Question 1

At the time of the winter solstice (the start of winter), the Sun is

Accepted Answer

During the winter solstice, which marks the start of winter in the northern hemisphere, the Sun is at its farthest south of the celestial equator, resulting in the shortest day and longest night of the year.

Question 2

The vernal equinox is the point on the sky where the Sun crosses the ____________ going north and east.

Accepted Answer

The vernal equinox is defined as the point in the sky where the Sun crosses the celestial equator going northward.

Question 3

In the following picture, Sagittarius and Scorpius are above the southern horizon. Where is the ecliptic in the picture

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the following picture, Sagittarius and Scorpius...

Question 4

A solar or lunar eclipse will occur

Accepted Answer

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, blocking the Sun's rays and casting a shadow on the Earth. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon. Both types of eclipses occur when the Sun is near the line of nodes of the Moon, and the Moon is new or full.

Question 5

At the time of the winter solstice (the start of winter) the sunlight is at a lower angle and thus is ____ than(as) in the start of summer in the northern hemisphere.

Accepted Answer

During the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere, the sunlight is at a lower angle due to the tilt of the Earth's axis, and it has to pass through more of the Earth's atmosphere, which scatters some of the light, reducing its intensity. Therefore, the sunlight is less intense during the winter solstice than in the start of summer.

Question 6

The solar corona is shown as white lines streaming from the Sun and you are viewing it from Earth. Which eclipse are you observing

Accepted Answer

The white lines streaming from the Sun indicate the solar corona, which can only be seen during a total solar eclipse. An annular eclipse does not show the corona, a total lunar eclipse does not involve the Sun, and a partial solar eclipse does not usually show the corona to the extent displayed in the question.

Question 7

The summer solstice (at the start of summer) is the point on the ecliptic where the Sun

Accepted Answer

The summer solstice occurs when the Sun is farthest north of the celestial equator, halting its northward movement. This marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.

Question 8

The ________ cycle of the phases of the Moon is due to the Moon's spherical shape and the ______ shining on it from different directions.

Accepted Answer

The cycle of the phases of the Moon is monthly, not yearly, and it is due to the sunlight shining on the Moon from different directions as it orbits the Earth.

Question 9

In the Milankovitch theory, the elliptical shape of the Earth's orbit, its axis tilt, and axis precession vary with time. These combined at times to create ____ on Earth.

Accepted Answer

The Milankovitch cycles, which are caused by the changes in the elliptical shape of the Earth's orbit, its axial tilt, and precession, have been associated with the onset and termination of ice ages on Earth. Therefore, the combined effects of these cycles resulted in changes in Earth's climate that led to the formation of ice ages.

Question 10

The most distant point in the Moon's orbit is called _________________.

Accepted Answer

The term "apogee" is used to refer to the most distant point in the Moon's orbit.

Question 11

The inclination of the axis of the Earth varies from 22° to 24° degrees taking ____ to complete a cycle. This is a factor in the Milankovitch hypothesis of ice ages.

Accepted Answer

The inclination of the Earth's axis varies from 22° to 24° degrees over a period of approximately 41,000 years, known as the axial precession. This variation in axial tilt is one of the three factors in the Milankovitch hypothesis of ice ages, which proposes that changes in Earth's orbit and axial tilt affect the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface, leading to periods of glaciation and interglaciation.

Question 12

The elliptical shape of the Earth's orbit varies with time and takes about ____ to complete a cycle. This is a factor in the Milankovitch theory of ice ages.

Accepted Answer

The elliptical shape of Earth's orbit varies over a time span, roughly 100,000 years, which is known as eccentricity. This parameter is an essential factor in the Milankovitch theory of ice ages.

Question 13

For a first-quarter Moon, approximately what is the angle eastward from the Sun to the Moon

Accepted Answer

During first-quarter Moon, the Moon is located 90° eastward from the Sun as seen from the Earth. This means that the angle between the Sun, Earth, and Moon is approximately 90°, with the Earth being at the vertex of the angle. This configuration results in half of the Moon's visible face being illuminated by sunlight, creating the first-quarter phase.

Question 14

The highest atmospheric layer in the Sun is the _______

Accepted Answer

The highest atmospheric layer in the Sun is the corona, which is the outermost layer of the Sun's atmosphere. The photosphere is the visible surface of the Sun, the chromosphere is the layer just above the photosphere, and prominences are large, bright, gaseous features that extend outwards from the Sun's surface.

Question 15

A dime is 1.8 cm in diameter. Earth's Moon is 3.844 × 1010 cm from Earth and has a diameter of 3.76 × 108 cm. At what distance from your eye would you have to hold a dime so that it has the same angular diameter as the full Moon

Accepted Answer

To have the same angular diameter, the ratio of the diameter to the distance must be the same for both the dime and the Moon. For the Moon, this ratio is (3.76 × 10^8 cm) / (3.844 × 10^10 cm). For the dime, this ratio is (1.8 cm) / x. Solving for x gives x = 200 cm.

Question 16

The time for the Moon to repeat its cycle of phases is equal to

Accepted Answer

The synodic period is the time for the Moon to return to the same phase (e.g. full moon to full moon) as observed from Earth. This takes into account both the Moon's orbit around the Earth and the Earth's orbit around the Sun. The other options are not correct because: A) the sidereal period is the time for the Moon to complete one orbit around the Earth (not the same as the time for its phase cycle); B) one day is the time for the Earth to complete one rotation on its axis; C) one hour is a unit of time and not a relevant period for lunar phases; D) one year is the time for the Earth to complete one orbit around the Sun (not the same as the time for the Moon's phase cycle).

Question 17

What is the phase of the Moon shown in the following image

Accepted Answer

The image shows a Moon that is between a first quarter and a full Moon, with more than half of its visible surface illuminated. This phase is called waxing gibbous.

Question 18

The figure shows the ______ and _____ Moon phases.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The figure shows the ______ and _____...

Question 19

If the Earth's period of rotation were halved, but the period of revolution about the Sun stayed the same,

Accepted Answer

Halving the Earth's rotation period would mean the planet spins twice as fast, making both day and night half as long since the period of rotation determines the length of a day.

Question 20

An eclipse of the Moon (lunar eclipse) as seen from Earth, happens when

Accepted Answer

During a lunar eclipse, the Earth is between the Moon and the Sun, so the Earth's shadow falls on the Moon. This causes the Moon to appear reddish in color, hence the term "blood moon." Option A is incorrect because the Moon does not stop emitting light, it is simply in the Earth's shadow. Option B refers to a solar eclipse, where the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun. Option D is incorrect because the Moon has to be in alignment with the Sun and Earth for a lunar eclipse to occur, not perpendicular to the Sun.

Quiz 3: Cycles of the Sun and Moon

At the time of the winter solstice (the start of winter) , the Sun is