Deck 15: Place and Time

Question 1

A ______________ is always longer than a ______________ .

A) solar day; sidereal day
B) solar day; mean solar day
C) sidereal day; solar day
D) mean solar day; solar day

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The apparent amount of time it takes for Earth to complete a rotation on its axis is called a

A) meridian day.
B) 24-hour day.
C) sidereal day.
D) mean solar day.
E) solar day.

Answer 2

E

Question 3

An imaginary line from one geographic pole to the other along the surface of Earth perpendicular to the equator, and that passes through Greenwich, England, is called

A) a longitude.
B) a meridian.
C) the International Date Line.
D) a parallel.
E) the prime meridian.

Answer 3

E

Question 4

The zeroth latitude is at

A) 90°N.
B) 90°S.
C) the equator.
D) the Greenwich Meridian.

Question 5

An imaginary line from one geographic pole to the other along the surface of Earth perpendicular to the equator is called

A) a longitude.
B) a meridian.
C) the International Date Line.
D) a parallel.

Question 6

A line of equal longitude is called a

A) meridian.
B) zone.
C) circle.
D) parallel.

Question 7

When one travels west while passing over a time zone boundary (ignoring daylight savings time issues),

A) the date is decreased one day.
B) the time is decreased one hour.
C) the time is advanced one hour.
D) the date is advanced one day.
E) none of these occurs.

Question 8

The ______________ angle is measured between the horizon and the line of sight to the object.

A) declination
B) altitude
C) inclination
D) zenith

Question 9

A ______________ is always shorter than a ______________ .

A) solar day; sidereal day
B) solar day; mean solar day
C) sidereal day; solar day
D) mean solar day; solar day

Question 10

The maximum east or west longitude possible is also called the

A) meridian.
B) longitude.
C) International Date Line.
D) equator.

Question 11

Parallels of latitude are parallel to the

A) longitude.
B) International Date Line.
C) equator.
D) meridian.

Question 12

When one travels east while passing over a time zone boundary (ignoring daylight savings time issues),

A) the date is decreased one day.
B) the time is decreased one hour.
C) the time is advanced one hour.
D) the date is advanced one day.
E) none of these occurs.

Question 13

The actual amount of time it takes for Earth to rotate 360° on its axis is called a

A) meridian day.
B) 24-hour day.
C) sidereal day.
D) mean solar day.
E) solar day.

Question 14

______________ is defined as the angular measurement, in degrees, east or west of the Greenwich, or prime, meridian.

A) The equator
B) The International Date Line
C) Latitude
D) Longitude

Question 15

An attempt to remedy the difference in apparent solar days was the calculation of a

A) meridian day.
B) 24-hour day.
C) sidereal day.
D) mean solar day.

Question 16

The imaginary line encircling Earth at its surface, halfway between the north and south geographic poles, is called the

A) meridian.
B) equator.
C) International Date Line.
D) longitude.
E) latitude.

Question 17

The international time standard is

A) GMT.
B) UTC.
C) solar time.
D) Zulu.

Question 18

When one travels west while passing over the International Date Line,

A) the date is decreased one day.
B) the time is decreased one hour.
C) the time is advanced one hour.
D) the date is advanced one day.
E) none of these occurs.

Question 19

When one travels east while passing over the International Date Line,

A) the date is decreased one day.
B) the time is decreased one hour.
C) the time is advanced one hour.
D) the date is advanced one day.
E) none of these occurs.

Question 20

The International Date Line in theory is ___________, with variations to accommodate the needs of various countries.

A) a longitude
B) a meridian
C) a latitude
D) a parallel
E) none of these

Question 21

On September 22 or 23, the noonday Sun is overhead at what latitude?

A) 0°
B) 23.5°N
C) 23.5°S
D) That of the Tropic of Cancer

Question 22

At which latitude is the noonday Sun overhead twice a year?

A) 30°S
B) 23°S
C) 24°N
D) 30°N

Question 23

On June 21, the noonday Sun is overhead at what latitude?

A) 0°
B) 23.5°N
C) 23.5°S
D) That of the Tropic of Cancer

Question 24

On December 21, the noonday Sun is overhead at what latitude?

A) 0°
B) 23.5°N
C) 23.5°S
D) That of the Tropic of Cancer

Question 25

An observer measures the North Star (Polaris) at an altitude of 70°. The observer's latitude is

A) 25°N.
B) 20°N.
C) 105°N.
D) 70°N.
E) none of these.

Question 26

If it is 2:00 P.M. EST in Washington, D.C., what is the time in San Diego, California, the longitude of which is 45° more westerly?

A) 1:00 P.M. PST
B) 11:00 A.M. PST
C) Noon PST
D) 5:00 P.M. PST

Question 27

The 105°W longitude meridian is the center of the ______________ Standard Time zone in the United States.

A) Pacific
B) Mountain
C) Eastern
D) Central

Question 28

If it is 1:00 P.M. EST in Washington, D.C., what is the time in Denver, Colorado, the longitude of which is 30° more westerly?

