Download Astronomy Exam Reveiw ANSWER KEY

Name:
Date:
Block:
Astronomy Exam
Review
LT1: Understand that gravity is an attractive force between objects
__C___1. Choose the best definition of Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation:
a. To any action there is an equal and opposite reaction
b. A body in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force
c. Between any two objects in the universe, there is an attractive force that grows
greater as the objects move closer to each other
2. – 4. Describe each of Newton’s Laws of Motion
Newton’s 1st Law: An object at rest stays at rest unless acted upon by an outside
force. An object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an outside force.
Newton’s 2nd Law: Force = Mass x Acceleration
Newton’s 3rd Law: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
_____5. In order for the planet to maintain stable orbits:
a. Gravitational energy from the Sun must be greater than the kinetic energy of
the planets
b. Kinetic energy of the planets must be greater than the gravitational energy of
the Sun
c. The kinetic (orbital) and gravitational energies of the Sun and the planets must
not interact
d. The kinetic (orbital) and gravitational energies of the Sun and the planets must
be balanced
LT 2: Describe the parts (planets, Sun, moons, asteroids, comets) of the
Solar System and their motions.
6. Define parallax: the apparent movement of an object due to a change in the
observer’s position.
7. Define constellation: a group of stars in the sky, usually named after some object,
animal, or mythological being that it supposedly resembles or suggests
8. Name two constellations:
Big Dipper, Gemini, Little Dipper, Orion, Taurus
LT 3: Compare and contrast the characteristics of the Sun, Moon, and Earth.
9. List the planets in our solar system in order from the sun.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
(Remember using a pneumonic like My Very Energetic Mother Just Served Us Nuts)
10. – 17. Match the following planets with their characteristics.
__C__ Earth
A. Large gaseous planet with a “red spot”
__E__Venus
B. Most distant planet; gaseous
__G__Mercury
C. Rocky planet with water and life
__F__Uranus
D. Gaseous planet with rings
__B__Neptune
E. Brightest planet; rocky; located between Earth and
sun.
__D__Saturn
F. Small gaseous planet; rotates almost on its side
__H__Mars
G. Rocky planet; closest to the sun; very hot
__A__Jupiter
H. Known as the red planet; rocky; explored by
manmade instruments
18. What is the name of the star we call the Sun?
a. Antares
b. Sol
c. Luna
LT 4: Understand how the location of the moon affects the phases of the
moon, eclipses and the tides
19. Draw the following phases of the moon. White is the light part that we see, and
black signifies when we can’t see the moon.
Full
Half
Crescent
New
20. Describe the difference between a waxing and a waning moon.
Waxing – When the light or illuminated part of the moon is getting larger.
Waning-When the light or illuminated part of the moon is getting smaller.
21. Which phase of the moon would we see from Earth given the positions of the Earth,
the moon and the sun in the following diagram?
Hint: Color in the dark side of the moon first.
Half Moon
Earth
Moon
Sun
22. Label the sun, the moon and the Earth in the diagrams below of lunar and solar
eclipses.
__Lunar____ Eclipse
(Shadow of Earth on moon)
Sun
Moon
Earth
__Solar____ Eclipse
(Shadow of moon on sun)
Sun
Earth
Moon
23. Tides on Earth are caused by the gravitational pull made on the oceans by the:
a. sun
b. Jupiter
c. moon
5. Understand how the tilt and motions of Earth result in day and night.
24. a. Define rotate: to turn on a central point or an axis
b. How long does it take the Earth to rotate on its axis? _24 hours__
c. This rotation causes us to experience what are known as ___days_____ (days,
years, seasons)
25. a. Define revolve: to move in a circular or curving course or orbit
b. How long does it take the Earth to revolve around the sun? _365 days__
c. This revolution causes us to experience what are known as __seasons___ and
___years_____ (days, years, seasons)
_____26. The tilt of the Earth on its axis is:
a.
b.
c.
d.
30 degrees
13. 5 degrees
23.5 degrees
17 degrees
27. Identify the season being experienced in Colorado given the location of the Earth in
relation to the sun.
= Colorado
Sun
Season = ____Summer___________
6. Describe the components of the universe in terms of stars, solar systems
and galaxies.
28. Define galaxy: A collection of stars, gas, and dust bound together by gravity.
29. What is the nearest galaxy to our own Milky Way?
Andromeda
____30. Which of the following is not a classification of a star’s size?
a. dwarf
b. pulsar
c. giant
31. When a massive star can no longer produce enough energy to keep it in balance, it
collapses and explodes. Sometimes, binary stars can send energy from one to the
other and also cause an explosion. These powerful blasts are called:
a. comets
b. supernovas
c. black holes
32. When a star several times the mass of our sun collapses, the force is so great that
nothing can stop it and it collapses forever, producing a gravity so intense that not
even light can escape. This object is known as a:
a. black hole
b. pulsar
c. red giant
33. The brightest, most distant visible objects in space are quasars. What is a quasar?
a. a collapsed star
b. the very bright centers of some distant galaxies
c. moons of distant planets
8. Understand the technologies needed to explore space and evaluate their
effectiveness and challenges.
34. Define lightyear: The distance light travels in one year. (Light travels at 186,000
miles per second.)
9. Scientific knowledge changes as new knowledge is acquired and
previous ideas are modified.
35. Name one recent change that has occurred regarding our solar system.
New planets have been found, Pluto was found to not be a planet
36. What new things have scientists discovered about our solar system and beyond?
New planets, distant galaxies