AST 1002
Test 1, Fall 2007

QQ 1 The two points on the celestial sphere around which it 
seems to rotate are the 
AA S 1 (1) celestial poles
(2) equinoxes
(3) north and south points on the horizon
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 2 The altitude of the celestial pole is equal to 
AA S 1 (1) the observer's latitude
(2) 90 degrees minus the observer's latitude 
(3) the observer's longitude
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 3 The imaginary half circle that runs from the north 
point through the zenith to the south point is called 
the
AA S 1 (1) celestial meridian
(2) horizon
(3) celestial equator
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 4 The Earth's rotation is the cause of the 
AA S 1 (1) daily motion of the Sun, Moon, stars and planets 
generally from east to west
(2) change in contellations over the course of the year  
(3) Moon's motion around the celestial sphere
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 5 The Sun passes through the vernal equinox on 
approximately 
AA S 1 (1) March 21
(2) September 21
(3) December 21
(4) [depends on which hemisphere one is in, 
Northern or Southern]
(5) NVA

QQ 6 The Moon's path around the celestial sphere is 
AA S 1 (1) a circle tilted 5 degrees with respect 
to the ecliptic
(2) a circle tilted 5 degrees with respect to the 
celestial equator
(3) the same as the the Sun's, i.e. the ecliptic 
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 7 The first quarter Moon sets at approximately
AA S 1 (1) 12 midnight
(2) 12 noon
(3) 6 a.m.
(4) 6 p.m.
(5) NVA

QQ 8 The partially dark part of the Moon's shadow is called 
the  
AA S 1 (1) penumbra
(2) umbra
(3) peninsula
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 8 When the Moon is full we can have 
AA S 1 (1) only a lunar eclipse
(2) only a solar eclipse
(3) either a solar or a lunar eclipse 
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 9 The eclipse seasons 
AA S 1 (1) come a little earlier from one year to the next 
because of the regression of the Moon's nodes
(2) occur at the same time every year, at the same points 
along the Earth's orbit around the Sun
(3) occur roughly every two weeks, at new and full Moon
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 10 Which of the following is a superior planet?
AA S 1 (1) Mars
(2) Venus
(3) Earth
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 11 At which of the following configurations is a 
superior planet closest to Earth in space?
AA S 1 opposition
(2) greatest elongation
(3) conjunction 
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 12 The energy stored in an object depending upon its 
position is termed 
AA S 1 (1) potential energy
(2) kinetic energy
(3) radiative energy
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 13 With uniform circular motion, the force acting to 
change the object's velocity is termed the 
AA S 1 (1) centripetal force
(2) gravitational force
(3) centrifugal force
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 14 If two bodies with different masses are acted on by the 
same force, which will be accelerated more?
AA S 1 (1) the less massive
(2) the more massive
(3) [same acceleration for both]
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 15 If two planets have identical masses but different radii, 
which one will have a weaker surface gravity?
AA S 1 (1) the larger one
(2) the smaller one
(3) [they'll be the same]
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 16 The semimajor axis of an elliptical orbit 
determines the orbit's 
AA S 1 (1) size 
(2) shape 
(3) orientation
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 17 A planet goes fastest in its orbit around the Sun 
when it is 
AA S 1 (1) at perihelion
(2) at aphelion
(3) midway between perihelion and aphelion
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 18 Which of the following orbits in the two-body problem 
is associated with zero total energy?
AA S 1 (1) parabola
(2) hyperbola
(3) ellipse
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 19 The importance of Newton's revision of Kepler's Third Law
(Harmonic Law) is mainly that it can be used to determine which 
of the following?
AA S 1 (1) masses
(2) semimajor axes
(3) orbital period
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 20 The tidal force due to the Moon at the point on the 
Earth directly opposite the Moon (i.e., on the other side) 
is directed 
AA S 1 (1) away from the Moon
(2) towards the Moon
(3) perpendicular to the direction to the Moon
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 21 Spring tides occur when the Moon is at 
AA S 1 (1) new and full 
(2) first and third or last quarter
(3) new only
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 22 Tidal friction in the Earth-Moon system causes 
AA S 1 (1) Earth's rotation to slow down and the Moon's orbit to 
expand
(2) Earth's rotation to speed up and the Moon's orbit to expand
(3) Earth's rotation to slow down and the Moon's orbit to shrink
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 23 The wavelength of electromagnetic radiation is 
AA S 1 (1) the spacing between wave crests or troughs (i.e., 
peaks in the electric or magnetic field strengths) 
(2) the distance from one end of the wave to the other 
(3) the numer of waves that pass a given point in one 
unit of time 
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 24 Which of the following kinds of electromagnetic radiation 
has the highest frequency?
AA S 1 (1) ultraviolet radiation
(2) radio waves 
(3) infrared radiation
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 25 Which color of visible light has the longest wavelength? 
AA S 1 (1) red
(2) violet
(3) yellow
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 26 A continuous spectrum is one in which 
AA S 1 (1) the intensity varies gradually from one 
wavelength to the next, without any sudden jumps
(2) the intensity is highest at a relatively few 
wavelengths and very low everywhere else 
(3) the intensity is constant with time and does 
not fluctuate 
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 27 an example of an absorption-line source is 
AA S 1 (1) the Sun (not just the interior, the whole 
thing)
(2) an incandescent lamp bulb 
(3) a "neon" sign 
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 28 Temperature is a number that measures 
AA S 1 (1) the average kinetic energy of atoms/molecules
(2) the total kinetic energy of atoms/molecules
(3) the average mass of atoms/molecules
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 29 The Kelvin temperature scale is the one that is 
used 
AA S 1 (1) with thermal radiation 
(2) in Europe for everyday temperatures 
(3) in the United States for everyday temperatures
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 30 If the temperature of a thermal source decreases, the 
wavelength at which it radiates most intensely will 
AA S 1 (1) increase
(2) decrease
(3) stay the same
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 31 Angular momentum is given by 
AA S 1 (1) mass times tangential velocity times distance 
(2) mass times space velocity times distance 
(3) mass times velocity
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 32 When one has a continuous-spectrum source behind 
a cloud of cooler gas, that source's spectrum will be 
of which type?
AA S 1 (1) absorption-line (dark-line)
(2) emission-line (bright-line)
(3) continuous
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 33 As a thermal source's temperature increases its color 
will shift from 
AA S 1 (1) red to white to blue
(2) blue to white to red
(3) blue to red to white
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 34 The tropical year is defined as the time for the 
Sun to go 
AA S 1 (1) around the ecliptic from the vernal equinox 
back to it again
(2) around the ecliptic from the constellation of
Pisces back to it again 
(3) around the celestial equator from the vernal 
equinox back to it again 
(4) NVA
(5) NVA