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Teacher: Mrs. Zimmerman
Astronomy Part 2 Practice Test1.In the Northern Hemisphere, during which season does the Earth reach its greatest distance from the Sun?
1. / winter / 3. / summer
2. / spring / 4. / fall
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2.Earth has fewer impact craters than Mercury because of the
1. destruction of meteorites in Earth's upper atmosphere
2. more rapid subduction of crustal plates on Mercury
3. slower weathering and erosion rates on Earth
4. faster rotational speed of Mercury
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3.The diagram represents our solar system.
This system is best classified as
1. geocentric, with elliptical orbits
2. geocentric, with circular orbits
3. heliocentric, with elliptical orbits
4. heliocentric, with circular orbits
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4.The diagram represents the orbit of a planet around the Sun.
At which location is the gravitational attraction between the Sun and the planet greatest?
1. / A / 3. / C
2. / B / 4. / D
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5.The diagram illustrates the position of Earth in relation to the Sun on one particular day. Points A, B, C, and D are locations on Earth’s surface.
Figure 1
The time at point A is closest to
1. / 6 a.m. / 3. / 12 noon
2. / 9 a.m. / 4. / 6 p.m.
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5. During the day represented in the diagram, how would the number of daylight hours for point A compare to the number of daylight hours for point B?
1. Point A has fewer daylight hours than point B.
2. Point A has more daylight hours than point B.
3. Point A has the same number of daylight hours as point B.
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7.Which observation is a direct result of the 23½° tilt of Earth's axis as Earth orbits the Sun?
1. Locations on Earth's Equator receive 12 hours of sunlight every day.
2. The apparent diameter of the Sun shows predictable changes in size.
3. A Foucault pendulum shows predictable shifts in its direction of swing.
4. Winter occurs in the Southern Hemisphere at the same time that summer occurs in the Northern Hemisphere.
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8.Which diagram best represents a portion of the heliocentric model of the solar system? [S = Sun, E = Earth, and M = Moon]
1.
2. / 3.
4. / 5. / 6. / 7. / 8. / 9. / 10. / 11. / 12. / 13. / 14.
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9.The diagram represents a planet revolving in an elliptical orbit around a star.
As the planet makes one complete revolution around the star, starting at the position shown, the gravitational attraction between the star and the planet will
1. / decrease, then increase / 3. / continually decrease
2. / increase, then decrease / 4. / remain the same
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10.The diagram represents a portion of the solar system.
In addition to Earth, which planets are represented by the diagram?
1. / Saturn and Pluto / 3. / Uranus and Neptune
2. / Mercury and Venus / 4. / Jupiter and Mars
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11.The planets known as "gas giants" include Jupiter, Uranus, and
1. / Pluto / 3. / Mars
2. / Saturn / 4. / Earth
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12.With respect to one another, galaxies have been found to be
1. moving closer together
2. moving farther apart
3. moving in random directions
4. stationary
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13.The shaded portion of the map indicates areas of night and the unshaded portion indicates areas of daylight.
Which day of the year is best represented by the map?
1. / March 21 / 3. / September 21
2. / June 21 / 4. / December 21
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14.During how many days of a calendar year is the Sun directly overhead in the continental U.S.?
1. / only 1 day / 3. / 365 days
2. / only 2 days / 4. / 0 days
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15.The diagram represents the construction of a model of an elliptical orbit of a planet traveling around a star. The focal point and the center of the star represent the foci of the orbit.
The eccentricity of this orbit is approximately
1. / 1.3 / 3. / 0.5
2. / 0.8 / 4. / 0.3
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16.The speed of a planet in its orbit around the Sun depends primarily on the planet's
1. direction of revolution
2. distance from the Sun
3. polar circumference
4. axial tilt
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17.The diagram represents the elliptical orbit of a planet traveling around a star. The center of the star and the focal point represent the foci of the orbit.
The eccentricity of the planet's orbit is approximately
1. / 0.9 / 3. / 0.3
2. / 0.5 / 4. / 1.6
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18.The diagram shows the Moon in four different positions, A, B, C, and D, as it orbits Earth.
