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Name: _____________________________________________________
Regents Earth Science/Astronomy/Exam
Date: 2/08/17
Period: __________
Astronomy Test: Constructed Response
Directions: Answer ALL questions in the space provided in your answer booklet. Some questions may require
the use of the ESRT. Be sure to read all questions carefully and to follow all directions.
Base your answers to question 1 on the Characteristics of Stars graph in your answer booklet and on
your knowledge of Earth science.
1a.
The star Canopus has a surface temperature of 7,400 K and a luminosity (relative to the Sun) of
1413. On the chart in your answer booklet, use an X to plot the position of Canopus on the
graph, based on its surface temperature and luminosity.
1b.
Identify two stars from the Characteristics of Stars graph that are at the same life-cycle stage as
the Sun.
1c.
Describe one characteristic of the star Spica that causes it to have a greater luminosity than
Barnard’s Star.
1d.
Describe how the relative surface temperature and the relative luminosity of Aldebaran would
change if it collapses and becomes a white dwarf like Procyon B.
Base your answers to question 2 on the diagram below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The
diagram represents a time-exposure photograph taken by aiming a camera at Polaris in the night sky and
leaving the shutter open for a period of time to record star trails. The angular arcs (star trails) show the
apparent motions of some stars.
2a.
Identify the motion of Earth that causes these stars to appear to move in a circular path.
2b.
Determine the number of hours it took to record the star trails labeled on the diagram.
2c.
Record, to the nearest whole degree, the altitude of Polaris when it is viewed from the
top of New York State’s Mt. Marcy.
Base your answers to question 3 on the side-view model of the solar system in your answer booklet
and your knowledge of Earth science. The planets are shown in their relative order of distance from the Sun.
Letter A indicates one of the planets.
3a.
The center of the asteroid belt is approximately 503 million kilometers from the Sun. On the
diagram in your answer booklet, draw an X on the model between two planets to indicate the
center of the asteroid belt.
3b.
State the period of rotation at the equator of planet A. Label your answer with the correct units.
3c.
Calculate how many times larger the equatorial diameter of the Sun is than the equatorial
diameter of Venus.
3d.
Identify the process that occurs within the Sun that converts mass into large amounts of
energy?
Base your answers to question 4 on the diagram in your answer booklet, which represents eight
positions of the Moon in its orbit around Earth.
4a.
On the diagram in your answer booklet, circle the position of the Moon where a solar eclipse is
possible.
4b.
On the diagram in your answer booklet, shade the portion of the Moon that is in darkness to
show the phase of the Moon at position 3, as viewed from New York State.
4c.
Using the terms rotation and revolution, explain why the same side of the Moon always faces
Earth.
4d.
Explain why the Moon’s gravity has a greater effect on Earth’s ocean tides than the Sun’s
gravity.
4e.
The table below shows times of ocean tides on March 4 for a city on the Atlantic coast of the
United States.
Determine the time when the next low tide occurred. Include a.m. or p.m. in your answer, if
needed.
Base your answers to question 5 on the diagram in below. The diagram shows Earth revolving around
the Sun. Letters A, B, C, and D represent Earth’s location in its orbit on the first day of the four seasons.
Aphelion (farthest distance from the Sun) and perihelion (closest distance to the Sun) are labeled to show the
approximate times when they occur in Earth’s orbit.
5a.
On the diagram in your answer booklet, draw a line through Earth at location A to represent
Earth’s tilted axis on the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Label the North Pole
end of the axis.
5b.
Approximately how many days does it take Earth to travel from location B to location C?
5c.
Explain why an observer in New York State sees some different constellations in the night sky
when Earth is at location A compared to when Earth is at location C.
Base your answers to question 6 on the in your answer booklet, which shows the relative diameter
sizes of the planets compared to the radius of the Sun.
6a.
On the diagram in your answer booklet, circle only the terrestrial planets.
6b.
On the diagram in your answer booklet, place an X on the planet with the lowest density.
Base your answers to question 7 on the diagram below, which represents a model of Earth’s orbit.
Earth is closest to the Sun at one point in its orbit (perihelion) and farthest from the Sun at another point in its
orbit (aphelion). The Sun and point B represent the foci of this orbit.
7a.
Explain why Earth’s orbit is considered to be elliptical.
7b.
Describe the change that takes place in the gravitational attraction between Earth and the Sun
as Earth moves from perihelion to aphelion AND back to perihelion during one year.
Base your answers to question 8 on the diagram below, which shows the heliocentric model of a part of
our solar system. The planets closest to the Sun are shown. Point B is a location on Earth’s equator.
8a.
State the name of planet A.
8b.
Identify one feature of the geocentric model of our solar system that differs from the heliocentric
model shown.
Base your answers to question 9 on the diagram in your answer booklet, which represents a model of
the sky above a vertical post in New York State. The diagram shows the position of the Sun at solar noon on
September 23 and the position of Polaris above the horizon.
6a.
On the diagram in your answer booklet, draw the apparent path of the Sun across the sky on
September 23rd from sunrise to sunset.
6b.
Place an “X” on the diagram to indicate the altitude of the Sun at solar noon on June 21st.
6c.
How many degrees will the Sun appear to move across the sky from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on June
21st?