Question 1

The name given to the point of a planet's orbit that is farthest from the Sun is
A) aphelion.
B) focus.
C) perihelion.
D) solstice.

Accepted Answer

Aphelion is the point in a planet's orbit where it is farthest from the Sun. Perihelion is the point in a planet's orbit where it is closest to the Sun. Focus refers to the two points within an elliptical orbit where the gravitational forces of the Sun are strongest. Solstice refers to the two points in Earth's orbit where the tilt of the planet's axis is most inclined towards or away from the Sun.

Question 2

The motion of a Foucault pendulum proves that Earth is
A) rotating.
B) revolving.
C) precessing.
D) an oblate spheroid.

Accepted Answer

The motion of a Foucault pendulum demonstrates that the Earth is rotating on its axis. As the pendulum swings back and forth, its plane of oscillation appears to rotate slowly over time, indicating that the Earth is turning beneath it.

Question 3

Which planet moves the fastest?
A) Earth
B) Mars
C) Venus
D) Mercury

Accepted Answer

Mercury moves fastest among all planets in our solar system because it has the shortest distance from the sun and completes one orbit around the sun in just 88 Earth days.

Question 4

The planet Earth
A) has retrograde motion.
B) is the closest planet to Venus.
C) is the smallest of the terrestrial planets.
D) has a unique circular orbit.

Accepted Answer

Earth is the closest planet to Venus, making option B correct. Earth does not have retrograde motion (A is incorrect), it is not the smallest of the terrestrial planets (Mercury is, making C incorrect), and its orbit is elliptical, not perfectly circular (D is incorrect).

Question 5

That a planet moves with different speeds in its orbit is given by which of Kepler's laws?
A) First
B) Second
C) Third
D) Fourth

Accepted Answer

Kepler's second law, also known as the law of equal areas, states that a planet moves with different speeds in its orbit, but the area it sweeps out in a given time is always the same.

Question 6

The name given to the point of a planet's orbit that is closest to the Sun is
A) aphelion.
B) focus.
C) perihelion.
D) solstice.

Accepted Answer

Perihelion is the point of a planet's orbit where it is closest to the Sun. Aphelion is the point in a planet's orbit where it is farthest from the Sun. Focus refers to one of the two fixed points in an elliptical orbit, not necessarily the closest point to the Sun. Solstice refers to the time of year when the Sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky, not specific to a planet's orbit.

Question 7

Earth's axis is tilted ______________ degrees from the normal to the ecliptic plane.
A) zero
B) 90
C) 45
D) 23.5

Accepted Answer

Earth's axis is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees from the normal to the ecliptic plane. This tilt of the Earth's axis is responsible for the seasons we experience throughout the year.

Question 8

The aberration of starlight gives proof that Earth is
A) rotating.
B) revolving.
C) precessing.
D) none of these.

Accepted Answer

The aberration of starlight is evidence that Earth is revolving around the Sun. This phenomenon occurs because the velocity of Earth in its orbit combines with the velocity of light, causing the apparent position of stars to shift.

Question 9

The planet Mercury
A) has retrograde motion.
B) is the closest planet to Venus.
C) is the smallest of the terrestrial planets.
D) has a uniquely circular orbit.

Accepted Answer

Mercury is the smallest of the terrestrial planets, with a diameter of only 4,880 kilometers.

Question 10

The heliocentric model of the solar system was developed by
A) Brahe.
B) Kepler.
C) Copernicus.
D) Newton.

Accepted Answer

The heliocentric model, which states that the sun is at the center of the solar system with the planets revolving around it, was developed by Nicolaus Copernicus in the 16th century. Brahe and Kepler were astronomers who contributed to the heliocentric model through their observations and mathematical calculations, but they did not develop the model itself. Newton developed the laws of gravity that explain the motion of celestial bodies, but he did not develop the heliocentric model.

Question 11

Stellar paralax proves that Earth is
A) rotating.
B) revolving.
C) precessing.
D) an oblate spheroid.

Accepted Answer

Stellar parallax is the apparent shift in the position of a star due to the change in the observer's position as the Earth revolves around the Sun. Therefore, stellar parallax proves that the Earth is revolving.

Question 12

Kepler's second law of planetary motion is known as the law of
A) ellipses.
B) equal areas.
C) harmonic periods.
D) gravitation.

