Question 1

The names of the seven days of the week are based on _ .

Accepted Answer

A)  the seven most prominent constellations in the summer sky
B)  the names of prophets in the Bible
C)  the seven naked- eye objects that appear to move among the constellations
D)  the names of the seven planets closest to the SunE) B) and D)
F) A) and C)

Question 2

The Metonic cycle is the

Accepted Answer

A)  18- year, 11- day period over which the pattern of eclipses repeats.
B)  19- year period over which the lunar phases occur on about the same dates.
C)  period between successive Easters.
D)  12- month period of a lunar calendar.
E)  29 1/2- day period of the lunar cycle.F) None of the above
G) A) and E)

Question 3

Which of the following is not one of, nor a direct consequence of, Kepler's Laws?

Accepted Answer

A)  The orbit of each planet about the Sun is an ellipse with the Sun at one focus.
B)  More distant planets orbit the Sun at slower speeds.
C)  As a planet moves around its orbit, it sweeps out equal areas in equal times.
D)  The force of attraction between any two objects decreases with the square of the distance between their centers.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 4

Columbus was the first person to discover that Earth is round.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

You want to test how the mass of a ball affects its rate of fall. Which of the following ball drop trials (matched mass and drop heights) would best test this question?

Accepted Answer

A)  mass of 0.5 kg, height 20 m/mass of 0.5 kg, height 20 m
B)  mass of 0.5 kg, height 20 m/mass of 0.5 kg, height 10 m
C)  mass of 0.5 kg, height 20 m/mass of 5.0 kg, height 20 m
D)  mass of 0.5 kg, height 20 m/mass of 5.0 kg, height 10 mE) All of the above
F) A) and C)

Question 6

In the Ptolemaic model of the solar system, Venus should exhibit which of the following phases?

Accepted Answer

A)  crescent
B)  new
C)  full
D)  A and B
E)  B and CF) D) and E)
G) A) and E)

Question 7

From Kepler's third law, an asteroid with an orbital period of 8 years lies at an average distance from the Sun equal to

Accepted Answer

A)  2 astronomical units.
B)  16 astronomical units.
C)  4 astronomical units.
D)  8 astronomical units.
E)  It depends on the asteroid's mass.F) A) and B)
G) B) and C)

Question 8

During the Dark Ages in Europe, the scientific work of the ancient Greeks was preserved and further developed primarily by scholars in

Accepted Answer

A)  Baghdad.
B)  China.
C)  Rome.
D)  India.
E)  Greece.F) A) and B)
G) All of the above

Question 9

The ancient Greeks get a lot of attention for their contributions to science because .

Accepted Answer

A)  they were the first people to realize that Earth is a planet orbiting the Sun
B)  they were the first people known to try to explain nature with models based on reason and mathematics, without resort to the supernatural
C)  they were the only ancient culture that kept written records of their astronomical observations
D)  the books of every other culture were lost in the destruction of the library of AlexandriaE) A) and D)
F) A) and C)

Question 10

All the following statements are true. Which one follows directly from Kepler's third law (p2 = a3) ?

Accepted Answer

A)  Venus orbits the Sun at a slower average speed than Mercury.
B)  Venus is more massive than Mercury.
C)  Venus has a thicker atmosphere than Mercury.
D)  Venus takes longer to rotate than it does to orbit the Sun.E) B) and D)
F) None of the above

Question 11

Tycho used his high accuracy observations to conclude that the Earth revolves around the sun.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Which of the following is not part of a good scientific theory?

Accepted Answer

A)  A scientific theory must explain a wide variety of phenomena observed in the natural world.
B)  A scientific theory cannot be accepted until it has been proven true beyond all doubt.
C)  A scientific theory should be based on natural processes and should not invoke the supernatural or divine.
D)  A scientific theory must make testable predictions that, if found to be incorrect, could lead to its own modification or demise.E) A) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 13

How does a 12- month lunar calendar differ from our 12- month solar calendar?

Accepted Answer

A)  Its new year always occurs in February instead of on January 1.
B)  It has about 11 fewer days.
C)  It does not have seasons.
D)  It uses a 23- hour rather than a 24- hour day.E) C) and D)
F) B) and D)

Question 14

How did ancient peoples of central Africa predict the weather?

Accepted Answer

They observed the orientation ...

Question 15

Which of the following claims cannot be tested by science?

Accepted Answer

A)  This drug will cure cancer.
B)  The Sun goes around the Earth.
C)  The Earth was created by God.
D)  Smoking shortens people's lifespans.
E)  The geometry of the universe is curved.F) A) and C)
G) A) and B)

Question 16

Why did Ptolemy have the planets orbiting Earth on "circles upon circles" in his model of the universe?

Accepted Answer

A)  to explain the fact that planets sometimes appear to move westward, rather than eastward, relative to the stars in our sky
B)  to explain why the Greeks were unable to detect stellar parallax
C)  to explain why Venus goes through phases as seen from Earth
D)  to explain why more distant planets take longer to make a circuit through the constellations of the zodiac
E)  to properly account for the varying distances of the planets from EarthF) A) and B)
G) C) and D)

Question 17

From Kepler's third law, a hypothetical planet that is twice as far from the Sun as Earth should have a period of

Accepted Answer

A)  more than 2 Earth years.
B)  1/2 Earth year.
C)  2 Earth years.
D)  1 Earth year.
E)  It depends on the planet's mass.F) A) and C)
G) C) and D)

Question 18

The Nature of Astronomical Models: Consider the Aztec structure Templo Mayor described in the text. In what sense can such structures be considered a model of our solar system? How does such a model differ from the models that astronomers use today? Given your answers, to what extent do you think the builders of such ancient structures engaged in a scientific process?

