Deck 2: Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth

Question 1

The altitude of the Sun as it crosses the meridian changes during the year.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

If a star rises on the eastern horizon,it will set on the Western horizon 6 hours later.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Constellations are arbitrary groupings of stars in the sky.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

On the autumnal equinox,the lengths of both day and night are 12 hours.

Question 5

The fact that we always see the same side of the Moon indicates that the Moon does not rotate about an axis.

Question 6

A person who lives at the equator will see the Sun directly overhead at noon every day of the year.

Question 7

A new Moon will always be in the eastern sky at sunrise.

Question 8

Earth revolves around the Sun in the same direction Earth spins about its axis.

Question 9

Early astronomers were able to detect shifts in the apparent positions of stars even before the invention of the telescope,leading them to conclude that Earth revolves around the Sun.

Question 10

The equator is the only place on Earth where you can see the entire celestial sphere (day or night)over the course of 24 hours.

Question 11

The meridian is defined as a great circle on the sky on which lie the

A) celestial equator and vernal equinox.
B) north and south celestial poles.
C) zenith and the north and south celestial poles.
D) zenith and east and west directions.

Question 12

The meridian is half of a great circle in the sky that passes through an observer's zenith and the Earth's poles.

Question 13

What defines the position of the equator on Earth?

A) The axis around which Earth rotates
B) Where the ground is the warmest
C) The tilt of Earth's equator relative to its orbit around the Sun
D) All of the above

Question 14

The direction directly overhead of an observer defines his/her

A) meridian.
B) celestial pole.
C) circumpolar plane.
D) zenith.

Question 15

When a lunar eclipse occurs,on average more people will witness it as a partial eclipse than as a total eclipse.

Question 16

If the star Polaris has an altitude of 35° then we know that

A) our longitude is +55°.
B) our latitude is +55°.
C) our longitude is +35°.
D) our latitude is +35°.

Question 17

The apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere during a year is called the

A) prime meridian.
B) ecliptic plane.
C) circumpolar plane.
D) celestial equator.

Question 18

The seasons on Earth are caused by the change in distance between the Sun and Earth.

Question 19

The longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere occurs on the summer solstice.

Question 20

When a solar eclipse occurs,the Sun lies between the Earth and Moon.

Question 21

We experience seasons because

A) the Earth's equator is tilted relative to the plane of the solar system.
B) the Earth is closer to the Sun in summer and farther from the Sun in the winter.
C) the length of the day is longer in the summer and shorter in the winter.
D) the Earth moves with a slower speed in its orbit during summer and faster during winter.

Question 22

Assume you are observing the night sky from a typical city in the United States at a latitude of +40°.Use the figure below to determine which constellation of the zodiac would be rising at 10 P.M.in May.

A) Pisces
B) Virgo
C) Gemini
D) Sagittarius

Question 23

For a person living in Vancouver,Canada,at latitude of +49°,the Sun will reach a maximum height above the Southern horizon on winter solstice of

A) 41.0°.
B) 17.5°.
C) 37.0°.
D) 64.5°.

Question 24

Earth is closest to the Sun when the Northern Hemisphere experiences

A) spring.
B) summer.
C) fall.
D) winter.

Question 25

If you go out at exactly 9 P.M.each evening over the course of one month,the position of a given star will move westward by tens of degrees.What causes this motion?

A) The Earth's rotation on its axis
B) The revolution of the Earth around the Sun
C) The revolution of the Moon around the Earth
D) The revolution of the Sun around the Earth

Question 26

At a latitude of +50°,how far above the horizon is the north celestial pole?

A) 0°
B) 40°
C) 50°
D) 90°

Question 27

The ecliptic plane is defined by the motion of __________ in the sky.

A) the Moon
B) the Sun
C) Polaris
D) the stars

Question 28

If the Earth's axis were tilted by 5° relative to the direction perpendicular to its orbital plane around the Sun,which would be true?

A) The seasons would remain the same.
B) Summers would be warmer.
C) Winters would last longer.
D) Winters would be warmer.

Question 29

The shortest day of the year for a person living in the Southern Hemisphere is the

A) summer solstice (June 1).
B) vernal equinox (March 21).
C) winter solstice (Dec.22).
D) autumnal equinox (Sept.23).

Question 30

At what latitude is the north celestial pole at your horizon?

A) 0°
B) +30°
C) +60°
D) +90°
E) This can never happen.

Question 31

On which day of the year does the Sun reach its northernmost point in the sky?

A) Vernal equinox
B) Summer solstice
C) Autumnal equinox
D) Winter solstice

Question 32

For a person who lives at a latitude of +40°,when is the Sun directly overhead at noon?

A) Only on the summer solstice
B) Only on the vernal and autumnal equinoxes
C) Never
D) Always

Question 33

No matter where you are on Earth,stars appear to rotate about a point called the

A) zenith.
B) celestial pole.
C) meridian.
D) equinox.

Question 34

The Earth's rotational axis precesses in space and completes one revolution every

A) 200 years.
B) 1,800 years.
C) 26,000 years.
D) 51,000 years.

Question 35

When the Northern Hemisphere experiences summer,the Southern Hemisphere experiences

A) spring.
B) summer.
C) fall.
D) winter.

Question 36

If you went out tonight and looked at the sky at midnight,at what time would you have to observe 6 months from now in order to find the stars in exactly the same position in the sky? Assume that you could see the stars at any time,day or night.

A) 6 A.M.
B) Noon
C) 6 P.M.
D) Midnight

Question 37

At what latitude is the north celestial pole located at your zenith?

A) 0°
B) +30°
C) +60°
D) +90°
E) This occurs at every latitude.

