is really cool! 1. The diagram below shows one model of a portion of the universe. Astronomy Section 2 Solar System Test 4. Which arrangement of the Sun, the Moon, and Earth results in the highest high tides, and the lowest low tides on Earth? (Diagrams are not drawn to scale.) 1) 2) 3) What type of model does the diagram best demonstrate? 1) a geocentric model, in which celestial objects orbit Earth 2) a heliocentric model, in which celestial objects orbit the Sun 3) a heliocentric model, in which celestial objects orbit Earth 4) a geocentric model, in which celestial objects orbit the Sun 2. Earth s orbital velocity is slowest on July 5 because 1) Earth, the Moon, and the Sun are located along a straight line in space 2) the Moon is closest to Earth 3) the highest maximum temperatures occur in the Northern Hemisphere 4) Earth s distance from the Sun is greatest 3. Which object is located at one foci of the elliptical orbit of Mars? 1) the Sun 2) Jupiter 3) Betelgeuse 4) Earth 4) 5. Earth is farthest from the Sun during the Northern Hemisphere's summer, and Earth is closest to the Sun during the Northern Hemispheres winter. During which season in the Northern Hemisphere is Earth's orbital velocity greatest? 1) fall 2) spring 3) winter 4) summer 6. The actual shape of the Earth's orbit around the Sun is best described as 1) a perfect circle 2) a very eccentric ellipse 3) an oblate spheroid 4) a slightly eccentric ellipse Version 2 Page 1 Barnard
7. The table below shows gravitational data for a planet traveling in an elliptical orbit around a star. The table shows the relative gravitational force between the star and this planet at eight positions in the orbit (letters A through H). Higher numbers indicate stronger gravitational attraction. Which diagram best represents the positions of the planet in its orbit that would produce the gravitational forces shown in the data table? 1) 3) 2) 4) Version 2 Page 2 Barnard
8. Which diagram shows a planet with the least eccentric orbit? ( Key: = planet * = star ) 1) 2) 9. Which sequence of Moon phases could be observed from Earth during a 2-week period? 3) 4) 11. An observer on Earth determines that the apparent diameter of the Moon as viewed from Earth varies in a cyclic manner. The best explanation for this observation is that the 1) atmospheric transparency of the Moon changes 2) distance between the Moon and the Sun changes 3) Moon s orbit is elliptical 4) Moon is rotating 12. Compared to the terrestrial planets, the Jovian planets have 1) longer periods of revolution 2) smaller diameters 3) slower rates of rotation 4) greater average densities 1) 2) 3) 13. The shape of the orbits of most of the planets in the solar system would best be described as 1) perfectly circular 2) elliptical and very elongated 3) nearly circular 4) parabolic 14. Which diagram best represents the motions of celestial objects in a heliocentric model? 4) 1) 3) 10. Compared to Jovian planets, terrestrial planets have 1) shorter periods of revolution 2) larger equatorial diameters 3) shorter periods of rotation 4) larger masses 2) 4) Version 2 Page 3 Barnard
15. The bar graph below shows one planetary characteristic, identified as X, plotted for the planets of our solar system. Which characteristic of the planets in our solar system is represented by X? 1) eccentricity of orbit 2) mass 3) period of rotation 4) density 16. The diagram below shows the Moon as it revolves around Earth. The numbered locations represent different positions of the Moon in its orbit. Which Moon phase would be seen by an observer in New York State when the Moon is at position 2? 1) 2) 3) 4) Version 2 Page 4 Barnard
Base your answers to questions 17 through 19 on the calendar below, which shows the month of July of a recent year. The dates of major Moon phases, as seen in New York State, are shown. The diagram below represents the phase of the Moon observed from New York State one night during the month of July. 17. On which date was this phase of the Moon visible from New York State? 1) July 4 2) July 11 3) July 19 4) July 26 18. On which date will the next first-quarter Moon phase occur? 1) August 6 2) August 10 3) August 16 4) August 22 19. Eclipses do not occur every month because the Moon s 1) period of revolution is 27.3 days 2) orbit is inclined to Earth s orbit 3) rate of rotation is 15 each hour 4) period of rotation and period of revolution are the same Version 2 Page 5 Barnard
20. The diagram below shows four positions of a planet in its orbit around the Sun. At which position is the planet's orbital speed greatest? 1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D 21. The diagram below shows the elliptical orbit of a planet revolving around a star. The star and F2 are the foci of this ellipse. What is the approximate eccentricity of this ellipse? 1) 0.68 2) 0.22 3) 0.47 4) 1.47 Version 2 Page 6 Barnard
