Question 1

He was the first to prove that comets lie beyond Earth's atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

A)  Tycho Brahe
B)  Copernicus
C)  Kepler
D)  Galileo
E)  AristotleF) B) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 2

What is meant by a scientific paradigm?

Accepted Answer

A)  a conundrum or unexplained set of facts
B)  a radical change in scientific thought
C)  a generally well-established scientific theory or set of theories
D)  a pseudoscientific idea
E)  a historical theory that has been proved inaccurateF) A) and B)
G) A) and E)

Question 3

The great contribution of Tycho Brahe was to

Accepted Answer

A)  observe planetary positions with sufficient accuracy that later enabled Kepler to discover the laws of planetary motion.
B)  discover four moons orbiting Jupiter,thereby lending strong support to the idea that the Earth is not the center of the universe.
C)  offer the first detailed model of a Sun-centered solar system,thereby beginning the process of overturning the Earth-centered model of the Greeks.
D)  discover that planets orbit the Sun in elliptical orbits with varying speed.E) B) and C)
F) A) and C)

Question 4

The astrology practiced by those who cast predictive horoscopes can be tested by

Accepted Answer

A)  comparing how often the predictions come true to what would be expected by pure chance.
B)  asking astrologers if it works.
C)  polling people to find out what percentage believe their horoscopes to be accurate.
D)  counting how many times the predictions come true.E) All of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 5

What was the Ptolemaic model?

Accepted Answer

A)  an Earth-centered model of planetary motion published by Ptolemy
B)  the Earth-centered model of the cosmos in which the Earth was surrounded by seven perfect spheres,one each for the Sun,Moon,Mercury,Venus,Mars,Jupiter,and Saturn
C)  the first scientific model to successfully predict solar and lunar eclipses
D)  a Sun-centered model of planetary motion published by PtolemyE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 6

The great contribution of Nicholas Copernicus was to

Accepted Answer

A)  create a detailed model of our solar system with the Sun rather than Earth at the center.
B)  prove that the Earth is not the center of the universe.
C)  discover the laws of planetary motion.
D)  discover the law of gravity.E) C) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 7

He discovered what we now call Newton's first law of motion.

Accepted Answer

A)  Tycho Brahe
B)  Copernicus
C)  Kepler
D)  Galileo
E)  PtolemyF) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 8

He discovered that Jupiter has moons.

Accepted Answer

A)  Tycho Brahe
B)  Aristotle
C)  Kepler
D)  Galileo
E)  PtolemyF) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 9

Which of the following best describes how modern astronomers view astrology?

Accepted Answer

A)  Astrology played an important part in the development of astronomy in ancient times,but it is not a science by modern standards.
B)  Astrology is a synonym for astronomy.
C)  Astrology was a great idea until it was disprove by the work of Copernicus,Tycho,Kepler,and Galileo.
D)  Astrology is new age mumbo-jumbo that was a waste of time when it was invented thousands of years ago and remains a waste of time today.E) B) and C)
F) A) and C)

Question 10

According to Kepler's third law (p² = a³) ,how does a planet's mass affect its orbit around the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  A planet's mass has no effect on its orbit around the Sun.
B)  More massive planets orbit the Sun at higher average speed.
C)  More massive planets must have more circular orbits.
D)  A more massive planet must have a larger semimajor axis.E) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 11

The Polynesian navigators of the South Pacific found their way primarily by observing the position of Polaris in the night sky.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Compared with the standard hour of 60 minutes used today,the hour of ancient Egypt

Accepted Answer

A)  was longer than the hour used today.
B)  was shorter than the hour used today.
C)  differed in length depending on the pharaoh in power at the time.
D)  was longer than 60 minutes in the summer and shorter than 60 minutes in the winter.
E)  divided the entire day into 12 equal parts.F) B) and D)
G) A) and B)

Question 13

Copernicus was the first person to suggest a Sun-centered solar system.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

How did Eratosthenes estimate the size of Earth in 240 B.C.?

Accepted Answer

A)  by observing the duration of a solar eclipse
B)  by measuring the size of Earth's shadow on the Moon in a lunar eclipse
C)  by comparing the maximum altitude of the Sun in two cities at different latitudes on the summer solstice
D)  by sending fleets of ships around Earth
E)  We don't know how he did it since all his writings were destroyed.F) B) and C)
G) A) and B)

Question 15

What practical value did astronomy offer to ancient civilizations?

Accepted Answer

A)  It helped them keep track of time and seasons,and it was used by some cultures for navigation.
B)  It allowed them to predict eclipses with great accuracy.
C)  It helped them understand our cosmic origins.
D)  It helped them find uses for ancient structures like Stonehenge.E) None of the above
F) C) and D)

Question 16

Which of the following statements about scientific models is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  A model tries to represent all aspects of nature.
B)  A model tries to represent only one aspect of nature.
C)  A model can be used to explain and predict real phenomena.
D)  All models that explain nature well are correct.
E)  All current models are correct.F) A) and C)
G) A) and B)

Question 17

Galileo found "imperfections" on the Sun in the form of sunspots and "imperfections" on the Moon in the form of mountains and valleys.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

He developed a system for predicting planetary positions that remained in use for some 1,500 years.

Accepted Answer

A)  Tycho Brahe
B)  Copernicus
C)  Kepler
D)  Galileo
E)  PtolemyF) B) and D)
G) A) and B)

Question 19

How does a 12-month lunar calendar differ from our 12-month solar calendar?

Accepted Answer

A)  It has about 11 fewer days.
B)  It does not have seasons.
C)  Its new year always occurs in February instead of on January 1.
D)  It uses a 23-hour rather than a 24-hour day.E) A) and B)
F) None of the above

Question 20

Only one of the statements below uses the term theory in its correct,scientific sense.Which one?

Accepted Answer

A)  Einstein's theory of relativity has been tested and verified thousands of times.
B)  Evolution is only a theory,so there's no reason to think it really happened.
C)  I have a new theory about the cause of earthquakes,and I plan to start testing it soon.
D)  I wrote a theory that is 152 pages long.E) C) and D)
F) A) and B)

Exam 3: The Science of Astronomy

He discovered that Jupiter has moons.

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Which of the following statements about scientific models is true?

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Only one of the statements below uses the term theory in its correct,scientific sense.Which one?

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Galileo found "imperfections" on the Sun in the form of sunspots and "imperfections" on the Moon in the form of mountains and valleys.

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How did Eratosthenes estimate the size of Earth in 240 B.C.?

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What is meant by a scientific paradigm?

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Copernicus was the first person to suggest a Sun-centered solar system.

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Compared with the standard hour of 60 minutes used today,the hour of ancient Egypt

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He developed a system for predicting planetary positions that remained in use for some 1,500 years.

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What was the Ptolemaic model?

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The great contribution of Nicholas Copernicus was to

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How does a 12-month lunar calendar differ from our 12-month solar calendar?

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According to Kepler's third law (p² = a³) ,how does a planet's mass affect its orbit around the Sun?

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Which of the following best describes how modern astronomers view astrology?

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The astrology practiced by those who cast predictive horoscopes can be tested by

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He was the first to prove that comets lie beyond Earth's atmosphere.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What practical value did astronomy offer to ancient civilizations?

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He discovered what we now call Newton's first law of motion.

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The Polynesian navigators of the South Pacific found their way primarily by observing the position of Polaris in the night sky.

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The great contribution of Tycho Brahe was to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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