Astronomy Unit 1

What is the imaginary sphere that represents the sky as seen from Earth called?

• Celestial Sphere
• Ecliptic Plane
• Horizon
• Zenith
• Meridian

Answer explanation

Explanation for the answer (optional)

Who proposed the heliocentric model of the solar system in the 16th century?

• Ptolemy
• Copernicus
• Galileo
• Kepler
• Newton

What is Kepler's First Law of planetary motion?

• Planets move in circular orbits around the Sun
• Planets sweep out equal areas in equal times
• Planets orbit the Sun in elliptical paths with the Sun at one focus
• The square of a planet's orbital period is proportional to the cube of its semi-major axis
• Gravitational force depends on masses and distance

Which of the following is NOT one of Newton's Laws of Motion?

• An object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon
• Force equals mass times acceleration
• For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction
• The orbit of a planet is an ellipse with the Sun at one focus
• None of the above

Which astronomer compiled extensive and precise planetary observations that were later used by Kepler?

• Tycho Brahe
• Ptolemy
• Copernicus
• Galileo
• Newton

How did ancient civilizations use constellations?

• To navigate and tell the seasons
• For artistic inspiration only
• As a means to predict weather patterns
• To determine the distance to stars
• As entertainment during festivals

Which of the following did Galileo NOT observe with his telescope?

• Moons orbiting Jupiter
• Phases of Venus
• Sunspots on the Sun
• Craters on the Moon
• The planet Neptune

What was the main flaw in Ptolemy's geocentric model?

• It couldn't explain retrograde motion
• It placed Earth at the center of the universe
• It did not account for the elliptical orbits of planets
• It ignored the existence of other galaxies
• It suggested that Earth orbits the Sun

What is the term for the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of a year?

• Equator
• Ecliptic
• Meridian
• Celestial Pole
• Zenith

What is the name of the model that places Earth at the center of the universe?

• Geocentric model
• Heliocentric model
• Tychonic model
• Einsteinian model
• Copernican model