Accepted Answer

The Aztec structure Templo Mayor can be ...

Question 19

Rival Theories: The idea that Newtonian gravitation might be incorrect was only taken seriously by the scientific community when a powerful rival theory, Einstein's Theory of General Relativity, became available in the early part of the 20th century. Consider the role of rival theories with regard to the pseudoscience of astrology. Astrology purports to "explain" human behavior by celestial influences, such as the position of the Sun and stars in the sky. Consider the social science of psychology. Is it more or less successful in explaining human behavior? Give specific examples if you can. Does your answer play any role in regarding astrology as a pseudoscience?

Accepted Answer

The role of rival theories is crucial in...

Question 20

Imagine for a moment that despite all the evidence, Earth actually is not rotating and orbiting the Sun. Which of these hypothetical observations (none of them are real) would be inconsistent with our Sun- centered view of the solar system?

Accepted Answer

A)  We discover an Earth- sized planet orbiting the Sun beyond the orbit of Pluto.
B)  We discover a small planet beyond Saturn that rises in the west and sets in the east each day.
C)  We find that we are unable to measure any parallax for a distant galaxy.
D)  We discover that the universe is actually contracting, not expanding.E) B) and C)
F) A) and B)

Exam 3: The Science of Astronomy

The Metonic cycle is the

Correct Answer
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Which of the following is not part of a good scientific theory?

Correct Answer
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From Kepler's third law, a hypothetical planet that is twice as far from the Sun as Earth should have a period of

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
The role of rival theories is crucial in...
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How does a 12- month lunar calendar differ from our 12- month solar calendar?

Correct Answer
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Columbus was the first person to discover that Earth is round.

Correct Answer
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Tycho used his high accuracy observations to conclude that the Earth revolves around the sun.

Correct Answer
verified

Imagine for a moment that despite all the evidence, Earth actually is not rotating and orbiting the Sun. Which of these hypothetical observations (none of them are real) would be inconsistent with our Sun- centered view of the solar system?

Correct Answer
verified

Why did Ptolemy have the planets orbiting Earth on "circles upon circles" in his model of the universe?

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
The Aztec structure Templo Mayor can be ...
View Answer

The names of the seven days of the week are based on _ .

Correct Answer
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From Kepler's third law, an asteroid with an orbital period of 8 years lies at an average distance from the Sun equal to

Correct Answer
verified

In the Ptolemaic model of the solar system, Venus should exhibit which of the following phases?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following claims cannot be tested by science?

Correct Answer
verified

You want to test how the mass of a ball affects its rate of fall. Which of the following ball drop trials (matched mass and drop heights) would best test this question?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following is not one of, nor a direct consequence of, Kepler's Laws?

Correct Answer
verified

During the Dark Ages in Europe, the scientific work of the ancient Greeks was preserved and further developed primarily by scholars in

Correct Answer
verified

The ancient Greeks get a lot of attention for their contributions to science because .

Correct Answer
verified

How did ancient peoples of central Africa predict the weather?

Correct Answer
verified
They observed the orientation ...
View Answer

All the following statements are true. Which one follows directly from Kepler's third law (p2 = a3) ?

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 3: The Science of Astronomy

The Metonic cycle is the

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is not part of a good scientific theory?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

From Kepler's third law, a hypothetical planet that is twice as far from the Sun as Earth should have a period of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThe role of rival theories is crucial in...View AnswerShow Answer

How does a 12- month lunar calendar differ from our 12- month solar calendar?

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Columbus was the first person to discover that Earth is round.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Tycho used his high accuracy observations to conclude that the Earth revolves around the sun.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Imagine for a moment that despite all the evidence, Earth actually is not rotating and orbiting the Sun. Which of these hypothetical observations (none of them are real) would be inconsistent with our Sun- centered view of the solar system?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why did Ptolemy have the planets orbiting Earth on "circles upon circles" in his model of the universe?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThe Aztec structure Templo Mayor can be ...View AnswerShow Answer

The names of the seven days of the week are based on _ .

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

From Kepler's third law, an asteroid with an orbital period of 8 years lies at an average distance from the Sun equal to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In the Ptolemaic model of the solar system, Venus should exhibit which of the following phases?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following claims cannot be tested by science?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

You want to test how the mass of a ball affects its rate of fall. Which of the following ball drop trials (matched mass and drop heights) would best test this question?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is not one of, nor a direct consequence of, Kepler's Laws?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

During the Dark Ages in Europe, the scientific work of the ancient Greeks was preserved and further developed primarily by scholars in

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The ancient Greeks get a lot of attention for their contributions to science because .

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How did ancient peoples of central Africa predict the weather?

Correct AnswerverifiedThey observed the orientation ...View AnswerShow Answer

All the following statements are true. Which one follows directly from Kepler's third law (p2 = a3) ?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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The role of rival theories is crucial in...
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
The Aztec structure Templo Mayor can be ...
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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They observed the orientation ...
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Correct Answer
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