Question 1

The strength of gravity on Mars is about 40% of that on Earth.If you were to take a standard red brick to Mars,which property of the brick would be significantly different on Mars than on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)   mass
B)   color
C)   volume
D)   weight

Question 2

Newton's second law of motion states that:

Accepted Answer

A)   a force is always required to keep an object in motion.
B)   a body acted on by a net force will accelerate constantly while the force is applied.
C)   objects orbiting the Sun always move in elliptical orbits.
D)   a body acted on by a force will move at a constant speed while the force is applied.

Question 3

A significant contribution of Kepler to our understanding of the solar system was the:

Accepted Answer

A)   discovery that Earth orbits the Sun.
B)   discovery that planetary orbits are not circular.
C)   observation of the phases of Venus.
D)   idea of a gravitational force between Earth and the Sun.

Question 4

The eccentricity of a planet's orbit describes:

Accepted Answer

A)   the tilt of the planet's spin axis with respect to its orbital plane.
B)   its shape compared with that of a circle.
C)   its motion at any specific point in its orbit as seen from Earth, that is, whether direct, retrograde, or stationary.
D)   its tilt with respect to the plane of Earth's orbit (the ecliptic plane) .

Question 5

The synodic period of a superior planet as it moves around the Sun as viewed from Earth is defined as the time between:

Accepted Answer

A)   conjunction and opposition on any orbit.
B)   two successive passages through identical configurations, for example, two successive conjunctions.
C)   two successive appearances of the planet at its highest point in the observer's sky.
D)   two successive passages of Earth through the vernal equinox.

Question 6

As Venus orbits the Sun,its angular size as viewed from Earth appears to change by what factor,from smallest to largest? (See Figure 2-10,Comins,Discovering the Essential Universe,6th ed.)

Accepted Answer

A)   58
B)   1.72
C)   Its angular size does not change; only its brightness changes.
D)   5.8

Question 7

How many forces need to be applied to a body in space to keep it moving with a constant velocity?

Accepted Answer

A)   one force, in the direction of motion
B)   none
C)   two unequal forces
D)   one force, in a direction opposite the direction of motion

Question 8

According to the scientific method,a hypothesis that is proposed to explain a particular physical phenomenon is considered to be wrong if:

Accepted Answer

A)   leading scientists in the world believe that it is wrong.
B)   it disagrees with the accepted theory at the time of the proposal.
C)   it appears to defy logic and logical reasoning.
D)   it is in conflict with the results of just one reliable and repeatable observation.

Question 9

Which concept in Newton's mechanics provides an answer to the question: Why don't the planets fall into the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)   conservation of energy
B)   conservation of mass
C)   conservation of momentum
D)   conservation of angular momentum

Question 10

In the Ptolemaic model of the solar system,the Sun's orbit,like the deferents of the planets,was not centered exactly on Earth.This could help explain each of the following features associated with the Sun,EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

Accepted Answer

A)   Its size appears to change slightly during the year.
B)   Its speed across the sky appears to change slightly during the year.
C)   Its brightness appears to change slightly during the year.
D)   It is responsible for the seasons on Earth.

Question 11

Saturn experiences all of the following EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

Accepted Answer

A)   inferior conjunction
B)   superior conjunction
C)   opposition
D)   maximum elongation

Question 12

In any one day,the line joining a planet to the Sun will sweep through some particular angle as seen from the Sun.Where is the planet when this angle has its smallest value?

Accepted Answer

A)   at aphelion
B)   at perihelion
C)   at greatest elongation
D)   at inferior conjunction

Question 13

In the Ptolemaic model of the solar system,the deferent was centered at:

Accepted Answer

A)   Earth.
B)   a point near Earth.
C)   the Sun.
D)   the barycenter of the Earth-Moon system.

Question 14

Which of the following objects does NOT experience retrograde motion when viewed from Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)   Mercury
B)   Mars
C)   the Moon
D)   Jupiter

Question 15

What path would a planet (like Earth!) take if the force of gravity from the Sun were to suddenly be removed?

Accepted Answer

A)   The planet would move in a straight line tangential to its present orbit.
B)   The planet would stop moving altogether because there would be no gravity acting on it.
C)   The planet would move in a straight line outward, directly away from the Sun's position.
D)   The planet would begin to move in a long ellipse with the Sun at one focus.

Question 16

An accelerating body must at all times:

Accepted Answer

A)   have an increasing velocity.
B)   be moving.
C)   have a changing direction of motion.
D)   have a changing velocity.

Question 17

Kepler's third law,P² = a³,applies to each of the following situations EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

Accepted Answer

A)   the orbit of Mercury
B)   the orbit of Jupiter
C)   the orbit of the Moon
D)   the orbit of Halley's Comet

Question 18

Retrograde motion was important in the development of our understanding of the solar system because:

Accepted Answer

A)   it was not discovered until 1920.
B)   it cannot be described with the geocentric model.
C)   its description in terms of the heliocentric model is a great simplification in comparison with its description in terms of the geocentric model.
D)   it happens only about once per century.

Question 19

According to Newton's second law of motion,an object acted on by a constant force:

Accepted Answer

A)   always moves with a constant velocity.
B)   always moves with a constant acceleration.
C)   does not move.
D)   always moves with a constant speed, although the direction may vary.

Question 20

Which one of the following is NOT part of the scientific method?

Accepted Answer

A)   Propose a new experiment.
B)   Take a formal vote at a recognized international scientific conference.
C)   Modify existing theory.
D)   Make predictions.

Exam 2: Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

The strength of gravity on Mars is about 40% of that on Earth.If you were to take a standard red brick to Mars,which property of the brick would be significantly different on Mars than on Earth?

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Which one of the following is NOT part of the scientific method?

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In the Ptolemaic model of the solar system,the deferent was centered at:

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Which concept in Newton's mechanics provides an answer to the question: Why don't the planets fall into the Sun?

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A significant contribution of Kepler to our understanding of the solar system was the:

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Retrograde motion was important in the development of our understanding of the solar system because:

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In the Ptolemaic model of the solar system,the Sun's orbit,like the deferents of the planets,was not centered exactly on Earth.This could help explain each of the following features associated with the Sun,EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

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According to Newton's second law of motion,an object acted on by a constant force:

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How many forces need to be applied to a body in space to keep it moving with a constant velocity?

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The synodic period of a superior planet as it moves around the Sun as viewed from Earth is defined as the time between:

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Kepler's third law,P² = a³,applies to each of the following situations EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

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Newton's second law of motion states that:

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In any one day,the line joining a planet to the Sun will sweep through some particular angle as seen from the Sun.Where is the planet when this angle has its smallest value?

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Which of the following objects does NOT experience retrograde motion when viewed from Earth?

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As Venus orbits the Sun,its angular size as viewed from Earth appears to change by what factor,from smallest to largest? (See Figure 2-10,Comins,Discovering the Essential Universe,6th ed.)

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The eccentricity of a planet's orbit describes:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Saturn experiences all of the following EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

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According to the scientific method,a hypothesis that is proposed to explain a particular physical phenomenon is considered to be wrong if:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What path would a planet (like Earth!) take if the force of gravity from the Sun were to suddenly be removed?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

An accelerating body must at all times:

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