Download Jeopardy Questions

Astro 110
Summer 2012
Exam Review Jeopardy 1
Note: These questions might cover similar topics to questions on the exam.
These questions are not the same as questions on the exam. It is important to
understand the topics covered in class in the slides as well as the lecture
tutorials. The exam is not based on rote learning.
Planetary Motions:
$100
Q: Draw an ellipse labeling the focus and semi-major axis.
A:
$200
Q: What is the Geocentric Model?
A: A model of the solar system with Earth as its center
$300
Q: What is Kepler’s 2nd Law?
A: A line connecting a planet to the sun sweeps out equal areas in equal times
as the planet travels around the ellipse.
$400
Q: If the Earth’s mass were doubled, how would that change the length of an
Earth year?
A: There would be no change because according to Kepler’s 3 rd Law, the period
only depends on the semi-major axis of orbit.
$100
Q: Geosynchronous satellites are often placed in orbit about 36,000 km above
the surface of the Earth in the equatorial plane. These satellites are
“geosynchronous”, which means they remain fixed above the same position on
Earth. What is their orbital period?
A: 24 hours or 1 day, since they must orbit at the same speed as the Earth
rotates.
Astronomical Scales & Our Solar System
$100
Q: Name the terrestrial planets, in order of distance from the sun
A: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
$200
Q: Name the Jovian planets, in order of distance from the sun
A: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
$300
Q: How long does it take light from the sun to reach Earth?
A: 8 minutes
$400
Q: What is the greenhouse effect and how does it relate to the different
environments on Earth and Venus?
A: Greenhouse effect is when an object is surrounded by an outer layer (like an
atmosphere or a pane of glass) that only allows certain wavelengths of light
through. For a planet, like the Earth or Venus, the atmosphere allows in UV and
visible light, but blocks some infrared light. The Earth radiates its blackbody
emission in the infrared, but some of that is blocked, so the heat is trapped in the
atmosphere, making the surface much warmer than something w/o an
atmosphere (like the moon). Venus has had a runaway greenhouse effect,
where temperature increases have led to a more extreme greenhouse effect,
which leads to more temperature increase, etc.
$500
Q: Name 5 objects in our solar system other than planets and the sun.
A: Moons, Asteroid Belt, Kuiper Belt (includes Pluto), Oort Cloud, Comets
Moon Phases and Seasons:
$100
Q: What is the phase of the moon during a solar eclipse?
A: New
$200
Q: What are the two things most directly responsible for the cause of the
seasons?
A: The tilt of the Earth causes the angle of incoming sunlight to change (more
direct sunlight in summer gives more heat), and it causes the length of the day to
increase in summer, increasing the amount of time we’re heated. Bonus: The
orbit of the Earth around the sun causes the seasons to change on a yearly
basis.
$300
Q: Draw on the board the position of the sun, moon, and earth during first quarter
phase.
A:
$400
Q: What are the Spring and Fall Equinoxes?
A: When the sun is directly overhead for people on the equator, or when the
Earth is not inclined toward or away from the sun. Happens around March 20,
September 22
$500
Q: What is the highest latitude on earth that will experience a sun that is directly
overhead at some point during the year? Bonus: What day?
A: 23.5 degrees latitude (the tropic of Cancer) at June solstice.
Motion of the Night Sky:
$100
Q: What is the celestial sphere model?
A: A model of the night sky where the Earth is at the center and all other objects
are pasted on a sphere that rotates around the Earth.
$200
Q: What are circumpolar stars and what are the two locations where you see the
most circumpolar stars?
A: Stars that never set, see the most at the north pole & south pole.
$300
Q: Name the terrestrial planets, in order of distance from the sun
A: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
$400
Q: [See Powerpoint Slide] Where will this star be at noon?
A: C. Stars rotate counterclockwise in northern hemisphere (East is to right)
$500
Q: [See Powerpoint Slide] What time is star B seen in the north-east?
A: Noon
Light and Radiation:
$100
Q: What are gamma rays?
A: Gamma rays are light waves that have the highest frequency & energy, and
shortest wavelength
$200
Q: This is a type of radiation that is produced by anything that has a temperature.
A: Blackbody (or thermal) radiation
$300
Q: [See Powerpoint Slide] Which star has the lowest surface temperature?
A: D, because its blackbody spectrum peaks at a longer wavelength.
$400
Q: [See Powerpoint Slide] Describe what an observer at each position would
see.
A: A – Continuous Spectrum; B – Emission Spectrum; C – Absorption Spectrum.
$500
Q: [See Powerpoint Slide] Which star is larger, and why?
A: Star A is larger because they peak at the same temperature, so the only way
to get more luminosity, or energy output, is to have a larger star.