A) 9:00 A.M. MST
B) 11:00 A.M. MST
C) 3:00 P.M. MST
D) Noon. MST

Question 29

The ______________ angle added to the altitude angle equals 90°.

A) inclination
B) declination
C) altitude
D) zenith

Question 30

If it is 10:00 A.M. EST in Washington, D.C., what is the time in San Diego, California, the longitude of which is 45° more westerly?

A) 1:00 P.M. PST
B) 7:00 A.M. PST
C) 10:00 A.M. PST
D) 9:00 A.M. PST

Question 31

An observer measures the North Star (Polaris) at an altitude of 30°. The observer's latitude is

A) 40°N.
B) none of these.
C) 60°N.
D) 30°N.

Question 32

The complementary angle of the angle of an object above the horizon is the

A) zenith angle.
B) altitude.
C) latitude.
D) noon angle.

Question 33

If it is 10:00 A.M. EST in Washington, D.C., what is the time in Denver, Colorado, the longitude of which is 30° more westerly?

A) 12 noon MST
B) 8:00 A.M. MST
C) 10:00 A.M. MST
D) 9:00 A.M. MST

Question 34

The 90°W longitude meridian is the center of the ______________ Standard Time zone in the United States.

A) Pacific
B) Mountain
C) Eastern
D) Central

Question 35

The longest day (daylight) of the year for the Northern Hemisphere occurs at the time of the

A) autumnal equinox.
B) vernal equinox.
C) winter solstice.
D) summer solstice.

Question 36

On March 21, the noonday Sun is overhead at what latitude?

A) 0°
B) 23.5°N
C) 23.5°S
D) That of the Tropic of Cancer

Question 37

The 75°W longitude meridian is the center of the ______________ Standard Time zone in the United States.

A) Pacific
B) Mountain
C) Eastern
D) Central

Question 38

At noon on June 21, the Sun is directly overhead at a latitude of

A) 23.5°N.
B) 23.5°S.
C) 32.5°N.
D) 0°.

Question 39

The 120°W longitude meridian is the center of the ______________ Standard Time zone in the United States.

A) Pacific
B) Mountain
C) Eastern
D) Central

Question 40

At which latitude is the noonday Sun overhead only once a year?

A) 10°S
B) 23°S
C) 4°N
D) 30°N

Question 41

Six months of darkness at the North Pole begins when the Sun is at the

A) winter solstice.
B) summer solstice.
C) autumnal equinox.
D) vernal equinox.

Question 42

Most of the Rocky Mountains, in the western United States, lie in the ______________ Standard Time zone.

A) Mountain
B) Eastern
C) Central
D) Pacific

Question 43

The Julian calendar, which has 365 days and a leap day every 4 years, was no longer used in Europe after 1582 because

A) it is slightly inaccurate and after 1600 years of use caused large problems.
B) leap years are rough on people born on February 29.
C) people realized that the Roman calendar is better.
D) it had 13 months, which is unlucky.
E) none of the above; we still use it.

Question 44

The Sun appears to travel daily in the sky

A) one degree in 4 minutes.
B) 7 ° in one hour.
C) 360° in 12 hours.
D) 23.5° in one year.

Question 45

The present standard for time is based on

A) the transition of an electron between two energy levels of the cesium-133 atom.
B) Earth's rotation.
C) Earth's orbit.
D) none of these.

Question 46

The ______________ occurs on June 21.

A) autumnal equinox
B) winter solstice
C) summer solstice
D) vernal equinox

Question 47

Six months of daylight at the North Pole begins when the Sun is at the

A) winter solstice.
B) summer solstice.
C) autumnal equinox.
D) vernal equinox.

Question 48

Latitude is the angular measurement in degrees

A) east or west of the prime meridian.
B) north or south of the prime meridian.
C) north or south of the equator.
D) north or south of the celestial equator.

Question 49

Six months of darkness at the South Pole begins when the Sun is at the

A) winter solstice.
B) summer solstice.
C) autumnal equinox.
D) vernal equinox.

Question 50

Which of the following is true? The number of daylight hours depends on

A) the International Date Line.
B) the longitude.
C) the latitude.
D) all of these.

Question 51

Pope Gregory XIII decreed that 10 days would be skipped in 1582 because

A) the calendar and the seasons were out of sync.
B) of a meteor impact.
C) he was insane.
D) skipping his birthday would prevent his removal.

Question 52

The most southern latitude from which an observer on Earth can see the North Star (Polaris) is

A) 66.5°S.
B) 23.5°S.
C) 0°.
D) 23.5°N.

Question 53

The number of hours of daylight at any place on Earth depends on

A) the latitude only.
B) the day of the year only.
C) both the latitude and the day of the year.
D) none of these.

Question 54

Los Angeles, California, is in the ______________ Standard Time zone.

A) Mountain
B) Pacific
C) Central
D) Eastern

Question 55

At the time of the summer solstice, in the United States,

A) the number of hours of daylight is greater than the number of hours of darkness.
B) the number of hours of daylight is equal to the number of hours of darkness.
C) the number of hours of daylight is less than the number of hours of darkness.
D) none of the above is true.

