Deck 16: Earth in Space

Question 1

The axis of Earth's rotation will not always point toward Polaris due to precession.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

South of the Antarctic Circle, the Sun appears

A)directly overhead only once a year.
B)directly overhead twice yearly.
C)above the horizon all day at least once during December.
D)above the horizon all day at least once during June.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Latitude is a measure of how far north or south one is from the equator.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The position of a spot on the floor made by a sunbeam traces out a "figure eight" pattern over the course of a year.

Question 5

Evidence that Earth is rotating is provided by

A)the motion of a pendulum.
B)seasonal climactic changes.
C)the varying solar day.
D)the movement of the constellations.

Question 6

The findings from the Apollo space missions to the Moon support the idea that the Moon formed from the impact of Earth with a very large object.

Question 7

The average time between two high tides roughly equals the time for a given spot on Earth to rotate so that it is directly under the full Moon.

Question 8

During which month of the year does Earth receive the greatest average energy from the Sun?

A)January
B)March
C)June
D)September

Question 9

A person traveling westward across the International Date Line gains a day.

Question 10

How frequently does the Sun appear directly overhead in Mexico City ( $\approx$ 20? N latitude)?

A)daily
B)once a year
C)twice a year
D)four times a year

Question 11

North of the Tropic of Cancer, the Sun appears directly overhead at noon

A)never.
B)daily.
C)twice a year, at the equinoxes.
D)twice a year, at the solstices.

Question 12

The fact that there are seasons on Earth is largely due to

A)the tilt of Earth's axis.
B)the changing distance of Earth from the Sun during its orbit.
C)the precession of Earth's axis of rotation.
D)the Coriolis effect.

Question 13

The slow wobble of Earth's axis is called

A)Coriolis.
B)solstice.
C)perigee.
D)precession.

Question 14

The Julian calendar adjusted for the fact that Earth's year was not exactly 365 days by adding a day every fourth year.

Question 15

The ancient Greeks believed that the shape of Earth was

A)flat.
B)a perfect sphere.
C)an oblate spheroid.
D)an irregular lump.

Question 16

As viewed from space above the North Pole, Earth rotates clockwise.

Question 17

If your favorite constellation rose at 8:00 PM one night, when would it rise two weeks later?

A)at 8:00 PM
B)around 7:00 PM
C)around 9:00 PM
D)it depends on the constellation

Question 18

On the Summer Solstice, the Sun rises south of due east, and sets south of due west.

Question 19

An apparent solar day is

A)the interval between two consecutive solar noons.
B)slightly longer than a sidereal day.
C)rarely exactly 24 hours long.
D)All of the above.

Question 20

The average temperature of Earth is slightly lower in January because then Earth is at its greatest distance from the Sun.

Question 21

If you were flying east on a jet across three times zones and your watch read 12:00 noon when you landed, you should

A)set it to 9:00 AM.
B)set it to 3:00 PM.
C)set it 6:00 PM.
D)leave it at 12:00 for that is when the Sun crosses the celestial meridian.

Question 22

Neap tides result when the Moon is

A)aligned with the Sun and Earth.
B)full.
C)new.
D)in a quarter phase.

Question 23

A lunar eclipse can only occur during which phase of the Moon?

A)full
B)1st quarter
C)last quarter
D)new

Question 24

During which phase of the Moon would we most likely see a solar eclipse?

A)full
B)first quarter
C)last quarter
D)new

Question 25

In the time 9:00 AM, the "AM" means

A)after morning.
B)after the meridian.
C)astronomical motion.
D)before the meridian.

Question 26

A person standing where the Moon's penumbra touches Earth will see

A)a total solar eclipse.
B)an annular eclipse.
C)a partial solar eclipse.
D)a total lunar eclipse.

Question 27

The path of a plane flying due north from a spot on the equator would appear to

A)continue due north.
B)curve to the east.
C)curve to the west.
D)form an S-shaped curve.

Question 28

For the last 3 billion years the surface of the Moon has been

A)undergoing cratering from intense meteorite bombardment.
B)experiencing widespread lava flows from the interior.
C)experiencing both heavy cratering and widespread lava flows.
D)relatively quiet.

Question 29

We always see the same side of the Moon because

A)the Moon doesn't rotate.
B)the Moon's periods of rotation and revolution are the same.
C)the Moon's orbit is circular.
D)the period of rotation of both Earth and the Moon is the same.

Question 30

Evidence from the Apollo missions indicate that the Moon originated

A)from a large mass being torn from where the Pacific Ocean is today.
B)from the impact of Earth with a planet-sized object.
C)from the capture of a planet-sized object that formed the Moon.
D)at the same time that Earth was formed.