Download Midterm exam

United Arab Emirates University
Faculty of Science
Department of Physics
Phys 100 (Astronomy) – Spring 2015/1
Midterm Exam – March 24, 2015
Name:___________________________________ ID #:___________________________ Se(c) # _____ Attendance ID #:____
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Astronomy Midterm – Spring 2015
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Page 1
1.
Which statement best describes the position of the Sun at sunrise and sunset as seen by an observer in Al-Ain on
June 21
a. The Sun rises north of due east and sets north of due west.
b. The Sun rises south of due east and sets south of due west.
c. The Sun rises north of due east and sets south of due west.
d. The Sun rises south of due east and sets south of due west.
2.
At which day of the year are the Sun’s noontime rays perpendicular to Earth’s surface at the Tropic of Cancer
(23.5 N)?
a. September 21st (Autumn Equinox)
b. December 21st (Winter Solstice)
c. March 21st (Spring Equinox)
d. June 21st (Summer Solstice)
3.
As viewed from Earth, most stars appear to move across the sky each night because
a. Earth revolves around the Sun
b. Earth rotates on its axis
c. Stars orbit around Earth
d. Stars revolve around the center of the galaxy
4.
When you move toward Earth’s North pole, you should expect the number of circumpolar stars to
a. Decrease.
b. Increase.
c. Stays the same.
d. I have no idea what is a circumpolar star.
5.
For an observer living at the North Pole, the six-month period of nightime will start from the first day of _______
and ends at the last day of ________
a. Spring - Summer.
b. Spring - Autumn.
c. Autumn - Winter.
d. Autumn - Spring.
6.
At which location on Earth, the Sun never rises for 24 hours during the first day of Winter
a. 23.5° N
b. 66.5° N
c. 23.5° S
d. 66.5° S
7.
Which object is closest to Earth
a. The Sun
b. The Moon
c. Venus
d. Mars
8.
Which of the following are most related to one another?
a. The horizon and the zodiacal constellations.
b. The horizon and the ecliptic.
c. The zenith and the zodiacal constellations.
d. The zodiacal constellations and the ecliptic.
9.
Which sequence correctly lists the relative sizes from smallest to largest
a. Our solar system, universe, Milky Way Galaxy
b. Our solar system, Milky Way Galaxy, universe
c. Milky Way Galaxy, our solar system, universe
d. Milky Way Galaxy, universe, our solar system
Astronomy Midterm – Spring 2015
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10. It is noontime and you are in Al-Ain. In what direction would your shadow be directed?
a. North
b. South
c. East
d. West
11. In what phase is the Moon on the 12th day of the lunar month?
a. Waxing crescent
b. Waxing gibbous
c. Waning gibbous
d. Waning crescent
Base your answers to questions 12 through 15 on the diagram below, which shows a model of the apparent path and
position of the Sun in relation to an observer at four different locations A, B, C, and D, on Earth’s surface on the dates
indicated. The zenith (Z) and the actual position of the Sun in the model at the time of the observation are shown. [The
zenith is the point directly over the observer.]
12. According to the Sun’s actual position shown in the diagrams, the most intense heat is being received by the
observer at location
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
13. Where on Earth’s surface is the observer at location C located
a. At the equator
b. At the South Pole
c. At the North Pole
d. In Al-Ain
14. From sunrise to sunset at location B, the length of the observer’s shadow will
a. Increase, only
b. Decrease, only
c. Increase, then decrease
d. Decrease, then increase
Astronomy Midterm – Spring 2015
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15. Where on Earth’s surface is the observer at location A located
a. At the equator
b. At the South Pole
c. At the North Pole
d. In Al-Ain
16. The Milky Way Galaxy is best described as
a. A type of solar system
b. A constellation visible to everyone on Earth
c. A region in space between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter
d. A spiral-shaped formation composed of billions of stars
17. The astronomical unit is defined as
a. The time between astronomical observations
b. The mean distance between the Earth and the Sun
c. A unit for measuring the amount of work astronomers d
d. A way to make life difficult for the students
18. The Local Group is a group of
a. Stars close to the Sun
b. Planets that form our solar system
c. Galaxies close to our Galaxy, the Milky Way
d. Close friends, very close but very unfriendly
19. The fundamental purpose of astronomy is to
a. Improve the living standards of humans by applying astronomical knowledge
b. Ensure the safety of the human species by understanding the heavens
c. Seek astronomical knowledge for its own sake
d. All of the above about equally
20. The most readily observed motion in the sky is produced
a. The motion of planets across the sky
b. The rotation of the Earth (daylight and night)
c. The revolution of the Earth (year)
d. The motion of the Sun around the Galaxy
21. Polaris (our North star) is unique because it
a. Moves in a different direction than any other bright star
b. Is the brightest star in the sky
c. Twinkles more than any other bright star
d. Is fairly bright and shows very little motion when viewed from Earth
22. Which of the following is NOT part of the modern science of astronomy?
a. The study of the evolution of stars
b. The study of the effects of stars and planets on the lives of people
c. The study of the characteristics of planets
d. The study of the evolution of the universe
23. You write your home address in the order of street, town, state, and so on. An observer named “Chouchou”
would like to write his cosmic address in a similar way. Could you help him write his cosmic address right?
a. Earth, Milky Way, Solar System, Local Group
b. Earth, Solar System, Local Group, Milky Way
c. Earth, Solar System, Milky Way, Local Group
d. Earth, Local Group, Milky Way, Solar System
Astronomy Midterm – Spring 2015
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24. At the time of the Summer Solstice (the start of summer) the Sun is
a. Farthest south of the celestial equator.
b. Farthest north of the celestial equator.
c. On the celestial equator moving north.
d. On the celestial equator moving south.