Question 38

Assume you are observing the night sky from a typical city in the United States at a latitude of +40°.Use the figure below to determine which constellation of the zodiac would be nearest the meridian at 6 P.M.in September.

A) Scorpius
B) Gemini
C) Aquarius
D) Leo

Question 39

The shortest day of the year for a person living in the Northern Hemisphere is the

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

Question 40

How far away on average is the Earth from the Sun?

A) 8.3 million kilometers
B) 45 million kilometers
C) 93 million kilometers
D) 150 million kilometers

Question 41

During which lunar phase do solar eclipses occur?

A) New
B) First quarter
C) Full
D) Third quarter

Question 42

Approximately how often do lunar eclipses occur?

A) Twice every year
B) Once per month
C) Twice every 11 months
D) Once every 11 years

Question 43

The center of the Milky Way lies approximately 30° south of the celestial equator.From what latitudes on the Earth is it impossible to view the center of our galaxy?

Question 44

If a person on Earth currently views the Moon in a waxing crescent phase,in what phase would the Earth appear to a person on the Moon?

A) Waxing crescent
B) Waxing gibbous
C) Waning gibbous
D) Waning crescent

Question 45

How is the observed height of Polaris above the horizon related to an observer's latitude? (Hint: Consider three cases of observers located at the equator,the North Pole,and . )

Question 46

At what time does the waxing gibbous phase rise?

A) 3 P.M.
B) 9 A.M.
C) 3 A.M.
D) 9 P.M.

Question 47

The Moon undergoes synchronous rotation,and as a consequence the

A) rotational period of the Moon equals the orbital period of the Moon around the Earth.
B) rotational period of the Moon equals the rotational period of the Earth.
C) rotational period of the Moon equals the orbital period of the Earth around the Sun.
D) Moon does not rotate as it orbits the Earth.

Question 48

A partial lunar eclipse occurs when

A) the Sun appears to go behind the Moon.
B) the Moon passes through part of the Earth's shadow.
C) the Moon shadows part of the Sun.
D) the Earth passes through part of the Moon's shadow.

Question 49

In regard to the phase of the Moon,the term waxing means

A) less than half-illuminated.
B) more than half-illuminated.
C) becoming smaller.
D) increasing in brightness.

Question 50

If there is a full moon out tonight,approximately how long from now will it be in the third quarter phase?

A) Three to four days
B) One week
C) Two weeks
D) One month

Question 51

At what time does a third quarter moon rise? (Hint: A third quarter moon occurs approximately 3 weeks after a new moon. )

A) 12 midnight
B) 12 noon
C) 6 A.M.
D) 6 P.M.

Question 52

Solar and lunar eclipses are rare because

A) the Moon's orbital plane is tipped by 5.2° relative to the plane defined by the Earth's equator.
B) the Moon's orbital plane is tipped by 5.2° relative to the Earth's orbital plane.
C) the Moon's orbital plane is tipped by 23.5° relative to the plane defined by the Earth's equator.
D) the Moon's orbital plane is tipped by 23.5° relative to the Earth's orbital plane.

Question 53

Consider an observer located on the equator.If the observer sees a star directly overhead at 8 P.M. ,where will that star be located in the night sky at midnight? How far above the horizon will it be or will it have set?

Question 54

The Moon's sidereal period is 2.2 days shorter than the period during which the Moon's phases change because

A) the Moon always keeps the same side turned toward the Earth.
B) the Earth must rotate so an observer can see the Moon.
C) the Moon's orbit is tilted with respect to the Earth's rotational axis.
D) the Earth moves significantly in its orbit around the Sun during that time.

Question 55

Which of the following is false?

A) Everyone on Earth observes the same phase of the Moon on a given night.
B) The phases of the Moon cycle with a period that is longer than its sidereal period.
C) In some phases,the Moon can be observed during the day.
D) The observed phase of the Moon changes over the course of one night.

Question 56

Leap years occur because

A) the Earth's orbital period around the Sun is decreasing.
B) the Earth's orbital period is 365.24 days.
C) the Gregorian calendar contains only 11 months.
D) the Earth speeds up in its orbit when it comes closest to the Sun.

Question 57

If tonight the Moon is in the waxing gibbous phase,in three days the Moon will most likely be in the

A) new phase.
B) full phase.
C) third quarter phase.
D) first quarter phase.

Question 58

What time does a third quarter moon rise?

A) 12 midnight
B) 12 noon
C) 6 A.M.
D) 6 P.M.

Question 59

Earth has an average radius of approximately .What is the average speed of the ground due to the rotation of Earth at its equator in km/s if there are seconds per day?

Question 60

On what place(s)on Earth can you stand and have the great circle of the celestial equator be at the same height relative to your horizon for all 360° of its circumference?

Question 61

What makes the equinoxes and solstices special?

Question 62

On which great celestial circle(s)on the celestial sphere would you find the position of the autumnal equinox?

Question 63

Explain why we always see the same side of the Moon from Earth.

Question 64

If the Moon was full three days ago,what phase will it be tonight and when will it rise and set?

Question 65

Explain why the Moon appears to rise later and later from one day to the next.

Question 66

For an observer in Seattle,Washington,which is located at ,what is the minimum height above the southern horizon that the Sun will have throughout the year and approximately when will this occur?

Question 67

What would be the effect on the seasons if the tilt of the Earth's axis were 10° rather than 23.5°?

Question 68

Earth experiences seasons due to the tilt of its axis.What are the two consequences of this tilt that contribute to the seasons?

Question 69

Explain why the eclipse seasons occur roughly twice every 11 months,rather than twice per year.

Question 70

Explain how the aberration of starlight provides a compelling demonstration that Earth revolves around the Sun.