PSC 121 NAME ______

GAGE

SPRING 2004 DATE ______

QUIZ 4

I. Multiple Choice: select the best response for each question or statement below.

(36)

_____ 1. What phase of the moon will rise at about PM and be highest in the sky at midnight?

a. New
b. First Quarter

c. Waxing Crescent
d. Third Quarter
e. Full

_____ 2. Which of the following alignments of the Earth, Moon, and Sun would have to occur for an observer to see a lunar eclipse?

a. Sun, Earth, Moon
b. Sun, Moon, Earth

c. Moon, Sun, Earth
d. none of the above

_____ 3. An observer at the North Pole

a. sees a mixture of 40% circumpolar stars and 60% non-circumpolar stars

b. sees a mixture of 60% circumpolar stars and 40% non-circumpolar stars

c. sees a mixture of 50% circumpolar stars and 50% non-circumpolar stars

d. sees no circumpolar stars

e. sees only circumpolar stars

_____ 4. The length of an Earth day is determined by the time required for approximately one:

a. Sun rotation

b. Sun revolution

c. Earth rotation

d. Earth revolution

_____ 5. To an observer in Largo, MD, the North Star, Polaris, is always located above the northern horizon at an altitude of approximately:

a. 23.5°

b. 38°

c. 66.5°

d. 90°

_____ 6. In order to have a lunar eclipse, you need to have

a. the moon on or close to plane of Earth’s orbit

b. a full moon

c. a new moon

d. (a) and (b)

e. (b) and (c)

_____ 7. The tilt of Earth’s axis is:

a.  90o from its orbital plane

b.  23.5o from its orbital plane

c.  0o from its orbital plane

d.  the same as the Moon’s

e. the same as our latitude

_____ 8. The apparent rising and setting of the Sun, as viewed from Earth, is caused by:

a. Earth’s rotation

b. the Sun’s rotation

c. Earth’s revolution

d. the Sun’s revolution

_____ 9. A moon is an object that:

a.  does not revolve

b.  revolves around a star

c.  revolves around a planet

d.  rotates around a planet

e.  rotates around a star

_____ 10. A cycle of Moon phases can be seen from Earth because the:


a. Moon spins on its axis

b. Moon’s distance from Earth changes at a predictable rate

c. Moon’s axis is tilted

d. Moon revolves around Earth

_____ 11. Relative to the horizon, as seen from the Earth's southern hemisphere, the Sun each day will

a. move mainly in a northward direction

b. move mainly in a southward direction

c. rise in the east and set in the west

d. rise in the west and set in the east

Base your answers to questions 12-14 on the diagram below, which shows the tilt of Earth on its axis in relation to the Sun on one particular day. Points A through E are locations on Earth’s surface. Point D is located in Maryland. The dashed line represents Earth’s axis.


_____ 12. Which view below best represents the angle of the Sun’s rays received at location C at noon on this day?

A B

C D

_____ 13. Which non-polar location is in a winter season?

a. A b. B c. C d. E

_____ 14. At which location will the Sun never set on this day?

a. A b. B c. D d. E

_____ 15. A celestial object directly overhead is located at the:

a.  North Celestial Pole

b.  zenith

c.  equinox

d.  right ascension

_____ 16. Summer days in Maryland are likely to be hotter than winter days because in summer:

a. Earth is closer to the Sun

b. the number of sunspots increases

c. the Sun gives off more energy

e. Earth’s northern axis is tilted toward the Sun

_____ 17. A lunar eclipse does not occur every month because

a. sometimes the Moon is closer to the Earth.

b. the Moon always keeps the same side toward the Earth.

c. the Moon's orbit is inclined with respect to the Earth's orbit.

d. sometimes a full moon does not occur.

e. sometimes the Moon is farther away from the Earth

_____ 18. The instrument used to analyze starlight is called a:

a.  photometer

b.  spectroscope

c.  refractometer

d.  planetarium

e.  celestial analyzer

II. Explain why the same side of the Moon always faces the Earth. (5)

III. On the diagrams below using a small circle, sketch in the position of the Moon so that from the Earth you will see the lunar phase specified. Assume that you are looking down from the position in space above the North Pole. S = Sun and E = Earth. For Diagram #3, indicate what the phase of the Earth would be for a person standing on the Moon. (9)

E S / S
E / S E
1. Full Moon / 2. Gibbous Moon / 3. Crescent
Earth phase ______

2