25. The Sun’s position in space is best described as the approximate center of
a. a constellation
b. the universe
c. the Milky Way Galaxy
d. our solar system
26. A waning crescent Moon is visible
a. near the eastern horizon just before sunrise.
b. near the eastern horizon just after sunset.
c. near the western horizon just before sunrise.
d. near the western horizon just after sunset.
27. A waxing gibbous Moon rises
a. Around 3:00 am.
b. Around 9:00 pm.
c. Around 9:00 am.
d. Around 3:00 pm.
28. This phase of the Moon can never be observed during daylight.
a. First quarter.
b. Full Moon.
c. Waning crescent.
d. Waning gibbous.
29. If it is 6:00 pm where you live and you see a third quarter Moon, then the Moon must be
a. On the meridian.
b. Rising from the eastern horizon.
c. Setting into the western horizon.
d. Come on Doctor. This can’t be. I think you are getting older.
30. The passage of the moon into Earth’s shadow causes a
a. Lunar eclipse
b. Solar eclipse
c. New Moon
d. Full Moon
31. How many times will the Sun’s perpendicular rays cross Earth’s Equator between March 1 of one year and
March 1 of the next year?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
Astronomy Midterm – Spring 2015
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32. What is represented by the diagram below?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Changing phases of the Sun
Changing phases of the Moon
Stages in an eclipse of the Sun
Stages in an eclipse of the Moon
33. The diagram below shows Earth’s orbit around the Sun and different positions of the Moon as it travels around
Earth. Letters A through D represent four different positions of the Moon. At which position (A, B, C, or D) an
eclipse of the Moon is most likely to occur?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Position A.
Position B.
Position C.
Position D.
34. The diagram below shows the relative positions of the Sun, the Moon, and Earth when an ellipse was observed
from Earth. Positions A and B are locations on Earth’s surface.
a.
b.
c.
d.
A lunar eclipse was observed from position A.
A lunar eclipse was observed from position B.
A solar eclipse was observed from position A.
A solar eclipse was observed from position B.
35. Which motion causes the constellation Orion to be visible at midnight from Al-Ain in winter but not in summer?
a. Rotation of Earth
b. Rotation of Orion
c. Revolution of Earth
d. Revolution of Orion
Astronomy Midterm – Spring 2015
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36. If the Islamic month started this past Saturday (March 21), in what phase is the Moon today, March 24, 2015?
a. Waxing crescent
b. First quarter
c. Waxing gibbous
d. Waning crescent
37. The same side of the Moon always faces Earth because
a. Moon’s period of rotation is longer than its period of revolution around Earth
b. Moon’s period of rotation is shorter than its period of revolution around Earth
c. Moon rotates once as it completes one revolution around Earth
d. Moon does not rotate as it completes one revolution around Earth
38. Why do we see lunar eclipses much more often than solar eclipses?
a. Lunar eclipses occur more often than solar eclipses.
b. Lunar eclipses last longer than solar eclipses.
c. The lunar eclipse is visible to much more of the Earth than a solar eclipse.
d. The Moon is closer to the Earth than the Sun.
39. What color would the Moon have during a total lunar eclipse if Earth were to have no atmosphere?
a. Red, just because I love strawberries.
b. Blue, just because I love blueberries.
c. Black, just because I love blackberries.
d. Green, just because I love greenberries (does it exist????).
40. If you were to live at latitude 0 (Earth’s equator), you would see
a. The whole northern sky
b. The whole southern sky
c. Half of the northern sky and half of the southern sky
d. One quarter of the northern sky and one quarter of the southern sky.
Extra Bonus Questions:
41. At which location on Earth does the Sun cross the zenith point twice a year around noontime?
a. Tropic of Cancer
b. Tropic of Capricorn
c. Equator
d. North Pole
42. What is the name usually given to the “family” consisting of the Sun and planets, minor planets, comets, etc.,
that orbit it?
a. The solar system
b. The Universe
c. The Local Group
d. The Milky Way
43. On the day of Winter Solstice (approximately December 21 st each year), which of the following conditions holds?
a. Day and night are each almost exactly 12 hours long at all locations on Earth
b. The length of daylight is longest on this day
c. The length of night is longest on this day
d. No way to tell, we need to know the location of the observer.
Astronomy Midterm – Spring 2015
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44. Most of the planets orbit the Sun on or close to
a. The equatorial plane
b. The galactic plane
c. The ecliptic plane
d. The meridian plane at Greenwich, England.
Note: You may need the above figure for the questions related to the Moon.
Astronomy Midterm – Spring 2015
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