AST 1002
Test 1, Spring 2006
QQ 1 The point directly overhead in the sky is called the 
AA S 1 (1) zenith
(2) north celestial pole
(3) celestial meridian
(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 annual motion of the Sun is caused by 
AA S 1 (1) the Earth's revolution around the Sun
(2) the Earth's rotation
(3) the Earth's precession
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

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

QQ 5 The Moon's phase between third or last quarter and new is 
AA S 1 (1) waning crescent
(2) waning gibbous
(3) waxing gibbous
(4) waxing crescent
(5) NVA

QQ 6 The third or last quarter Moon will set at approximately
AA S 1 (1) 12 noon
(2) 12 midnight
(3) 6 a.m.
(4) 6 p.m.
(5) NVA

QQ 7 The completely dark part of the Moon's shadow is called 
the  
AA S 1 (1) umbra
(2) penumbra
(3) peninsula
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 8 A lunar eclipse can only occur when the Moon is at which 
phase(s)?
AA S 1 (1) full
(2) new
(3) first or third/last quarter
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 9 The eclipse seasons are when 
AA S 1 (1) the Sun is on or near the line of nodes
(2) the Moon is new or full
(3) the Moon is at one or the other of its nodes
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

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

QQ 11 Which of the following is a configuration of an 
inferior planet?
AA S 1 greatest elongation
(2) opposition
(3) conjunction (plain old)
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

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

QQ 13 If a body is acted on by an external force, which of the 
following must change?
AA S 1 (1) velocity
(2) speed 
(3) acceleration 
(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 larger surface gravity?
AA S 1 (1) the smaller one
(2) the larger one
(3) [they'll be the same]
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 16 The shape of an elliptical orbit is given by its 
AA S 1 (1) eccentricity
(2) semimajor axis
(3) inclination
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 17 A planet goes slowest in its orbit at 
AA S 1 (1) aphelion
(2) perihelion
(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) ellipse
(3) hyperbola
(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 beneath the Moon is directed 
AA S 1 (1) towards the Moon
(2) away from the Moon
(3) perpendicular to the direction to the Moon
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 21 The tides that occur when the Moon is at new or full, 
which are stronger than at any other time during the month, 
are termed 
AA S 1 (1) spring tides
(2) neap tides
(3) fall tides
(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 Which of the following is a wave-like property of 
electromagnetic radiation?
AA S 1 (1) wavelength
(2) energy
(3) electric charge
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 24 Which of the following kinds of electromagnetic radiation 
has the largest wavelength?
AA S 1 (1) radio wave
(2) gamma ray
(3) X-ray
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

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

QQ 26 The kind of spectrum that has most of the light concentrated 
at a relatively few wavelengths is termed  
AA S 1 (1) emission-line (bright-line)
(2) absorption-line (dark-line)
(3) continuous
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 27 An example of a continuous-spectrum source is 
AA S 1 (1) an incandescent lamp
(2) the Sun
(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 temperature scale that must be used with thermal 
radiation sources is the 
AA S 1 (1) Kelvin or Absolute scale
(2) Centigrade or Celsius scale
(3) Fahrenheit scale
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

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

QQ 31 The chemical element to which a given atom belongs is 
determined by its 
AA S 1 (1) atomic number
(2) atomic mass (or weight)
(3) number of electrons present
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 32 Atoms have emission and absorption lines in their 
spectra because 
AA S 1 (1) their bound electrons have energies that are 
restricted to discrete values because of quantum theory
(2) photons can only go in and out between the electrons 
if they have certain wavelengths
(3) their radiation can only be detected with an instrument 
that puts the lines in the spectrum
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 33 The process by which a bound electron is torn loose 
from an atom is called
AA S 1 (1) ionization
(2) excitation
(3) dissociation
(4) NVA
(5) NVA

QQ 34 Which statement is correct about the spectrum of 
an atom?
AA S 1 (1) It depends on the atomic number and the ionization stage.
(2) It only depends on the atomic number.
(3) It depends on the atomic mass and the ionization stage.
(4) NVA
(5) NVA