.
How does the Moon appear to an observer on Earth when the Moon is located at position A?
1. / 2. / 3. / 4.
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19.The diagram shows twelve constellations that are visible in the night sky to an observer in the northeastern United States, over the course of a year. Different positions of Earth are represented by the letters A through D.
Figure 2
The constellations observed from the northeastern United States when Earth is at position A are different from the constellations observed when Earth is at position C because
1. Earth moves in its orbit
2. Earth is tilted on its axis
3. the lengths of day and night are different
4. the stars move around Earth as shown by star trails
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20.Billions of stars in the same region of the universe are called
1. / solar systems / 3. / constellations
2. / asteroid belts / 4. / galaxies
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21.The Milky Way galaxy is best described as
1. a type of solar system
2. a constellation visible to everyone on Earth
3. a region in space between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter
4. aspiral-shaped formation composed of billions of stars
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22.Compared to the average density of the terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars), the average density of the Jovian planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) is
1. less
2. greater
3. the same
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23.Which diagram sequence correctly shows the order of Moon phases, as viewed from Earth, for a period of 1 month? [Note that some phases have been omitted.]
1.
2.
3.
4.
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24.The diagram below shows the relative positions of the Sun, the Moon, and Earth when an eclipse was observed from Earth. Positions A and B are locations on Earth’s surface.
Which statement correctly describes the type of eclipse that was occurring and the position on Earth where this eclipse was observed?
1. A lunar eclipse was observed from position A.
2. A lunar eclipse was observed from position B.
3. A solar eclipse was observed from position A.
4. A solar eclipse was observed from position B.
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25.The diagram below shows the apparent path of the Sun as viewed by an observer at a certain Earth location on March 21.
At which latitude is the observer located?
1. the Equator (0°)
2. 23° N
3. 66° N
4. 90° N
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26.Base your answer on the diagram, which shows a model of the apparent path and position of the Sun in relation to an observer at four different locations, A, B, C, and D, on Earth’s surface on the dates indicated. The zenith (z) and the actual position of the Sun in the model at the time of the observation are shown. [The zenith is the point directly over the observer.]
Figure 3
From sunrise to sunset at location B, the length of the observer’s shadow will
1. / increase, only / 3. / increase, then decrease
2. / decrease, only / 4. / decrease, then increase
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27.
The apparent change in the Sun’s position shown in the diagram is best explained by
1. the Sun rotating at a rate of 15° per hour
2. Earth rotating at a rate of 15° per hour
3. the Sun’s axis tilted at an angle of 23°
4. Earth’s axis tilted at an angle of 23°
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28.The diagram represents eight positions of the Moon as it revolves around the Earth.
When viewed from the Earth, which phase of the Moon will be seen when the Moon is at point E?
1. / first quarter / 3. / new moon
2. / full moon / 4. / last quarter
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29.The best evidence that the distance between the Moon and the Earth varies is provided by the apparent change in the Moon’s
1. / shape / 3. / altitude
2. / diameter / 4. / phase
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30.The diagram shows the apparent paths of the Sun in relation to a house in the northeastern United States on June 21 and December 21.
Which statement best explains the cause of this apparent change in the Sun’s path?
1. The Sun’s orbital velocity changes as it revolves around the Earth.
2. The Earth’s orbital velocity changes as it revolves around the Sun.
3. The Earth’s axis is tilted 23.5°.
4. The Sun’s axis is tilted 23.5°.
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31.The diagram shows the relative positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun for a 1-month period.
Which phase best describes the appearance of the Moon at position P when viewed from Earth?
1. / new / 3. / quarter
2. / full / 4. / crescent
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32.The diagrams below represent four locations on the Earth's surface at the same time on March 21. Lines have been drawn to represent the apparent path of the Sun across the sky. The present position of the Sun, the position of Polaris, and the zenith (Z) are shown for an observer at each location.
