

The Sun is a star

a)

True

b)

False

68.

The Sun is a ball of hot burning gas

a)

True

b)

False

69.

Which letter receives the most direct sunlight?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

70.

Which letter receives the least amount of direct sunlight?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

71.

Which letter has indirect sunlight and therefore will be cooler?

a)

A

b)

B

72.

Which letter has direct sunlight and therefore will be warmer?

a)

A

b)

B

73.
1. What type of eclipse is in the diagram below?
a)
A. Lunar Eclipse
b)
B. Partial Eclipse
c)
C. Solar Eclipse
d)
D. Total Eclipse
74.
2. What type of eclipse is in the diagram below?
a)
A. Lunar Eclipse
b)
B. Partial Eclipse
c)
C. Solar Eclipse
d)
D. Total Eclipse
75.

When the moon looks like this, is it a solar eclipse or a lunar eclipse?

a)

Solar Eclipse

b)

Lunar Eclipse

76.
During a solar eclipse...
a)
The sun is blocked
b)
The Earth is blocked
77.
Our galaxy is called the
a)
Earth Nebula
b)
The Hubble Galaxy
c)
The Milky Way
d)
The Snickers
78.
The Milky Way Galaxy is a 
a)
spiral
b)
lenticular
c)
elliptical 
d)
irregular
79.
What type of galaxy is this?
a)
Spiral
b)
Elliptical
c)
Irregular 
d)
Irrational
80.
All stars begin as a __________?
a)
giant
b)
black hole
c)
white dwarf
d)
nebula
81.

What is the largest planet in our Solar System?

a)

Mars

b)

Earth

c)

Jupiter

d)

Neptune

82.

Which planet in the Solar System has the most visible rings?

a)

Earth

b)

Saturn

c)

Mars

d)

Pluto

83.

What does the Moon control on Earth?

a)

Cars

b)

Phones

c)

Satellites

d)

Tides

84.

What does the Sun revolve around?

a)

Earth

b)

The center of our galaxy

c)

The center of the universe

d)

The Sun doesn't revolve

85.

____________are areas of gas on the sun that are cooler than the gas around them.

a)

Solar Wind

b)

Solar Flares

c)

Sunspots

d)

Core

86.
Appears as a streak in the sky.
a)
asteroid
b)
meteoroid
c)
comet
d)
meteor
87.
Piece of a meteoroid that strikes the earth's surface
a)
comet
b)
asteroid
c)
meteor
d)
meteorite
88.

The _______ Keeps the temperature of earth stable throughout the day and night.

a)

Sun

b)

Atmosphere

c)

Moon

d)

Ozone Layer

89.

Which of the following is not a gaseous planet?

a)

Mars

b)

Neptune

c)

Saturn

d)

Jupiter

90.

Why do we have seasons on earth?

a)

The earths tilt allows more or less sunlight on earth depending on the time of year.

b)

The distance between the sun and earth change throughout the year

c)

The suns temperature increases throughout the year

d)

The Earths rotation changes speed depending on the month of the year.

91.

This is planet ...

a)

Saturn

b)

Mercury

c)

Jupiter

92.

That is ...

a)

a comet

b)

a meteor

c)

a star

93.

Astronomy is the science of ...

a)

solar system

b)

planets

c)

space

94.

The Earth is perfectly spherical in shape.

a)

True

b)

False

95.

The constellations of the northern sky are able to be viewed by people living in the southern hemisphere... and vice versa.

a)

Truth!!

b)

Lies!!

96.
A constellation is a group of visible ____ that form a pattern when viewed from Earth.  
a)
planets
b)
stars
c)
patterns
d)
creatures
97.
Polaris always points
a)
East 
b)
West
c)
North
d)
South
98.

Stars like the sun appear to rise in the ___________ and set in the _____________.

a)

West, East

b)

North, South

c)

South, North

d)

East, West

99.

The Big Dipper

a)
b)
c)
d)
100.
If the Earth did not rotate, air at the Equator would simply
a)
Sink and move toward the poles.
b)
Rise and move toward the poles.
c)
Stay stationary.
d)
None of the above.