Question 56

The ______________ calendar is most used around the world.

A) Roman
B) Julian
C) Gregorian
D) Babylonian

Question 57

The Sun is at the vernal equinox within one or two days of which of the following dates?

A) March 21
B) September 22
C) December 22
D) June 21

Question 58

The Greenwich meridian is also known as the

A) zero, or prime, meridian.
B) reference circle.
C) east-west coordinate parallel.
D) hour meridian.

Question 59

The four seasons-spring, summer, fall, and winter-are caused by the Sun's changing its daily altitude over a period of 1 year. The Sun's altitude changes

A) simply because Earth revolves eastward about the Sun.
B) simply because Earth rotates on its axis.
C) simply because Earth's axis is tilted 23.5° from the normal to the ecliptic plane.
D) because of the combined effects of (A) and (C).

Question 60

Six months of daylight at the South Pole begins when the Sun is at the

A) winter solstice.
B) summer solstice.
C) autumnal equinox.
D) vernal equinox.

Question 61

Earth's axis completes a precession every

A) 25,800 years.
B) 30 days.
C) day.
D) 365 days.

Question 62

The longest-daylight day for people in the Northern Hemisphere at latitudes greater than 25°N occurs when the noon Sun is overhead at the

A) Greenwich meridian.
B) Tropic of Cancer.
C) equator.
D) Tropic of Capricorn.

Question 63

The longest-daylight day for people in the Southern Hemisphere at latitudes greater than 30°S occurs at the

A) summer solstice.
B) vernal equinox.
C) winter solstice.
D) autumnal equinox.

Question 64

The number of daylight hours at 40°S is greatest during the month of

A) June.
B) December.
C) September.
D) March.

Question 65

If Earth's axis were tilted at 10°, the seasons of the year would

A) be shorter.
B) be harsher.
C) be longer.
D) not change.
E) be milder.

Question 66

The number of daylight hours at 35°N is greatest during the month of

A) May.
B) August.
C) June.
D) July.

Question 67

Consider the following pairs of points: F: 0°N, 40°W G: 10°N, 60°W
0°N, 20°W 10°N, 40°W
H: 20°S, 130°E J: 30°S, 170°E
20°S, 150°E 30°S, 150°E
Which pair is closest together?

A) J
B) F
C) G
D) H
E) All are the same distance apart.

Question 68

The plane of Earth's equator is tilted ______________° with respect to the plane of Earth's orbit about the Sun.

A) 90
B) 18
C) 5
D) 23.5
E) 180

Question 69

The longest-daylight day for people in the Northern Hemisphere at latitudes greater than 30°N occurs at the

A) summer solstice.
B) vernal equinox.
C) winter solstice.
D) autumnal equinox.

Question 70

The shortest-daylight day for people in the Southern Hemisphere at latitudes greater than 30°S occurs at the

A) summer solstice.
B) vernal equinox.
C) winter solstice.
D) autumnal equinox.

Question 71

At different times of the year, the Sun appears to be in different parts of the sky among different groups of stars. This is so because

A) Earth revolves about the Sun.
B) the Sun rotates on its axis.
C) the Sun moves through space.
D) stars move.
E) Earth rotates on its axis.

Question 72

The number of daylight hours before 12 noon is ______________ the number of daylight hours past 12 noon.

A) greater than
B) less than
C) approximately the same as

Question 73

If Earth's axis were tilted at 40°, the seasons of the year would

A) be shorter.
B) be harsher.
C) be longer.
D) not change.
E) be milder.

Question 74

The tropical year is shorter than the sidereal year because Earth's

A) orbit is an ellipse rather than a true circle.
B) axis precesses westward.
C) orbital speed is not constant.
D) axis is tilted by 23.5°.

Question 75

The altitude of the North Star (Polaris) is approximately

A) 90°.
B) equal to the observer's local latitude.
C) equal to the observer's local longitude.
D) dependent on the time of day.
E) none of these

Question 76

The Julian calendar assumed that there were ______________ days in a year.

A) 365
B) 365
C) 366
D) 354.2422

Question 77

It is generally believed that there are 7 days in a week because

A) there are 7 stars in the Big Dipper.
B) it is necessary to have 52 weeks in a year.
C) there are 7 visible bodies in the sky that move against the background of the fixed stars.
D) it is easy to multiply by 7.

Question 78

Consider the following pairs of points: F: 0°N, 40°W G: 70°N, 60°W
0°N, 20°W 70°N, 40°W
H: 20°S, 130°E J: 30°S, 170°E
20°S, 150°E 30°S, 170°W
Which pair is closest together?

A) J
B) F
C) G
D) H
E) All are the same distance apart.

Question 79

If Earth's axis were tilted at 30°, the daylight hours in Washington, D.C., in June would

A) remain the same.
B) be greater.
C) be less.
D) be equal to the hours of darkness.

Question 80

The shortest-daylight day for people in the Northern Hemisphere at latitudes greater than 30°N occurs at the

A) summer solstice.
B) vernal equinox.
C) winter solstice.
D) autumnal equinox.