Figure 5
To an observer at location A, the Sun will appear to move from
1. east to west at 15° per hour
2. west to east at 15° per hour
3. east to west at 1° per hour
4. west to east at 1° per hour
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33.Base your answer on the diagram, which shows the altitude of the Sun at solar noon on certain dates. The positions of the Sun, labeled A, B, and C, were measured by an observer at 42° north latitude. The date when the Sun was observed at position A has been deliberately left blank.
Figure 6
Position B represents the Sun’s position at solar noon on March 21. On what other date of the year would the noontime Sun be observed at position B?
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35. / State the actual Earth motion that causes the Sun to appear to rise each day.
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36.Base your answer to the question on the data table below, which lists the apparent diameter of the Sun, measured in minutes and seconds of a degree, as it appears to an observer in North Carolina. (Apparent diameter is how large an object appears to an observer.)
Explain why the apparent diameter of the Sun changes throughout the year as Earth revolves around the Sun.
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37.Base your answer to the question on the diagram below, which shows the Moon’s orbit around Earth. Four positions of the Moon are represented by letters A, B, C, and D. Earth’s North Pole is labeled. The shaded areas on Earth and the Moon represent night.
Figure 8
What motion of the Moon results in the Moon phases as viewed from Earth?
38.[Refer to figure 8] A total solar eclipse sometimes occurs when the Moon is at position A. Explain why a total solar eclipse does not occur every time the Moon is at position A.
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39.Base your answer to the question on the diagram below, which shows Earth as viewed from above the North Pole. The nighttime side of Earth has been shaded. The Moon is shown at eight positions in its orbit around Earth. The name of each Moon phase is indicated at each Moon position. The dark portion of each Moon position has not been shaded.
Figure 9
Which Moon phase occurs approximately one week after the New Moon phase?
40.Base your answer to the question on the diagrams below. Diagram 1 shows Earth’s location in its orbit on the first day of each of the four seasons, labeled A through D. Diagram 2 shows a north polar view of Earth on March 21. Point E represents a location on Earth’s surface. Longitude lines are shown at 15° intervals.
Figure 10
How does the altitude of the Sun at solar noon appear to change each day for an observer in New York State as Earth moves from position A to position B to position C?
Answer Key for Astronomy
1. 3 / 15. 2 / 29. 22. 1 / 16. 2 / 30. 3
3. 3 / 17. 2 / 31. 4
4. 1 / 18. 2 / 32. 1
5. 1 / 19. 1
6. 1 / 20. 4
7. 4 / 21. 4
8. 3 / 22. 1
9. 1 / 23. 2
10. 2 / 24. 3
11. 2 / 25. 1
12. 2 / 26. 4
13. 4 / 27. 2
14. 4 / 28. 2
33. Acceptable responses include, but are not limited to, these examples:
· September 21
· September 22
· September 23
· September 24
· autumnal equinox
· first day of fall
· fall equinox
34. Acceptable responses include, but are not limited to, this example:
· The Sun appeared to rise earlier each day during May.
35. Acceptable responses include, but are not limited to, these examples:
· Earth’s rotation
· spinning on its axis
36. Acceptable responses include, but are not limited to:
· Earth has an elliptical orbit.
· The distance between the Sun and Earth varies in a cyclic manner.
· Earth is closest to the Sun during New York State’s winter.
· The Sun is farthest from Earth during New York State’s summer.
37. Acceptable responses include, but are not limited to:
· revolution
· The Moon orbits Earth.
· The Moon travels around Earth.
38. Acceptable responses include, but are not limited to:
· The Moon’s shadow misses Earth.
· The Moon orbits in a different plane than Earth.
· The Moon’s orbit is tilted.
· The Moon’s shadow does not reach Earth.
· The Moon’s orbit is inclined to Earth’s orbit.
39. Acceptable responses include, but are not limited to:
· First quarter
· new quarter
· waxing quarter
40. Acceptable responses include, but are not limited to:
· The Sun will appear higher in the sky as Earth moves to position B then lower in the sky as it moves to position C.
· The angle increases as it approaches B, and decreases as it approaches C.
· The altitude will increase then decrease.
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