22. The diagram below shows a satellite in four different positions as it revolves around a planet. Which graph best represents the changes in this satellite s orbital velocity as it revolves around the planet? 1) 3) 2) 4) 23. Base your answer to the following question on on the information below. On the diagram below, place an X on the Moon's orbit to show the Moon's position during a solar eclipse. Version 2 Page 7 Barnard
Base your answers to questions 24 through 27 on the diagram below, which represents an exaggerated model of Earth's orbital shape. Earth is closest to the Sun at one time of year (perihelion) and farthest from the Sun at another time of year (aphelion). 24. State the relationship between Earth's distance from the Sun and Earth's orbital velocity. 25. Identify the season in the Northern Hemisphere when Earth is at perihelion. 26. Describe the change that takes place in the apparent size of the Sun, as viewed from Earth, as Earth moves from perihelion to aphelion. 27. State the actual geometric shape of Earth's orbit. Version 2 Page 8 Barnard
28. Base your answer to the following question on The diagram below shows the average distance between the Sun and Earth drawn to a scale of 1 centimeter = 100,000,000 kilometers. Using this same scale, place a small dot representing Jupiter along the line to indicate how far Jupiter would be from the Sun, and label the dot "Jupiter." The diagram belowshows the average distance between the Sun and Earth drawn to scale. Using this scale, place a small dot representing Jupiter along the line to indicate how far Jupiter would be from the Sun, and label the dot "Jupiter." 29. Base your answer to the following question on the diagram of the ellipse below. a. Calculate the eccentricity of the ellipse to the nearest thousandth. b. State how the eccentricity of the given ellipse compares to the eccentricity of the orbit of Mars. Version 2 Page 9 Barnard
Base your answers to questions 30 and 31 on the diagram below, which shows the locations of high and low tides on Earth at a particular time. 30. Approximately how many hours will pass between high tide and the following low tide? 31. Identify the force that causes ocean tides on Earth. Base your answers to questions 32 and 33 on the diagram below, which shows one position of the Moon in its orbit around Earth. Letters W, X, Y, and Z are locations on Earth s surface. 32. What is the solar time at location Y? Include a.m. or p.m. in your answer. Version 2 Page 10 Barnard
33. On the diagram of the Moon below, shade the part of the Moon that appears dark to an observer in New York State when the Moon is at the position shown in the diagram above. Base your answers to questions 34 and 35 on the passage below. Is Earth Gaining Weight? Scientists belive that Earth may gain more than 100 tons of dust from space every day. The dust comes from thawing comets as they orbit the Sun and from pieces of asteroids that collided with other asteroids. Most asteroids orbit the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. Each dust particle dates back to the days when our solar system was created. So in a way, each tiny speck of dust holds clues to how our solar system formed. All the space dust produced by comets and asteroids in our solar system is drawn to the Sun by its gravitational force. However, space dust that passes within about 60 miles of Earth's surface may be slowed enough by friction with Earth's atmosphere to be pulled to the surface by Earth's gravity. 34. In which temperature zone of Earth's atmosphere is space dust first slowed enough by friction to be pulled to Earth's surface? 35. Approximately how many million kilometers from the Sun are most asteroids located? Version 2 Page 11 Barnard
36. Base your answer to the following question on the table below, which shows information about five large objects in the Kuiper Belt. The Kuiper Belt is located approximately 30 to 1000 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun. An astronomical unit is the average distance between Earth and the Sun, 149.6 million kilometers. On the graph, construct a bar graph of the equatorial diameter of each of the Kuiper Belt objects listed in the table. The diameter of Earth s Moon has been graphed for comparison. Version 2 Page 12 Barnard
Base your answers to questions 37 and 38 on the diagram in your answer booklet, which shows the relative diameter sizes of the planets compared to the radius of the Sun. 37. On the diagram above, place an X on the planet with the lowest density. 38. On the diagram above, circle only the terrestrial planets. Version 2 Page 13 Barnard