Astronomy OATOGT Items

Astronomy Quiz

1. (OAT) A class was learning about the pattern of day and night on Earth. What part of Earth

experiences night at the same time?

A. less than ¼

B. about ½

C. about ¾

D. almost all

2. (OAT) From Earth, we see the sun in the day sky and other stars in the night sky. Nighttime stars look like tiny points of light. Which statement explains why nighttime stars appear so much smaller than the sun?

A. The stars are much smaller.

B. The sky is much darker at night.

C. The stars are much farther away.

D. The moon blocks out most starlight.

3. (OAT 2006, 8th Grade) What change would occur if Earth’s rate of rotation significantly increased?

A. The year would be shorter.

B. The year would be longer.

C. The day would be shorter.

D. The day would be longer.

4. (OAT 2007, 8th Grade) What causes the streak of light observed when a meteoroid enters Earth’s atmosphere?

A. sunlight reflected from the meteoroid surface

B. energy released from radioactive materials in the meteoroid

C. lightning produced between the meteoroid and the upper atmosphere

D. visible light produced from the interaction between the meteoroid and the upper atmosphere

5. (OAT 2008, Grade 8) Which unit of measurement do astronomers use when measuring the distance between two stars found in the Milky Way?

A. meter

B. light-year

C. kilometer

D. astronomical unit

6. (OAT 2006) The diagram shows the position of Earth (E) now.

Where will Earth be in six months?

A. near position 1

B. near position 2

C. near position 3

D. near position 4

7. What causes day and night on Earth?

A. tilting of Earth’s axis

B. rotation of Earth on its axis

C. movement of Earth around the sun

D. movement of the sun around Earth

8. Use the following diagram to answer question 10.

Which number in the diagram represents Earth? 3

9. (2007 OAT Grade 5) Which motion causes the pattern of day and night on Earth?

A. Earth rotates on its axis

B. Earth orbits around the sun

C. the moon rotates on its axis

D. the moon orbits around Earth

10. (2008 OAT Grade 5) Which diagram correctly shows the orbits of Earth (E) and the moon (M) around the sun (S)? A

11. (OAT Grade 8 2006) Which diagram shows the relative positions of Earth (E), the sun (S), and the moon (M) during a full moon? A

[Note: Diagrams are not drawn to scale.]

12. (OAT Grade 8 2006) Why do satellites and spacecraft launched from Earth need to reach a specific speed to escape Earth’s surface?

A. to overcome Earth’s gravitational force

B. to protect equipment from radiation

C. to break through the sound barrier

D. to avoid Earth’s magnetic field

13. (OAT Grade 8 2006) Use the following information to answer question #.

This photograph of Galaxy M-82 was taken by students at the KittPeak observatory in Arizona.

Which type of equipment did the students use to collect the light to make this photograph?

A. satellite

B. binoculars

C. microscope

D. optical telescope

14. (OAT Grade 8, 2007) Two galaxies are interacting with each other.

What is the force that draws these two galaxies toward each other?

A. friction

B. gravity

C. electricity

D. magnetism

15. (OAT Grade 8, 2007) Which explains the relationship between hours of sunlight and seasons?

A. the rotation of Earth on its axis

B. the tilt of Earth’s axis relative to the sun

C. the location of Earth’s orbit in the solar system

D. the motion of the moon as it travels around Earth

Astronomy Quiz

1. (OAT) A class was learning about the pattern of day and night on Earth. What part of Earth

experiences night at the same time?

A. less than ¼

B. about ½

C. about ¾

D. almost all

2. (OAT) From Earth, we see the sun in the day sky and other stars in the night sky. Nighttime stars look like tiny points of light. Which statement explains why nighttime stars appear so much smaller than the sun?

A. The stars are much smaller.

B. The sky is much darker at night.

C. The stars are much farther away.

D. The moon blocks out most starlight.

3. (OAT 2006, 8th Grade) What change would occur if Earth’s rate of rotation significantly increased?

A. The year would be shorter.

B. The year would be longer.

C. The day would be shorter.

D. The day would be longer.

4. (OAT 2007, 8th Grade) What causes the streak of light observed when a meteoroid enters Earth’s atmosphere?

A. sunlight reflected from the meteoroid surface

B. energy released from radioactive materials in the meteoroid

C. lightning produced between the meteoroid and the upper atmosphere

D. visible light produced from the interaction between the meteoroid and the upper atmosphere

5. (OAT 2008, Grade 8) Which unit of measurement do astronomers use when measuring the distance between two stars found in the Milky Way?

A. meter

B. light-year

C. kilometer

D. astronomical unit

6.(OAT 2006) The diagram shows the position of Earth (E) now.

Where will Earth be in six months?

A. near position 1

B. near position 2

C. near position 3

D. near position 4

7. What causes day and night on Earth?

A. tilting of Earth’s axis

B. rotation of Earth on its axis

C. movement of Earth around the sun

D. movement of the sun around Earth

8. Use the following diagram to answer question 10.

Which number in the diagram represents Earth?3

9.(2007 OAT Grade 5) Which motion causes the pattern of day and night on Earth?

A. Earth rotates on its axis

B. Earth orbits around the sun

C. the moon rotates on its axis

D. the moon orbits around Earth

10.(2008 OAT Grade 5) Which diagram correctly shows the orbits of Earth (E) and the moon (M) around the sun (S)?A

11.(OAT Grade 8 2006) Which diagram shows the relative positions of Earth (E), the sun (S), and the moon (M) during a full moon?A

[Note: Diagrams are not drawn to scale.]

12.(OAT Grade 8 2006) Why do satellites and spacecraft launched from Earth need to reach a specific speed to escape Earth’s surface?

A. to overcome Earth’s gravitational force

B. to protect equipment from radiation

C. to break through the sound barrier

D. to avoid Earth’s magnetic field

13.(OAT Grade 8 2006) Use the following information to answer question #.

This photograph of Galaxy M-82 was taken by students at the KittPeak observatory in Arizona.

Which type of equipment did the students use to collect the light to make this photograph?

A. satellite

B. binoculars

C. microscope

D. optical telescope

14.(OAT Grade 8, 2007) Two galaxies are interacting with each other.

What is the force that draws these two galaxies toward each other?

A. friction

B. gravity

C. electricity

D. magnetism

15.(OAT Grade 8, 2007) Which explains the relationship between hours of sunlight and seasons?

A. the rotation of Earth on its axis

B. the tilt of Earth’s axis relative to the sun

C. the location of Earth’s orbit in the solar system

D. the motion of the moon as it travels around Earth