Astro 1 Final Exam PSU | 100 Questions with 100% Correct Answers | Verified | Latest Update
Question : Why do we see the Moon appear to go through
phases as seen from Earth?
- The Moon reflects "Earthshine", so it depends on how
much light from the Earth is hitting the Moon
- As the Moon rotates, it presents a different phase to us
over the course of its "day".
- Depending on where the Moon is along its orbit, we see
different amounts of its illuminated side
- The Earth's shadow blocks out part of the Moon from time
to time
Correct answer: C. Depending on where the Moon is along its
orbit, we see different amounts of its illuminated side
Question : The Zodiac constellations are
- directly above the North Pole and South Pole
- distributed fairly evenly over the northern portion of the
celestial sphere
- aligned with the Earth's orbit around the Sun
- distributed fairly evenly over the entire celestial sphere
- directly above the Earth's equator
Correct answer: C. aligned with the Earth's orbit around the
Sun
Question : Over a period of a few hours, you see the Moon
rising above the horizon. This motion is mostly due to
- Moon's spin
- Moon's orbit around Earth
- Earth's spin
- Earth's orbit around Sun
Correct answer: C. Earth's spin
Question : What did Aristotle use to explain the phenomenon
that caused planets to appear as if they were moving backwards (and then forward again) in space?
- parallax as one planet passes by another
- the motion of Earth around the Sun
- a shooting star
- epicycles
- precession of Earth's spin axis
Correct answer: D. epicycles
Question : If Earth was compressed so that its radius was 4
times smaller, but the mass stayed the same, the force of gravity felt at its surface would be...
- 2 times weaker
- 2 times stronger
- 4 times weaker
- 4 times stronger
- 16 times weaker
- 16 times stronger
Correct answer: E. 16 times weaker
Question : If the time is midnight and Mars is in opposition,
where is Mars in the sky?
- on the horizon and rising
- on the horizon and setting
- on the meridian
- beneath you
- Mars can never appear in opposition