Fundamentals of Astronomy and Physics: Key Concepts
Fundamentals of Astronomy and Physics
4. The frequency of a wave is:
- All of the above
5. You are standing on Earth’s equator. Where is Polaris?
- On the northern horizon
6. Which of the following statements about scientific models is true?
- A model can be used to explain and predict real phenomena.
7. The energy attributed to an object by virtue of its motion:
- Kinetic energy
8. Which of the following statements is NOT true about scientific theories?
- A theory cannot be taken seriously by scientists if it contradicts other theories.
9. The controversial book of this famous person, published in 1543, suggested that Earth orbits the Sun:
- Copernicus
10. (Empty question – No content)
11. Momentum is identified as:
- Mass times velocity
12. According to Kepler’s Third Law, how does a planet’s mass affect its orbit around the Sun?
- A planet’s mass has no effect on its orbit around the Sun.
13. Which of the following statements is true?
- Both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight during equinoxes.
14. (Empty question – No content)
15. The force due to gravity between two objects can be described using the equation:
- The force decreases.
16. What is the ecliptic?
- The path the Sun appears to trace around the celestial sphere each year.
17. Which of the following statements about the celestial equator is true at all latitudes?
- It represents an extension of Earth’s equator onto the celestial sphere.
18. A rock held above the ground has potential energy. As the rock falls, this potential energy:
- Is converted to kinetic energy, sound, and heat.
19. The principle of Occam’s Razor states that:
- In explaining natural phenomena, the simplest explanation is preferred.
20. How are wavelength, frequency, and energy related?
- Longer wavelength means lower frequency and lower energy.
21. Omitted, question 22 is next
22. Which of the following is NOT part of a good scientific theory?
- A scientific theory cannot be accepted until it has been proven true beyond all doubt.
23. Which of the following is NOT a way that light and matter interact?
- Evaporation
24. What does temperature measure?
- The average kinetic energy of particles in a substance.
25. What quantities does angular momentum depend upon?
- Mass, velocity, and radius
26. He discovered what we now call Newton’s First Law of Motion:
- Galileo
27. If a material is transparent, then it:
- Transmits light well
28. What is a circumpolar star?
- A star that always remains above your horizon.
29. If the Moon is relatively far from Earth so that its umbra does not reach Earth:
- An annular eclipse occurs.
30. Which of the following statements about circumpolar stars is true of all latitudes?
- They always remain above your horizon.
31. (Empty question – No content)
32. The Chandra X-ray Observatory must operate in space because:
- X-rays do not penetrate Earth’s atmosphere.
33. Which of the following represents a case in which you are NOT accelerating?
- Driving in a straight line at 60 miles per hour.
34. The difference between speed and velocity:
- Velocity also includes direction.
35. He discovered that the orbits of the planets are ellipses:
- Kepler
36. The wavelength of a wave is:
- The distance between two adjacent peaks of the wave.
37. Why are astronauts weightless in space?
- Because the space station is constantly in free-fall around Earth.
38. When a spinning ice skater pulls in his arms, he spins faster because:
- His angular momentum must be conserved, so reducing his radius must increase his speed of rotation.
39. Kepler’s 3rd Law means that:
- All of the above are correct.
40. You and I are emitting:
- Infrared radiation
41. What do astronomers mean by a constellation?
- A constellation is a region in the sky as seen from Earth.
42. He discovered that Jupiter has moons:
- Galileo
43. Suppose you lived on the Moon. Which of the following would be true?
- Your weight would be less, but your mass would be the same.