Astronomy Fall Semester Review 2024
Quiz by Don Walker
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91 questions
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- Q1Which ancient civilization is credited with dividing the day into 24 hours?BabyloniansGreeksEgyptiansMayans30s
- Q2What key observations did Galileo make to challenge the geocentric model of the universe?The discovery of cometsThe retrograde motion of MarsThe circular orbits of planetsMoons orbiting Jupiter30s
- Q3Why do observatories often locate their telescopes on mountaintops?To avoid rain and snowTo improve access to celestial objectsTo be closer to the starsTo minimize light pollution and atmospheric interference30s
- Q4How does the movement of a star toward Earth affect its spectral lines?The lines shift toward the red end of the spectrumThe lines become brighterThe lines shift toward the blue end of the spectrumThe lines disappear30s
- Q5What does the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram reveal about stars?Their chemical compositionTheir brightness and temperatureTheir orbital pathsTheir distances from Earth30s
- Q6Why is the discovery of exoplanets significant?It disproves the Big Bang TheoryIt confirms that planets can exist beyond the solar system.It proves that all stars have planetsIt reveals the existence of multiple universes30s
- Q7Which type of telescope uses lenses to gather and focus light?Infrared telescopeRadiotelescopeRefracting telescopeReflecting telescope30s
- Q8What is the primary energy source for protostars before nuclear fusion begins?Chemical reactionsGravitational contractionMagnetic fieldsCosmic radiation30s
- Q9How do astronomers use redshift to study the universe?To identify exoplanetsTo measure the age of starsTo confirm the expansion of the universeTo detect black holes30s
- Q10How did ancient Central African civilizations predict rainfall patterns using the Moon?By observing its brightnessBy tracking its phases in relation to seasonal rainsBy noting the position of the lunar phases relative to certain constellationsBy calculating its distance from Earth30s
- Q11Why is astrology not considered a science by modern astronomers?It only predicts future eventsIt relies on telescopic observationsIt lacks empirical evidence and reproducibilityIt does not involve mathematics30s
- Q12What is the difference between a solar day and a sidereal day?A sidereal day changes length depending on Earth's positionBoth are exactly the same lengthA solar day is longer than a sidereal day by about 4 minutesA solar day is shorter than a sidereal day by about 4 minutes30s
- Q13Which of the following explains retrograde motion in Ptolemaic theory?Planets move on epicyclesPlanets move in elliptical orbitsPlanets have irregular speedsPlanets are closer to the Sun than Earth30s
- Q14What property of a star determines its color?TemperatureMassSizeDistance from Earth30s
- Q15How do interferometers improve the resolution of astronomical images?By using larger mirrorsBy filtering out atmospheric interferenceBy combining light from multiple telescopesBy focusing on longer wavelengths of light30s