Question 1

Which of the following statements expresses what we mean by a scientific theory?

Accepted Answer

A)   An explanation for a physical phenomenon, an explanation that hasn't been tested yet
B)   An educated guess
C)   A simple model that explains a wide variety of phenomena and that has survived repeated testsD) None of the above
E) All of the above

Question 2

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 gravityE) All of the above
F) C) and D)

Question 3

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 4

The Ptolemaic model of the solar system was useless for predicting planetary positions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

When did Copernicus live?

Accepted Answer

A)   About 5000 years ago
B)   About 2000 years ago
C)   About 1000 years ago
D)   About 500 years ago
E)   About 100 years agoF) B) and E)
G) None of the above

Question 6

The Metonic cycle is

Accepted Answer

A)   used to keep lunar calendars approximately synchronized with solar calendars.
B)   used to predict the future orientation of the Earth's axis in space.
C)   the ancient Greek name for the cycle of lunar phases that repeats every 29 ¹/₂ days.
D)   the 18-year, 11-day period over which the pattern of eclipses repeats.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 7

During the Dark Ages in Europe, the scientific work of the ancient Greeks was preserved and further developed primarily by scholars in

Accepted Answer

A)   Baghdad.
B)   Greece.
C)   Rome.
D)   India.
E)   China.F) None of the above
G) A) and C)

Question 8

People of central Africa predicted the weather by

Accepted Answer

A)   recording the seasonal changes in average temperature.
B)   observing the path of the planets across the sky.
C)   observing the length of the lunar cycle.
D)   observing the orientation of the crescent moon relative to the horizon.
E)   observing the location of the Moon relative to the Sun in the sky.F) A) and B)
G) A) and E)

Question 9

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) None of the above
G) A) and D)

Question 10

The controversial book of this famous person, published in 1543 (the year of his death) , suggested that Earth and other planets orbit the Sun.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 11

Describe how Eratosthenes first measured the size of Earth over 2000 years ago.

Accepted Answer

Eratosthenes used measurements of the th...

Question 12

From Kepler's third law, a hypothetical planet that is twice as far from the Sun as Earth should have a period of

Accepted Answer

A)   1/2 Earth year.
B)   1 Earth year.
C)   2 Earth years.
D)   more than 2 Earth years.
E)   It depends on the planet's mass.F) None of the above
G) C) and E)

Question 13

Describe the Ptolemaic model of the solar system. How did Ptolemy account for the apparent retrograde motion of the planets?

Accepted Answer

Although Ptolemy's model was an Earth-ce...

Question 14

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) A) and B)
G) D) and E)

Question 15

When did Ptolemy live?

Accepted Answer

A)   about 5000 years ago
B)   about 2000 years ago
C)   about 1000 years ago
D)   about 500 years ago
E)   about 100 years agoF) A) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 16

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
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) None of the above

Question 17

Which of the following is not part of a good scientific theory?

Accepted Answer

A)   A scientific theory cannot be accepted until it has been proven true beyond all doubt.
B)   A scientific theory must make testable predictions that, if found to be incorrect, could lead to its own modification or demise.
C)   A scientific theory must explain a wide variety of phenomena observed in the natural world.
D)   A scientific theory should be based on natural processes and should not invoke the supernatural or divine.E) A) and C)
F) B) and C)

Question 18

The Muslim fast of Ramadan occurs

Accepted Answer

A)   on the summer solstice.
B)   during the ninth month of a 12-month lunar cycle.
C)   on the spring equinox.
D)   during a thirteenth month of the Metonic cycle.
E)   at the end of the Metonic cycle.F) B) and D)
G) C) and E)

Question 19

The Metonic cycle is the

Accepted Answer

A)   29 1/2-day period of the lunar cycle.
B)   12-month period of a lunar calendar.
C)   19-year period over which the lunar phases occur on about the same dates.
D)   18-year, 11-day period over which the pattern of eclipses repeats.
E)   period between successive Easters.F) C) and D)
G) B) and D)

Question 20

Which of the following is not one of, nor a direct consequence of, Kepler's Laws?

Accepted Answer

A)   The force of attraction between any two objects decreases with the square of the distance between their centers.
B)   As a planet moves around its orbit, it sweeps out equal areas in equal times.
C)   The orbit of each planet about the Sun is an ellipse with the Sun at one focus.
D)   More distant planets orbit the Sun at slower speeds.E) B) and D)
F) None of the above

Exam 3: The Science of Astronomy

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When did Ptolemy live?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Metonic cycle is the

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Describe how Eratosthenes first measured the size of Earth over 2000 years ago.

Correct AnswerverifiedEratosthenes used measurements of the th...View AnswerShow Answer

During the Dark Ages in Europe, the scientific work of the ancient Greeks was preserved and further developed primarily by scholars in

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

People of central Africa predicted the weather by

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Muslim fast of Ramadan occurs

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When did Copernicus live?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following statements expresses what we mean by a scientific theory?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

From Kepler's third law, a hypothetical planet that is twice as far from the Sun as Earth should have a period of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The controversial book of this famous person, published in 1543 (the year of his death) , suggested that Earth and other planets orbit the Sun.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Ptolemaic model of the solar system was useless for predicting planetary positions.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Metonic cycle is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is not one of, nor a direct consequence of, Kepler's Laws?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is not part of a good scientific theory?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Describe the Ptolemaic model of the solar system. How did Ptolemy account for the apparent retrograde motion of the planets?

Correct AnswerverifiedAlthough Ptolemy's model was an Earth-ce...View AnswerShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The great contribution of Nicholas Copernicus was to ________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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Eratosthenes used measurements of the th...
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Although Ptolemy's model was an Earth-ce...
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