Accepted Answer

Kepler's second law of planetary motion is known as the law of equal areas, which states that an imaginary line from the sun to a planet sweeps out equal areas in equal times. This means that a planet moves faster when it is closer to the sun and slower when it is farther away.

Question 13

The terrestrial planets have
A) relatively high densities.
B) solid surfaces.
C) weak magnetic fields.
D) all of these.

Accepted Answer

The terrestrial planets, including Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, have relatively high densities compared to the gas giants, as they are mainly composed of rocks and metals. They also have solid surfaces instead of gas atmospheres like the gas giants. While the magnetic fields of the terrestrial planets vary in strength, they are generally weaker than those of the gas giants, but still present. Therefore, all of the given choices are correct.

Question 14

Kepler's first law states that the orbits of the planets around the Sun are
A) circles.
B) ellipses.
C) all lying in the same plane.
D) none of these.

Accepted Answer

Kepler's first law states that the orbits of the planets around the Sun are elliptical in shape, with the Sun located at one of the foci of the ellipse. This was a major departure from the previously held belief that all celestial objects moved in perfect circles. Although the orbits are not perfect circles, they are very close to being so, and can be described as almost-circular. Kepler's first law also states that the line joining the planet to the Sun sweeps out equal areas in equal times, which means that a planet travels faster in its orbit when it is nearer to the Sun and slower when it is farther away.

Question 15

The geocentric model of the solar system is attributed to
A) Kepler.
B) Brahe.
C) Copernicus.
D) Aristotle.

Accepted Answer

The geocentric model, which places Earth at the center of the solar system, was first proposed by Aristotle in ancient Greece.

Question 16

Kepler's third law of planetary motion is also known as the ______________ law.
A) periodic
B) elliptical path
C) harmonic
D) heliocentric

Accepted Answer

Kepler's third law relates the orbital period of a planet to its distance from the sun, and states that the ratio of the square of a planet's orbital period to the cube of its average distance from the sun is the same for all planets. This relationship is based on the idea of harmonic motion, where the period of an orbit is related to its size in a specific way. Therefore, Kepler's third law is also known as the harmonic law.

Question 17

The study of astronomy involves
A) space.
B) energy.
C) matter.
D) all of these.

Accepted Answer

The study of astronomy involves all three of these concepts - space, energy, and matter. It is the scientific study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside of the Earth's atmosphere, and thus requires an understanding of the properties of space, as well as the interactions of energy and matter in space.

Question 18

Retrograde motion of a planet refers to ______________ motion.
A) west-to-east
B) east-to-west
C) circular
D) elliptical

Accepted Answer

Retrograde motion of a planet refers to east-to-west motion, which is opposite to the normal west-to-east motion of planets in our solar system. This occurs when Earth passes by and overtakes another planet in its orbit, making it appear as though the planet is moving backwards in the sky.

Question 19

The closest planet to Earth is
A) Mars.
B) Venus.
C) Mercury.
D) Saturn.

Accepted Answer

Venus is the closest planet to Earth. While Mars and Mercury are also relatively close in distance, Venus is the closest due to its orbit position. Saturn is much farther away from Earth.

Question 20

Which of the following planets moves the slowest in its orbit around the Sun?
A) Earth
B) Mars
C) Venus
D) Mercury

Accepted Answer

Mars moves the slowest in its orbit around the Sun compared to Earth, Venus, and Mercury, due to being further out in the solar system. The further a planet is from the Sun, the slower its orbital speed because of the weaker gravitational pull from the Sun at that distance.

Quiz 16: The Universe

The name given to the point of a planet's orbit that is farthest from the Sun is

The motion of a Foucault pendulum proves that Earth is

Which planet moves the fastest?

The planet Earth

That a planet moves with different speeds in its orbit is given by which of Kepler's laws?

The name given to the point of a planet's orbit that is closest to the Sun is

Earth's axis is tilted ______________ degrees from the normal to the ecliptic plane.

The aberration of starlight gives proof that Earth is

The planet Mercury

The heliocentric model of the solar system was developed by

Stellar paralax proves that Earth is

Kepler's second law of planetary motion is known as the law of

The terrestrial planets have

Kepler's first law states that the orbits of the planets around the Sun are

The geocentric model of the solar system is attributed to

Kepler's third law of planetary motion is also known as the ______________ law.

The study of astronomy involves

Retrograde motion of a planet refers to ______________ motion.

The closest planet to Earth is

Which of the following planets moves the slowest in its orbit around the Sun?