TAKEN FROM HORIZONS 7TH EDITION CHAPTER 3 TUTORIAL QUIZ 1. When Neap tides are occurring, a. a person experiences the lowest tides close to sunset and sunrise. b. the Sun and the Moon are separated by 90 degrees in the sky. c. the full Moon rises at sunset. d. it is 6 months away from the beginning of Spring (the Spring equinox). 2. Why is it easier to plan for observing a total lunar eclipse than a total solar eclipse? a. You don't need to wear protective glasses for a total lunar, but you do for a total solar. b. A total lunar eclipse isn't easier, since the Moon disappears completely when it is eclipsed. c. One-half of Earth's surface is presented with a total lunar eclipse, whereas only a small portion of Earth's surface is presented with a total solar eclipse. d. A total lunar eclipse always occurs during the daytime when people are out and about anyway. 3. Since the Moon is gradually getting farther away from Earth, a. an extra day must be added to the calendar every 4 years. b. the length of the day is decreasing. c. Earth is slowing down in its rotation. d. annular solar eclipses will eventually no longer occur. file:///f /Astronomy/Lecture4PracticeQuiz.txt (1 of 7)8/12/2005 8:56:53 AM
4. If you observe the sky for several hours during a particular night, you will observe a. the celestial sphere spinning from west to east. b. the star Polaris remaining stationary at your zenith. c. the constellations changing shape as the stars move relative to one another. d. the Moon change position slightly from west to east with respect to the stars. answer: d 5. If you observe the full Moon directly to the south while in San Francisco, a. you are experiencing a high neap tide. b. the Moon is at your zenith. c. it is midnight. d. a total solar eclipse is occurring if the Moon is at a node. 6. The fact that there are two different time intervals (synodic and sidereal) during which the Moon revolves around Earth is a consequence of the fact that a. Earth revolves around the Sun as the Moon revolves around Earth. b. the Moon's axis of rotation is tilted with respect to its orbital plane around Earth. c. the Moon does not orbit exactly along the ecliptic. It alternates from below to above the ecliptic. d. the Moon does not orbit Earth in a perfectly circular path. 7. When the full Moon is at a node and at perigee, file:///f /Astronomy/Lecture4PracticeQuiz.txt (2 of 7)8/12/2005 8:56:53 AM
a. neap tides are occurring somewhere on Earth. b. people on the nighttime side of Earth are witnessing a total lunar eclipse. c. the Moon will rise at midnight for a given observer. d. people along a narrow path on the daytime side of Earth are witnessing a total solar eclipse. 8. What happens on or about January 4th of each year? a. Earth is most distant from the Sun. b. The winter solstice. c. The Sun crosses the ecliptic. d. Earth is closest to the Sun. answer: d 9. When the Moon enters Earth's penumbra and just skims the umbra without completely entering it, a. a penumbral lunar eclipse is occurring. b. a partial lunar eclipse is occurring. c. it is dark on the entire Earth while the Moon is skimming the umbra. d. a total lunar eclipse is occurring. 10. "Lo, the moon ascending, Up from the East, the silvery round moon, Beautiful over the housetops, ghostly, phantom moon, Immense and silent moon." (Walt Whitman) It is evident in this poem that the time was a. shortly after sunset. b. noon. c. shortly after midnight. d. early morning. file:///f /Astronomy/Lecture4PracticeQuiz.txt (3 of 7)8/12/2005 8:56:53 AM
11. The date is March 21st, the Moon is at 1st Quarter, and you are vacationing at the North Pole: a. The Sun is located directly on your horizon. b. The star Polaris is located 23.5 degrees above the horizon. c. Spring tides are occurring. d. The Sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator. 12. The fact that tidal bulges on Earth are not exactly lined up underneath the Moon is a result of a. the varying depths of Earth's oceans. b. The Sun's gravity pulls them out of alignment. c. friction between Earth's solid surface and ocean beds. d. the tilt of Earth's axis of rotation as it orbits the Sun. 13. June 21st is a. that point in time when the Sun is at the zenith for observers on Earth's equator. b. that point in time when Earth is closest to the Sun. c. the shortest day (hours of sunlight) of the year for observers in the southern hemisphere. d. that point in time when the Sun is crossing the ecliptic. 14. file:///f /Astronomy/Lecture4PracticeQuiz.txt (4 of 7)8/12/2005 8:56:53 AM
It is September 23rd, and you are located 23.5 degrees South latitude. a. The Sun rises at 6am standard time, and sets at 6PM on this day. b. The Sun is located at the autumnal equinox. c. Nights now begin to get longer than the days. d. Days now begin to get shorter than the nights. 15. The date is March 21st, you are located at the beach in San Francisco at 6am, and the Moon is new. a. The Moon is just beginning to set in the west. b. The entire face of the Moon is visible to you. c. The Sun is just beginning to rise directly in the East. d. The Moon is closest to Earth on this particular day. 16. The date is March 21st, you are located at the beach in San Francisco at 6am, and the Moon is new. If the Moon is at a node, but not at perigee, what kind of eclipse are you observing? a. Total solar. b. Penumbral solar. c. Annular solar. d. Total lunar. 17. The date is March 21st, you are located at the beach in San Francisco at 6am, and the Moon is new. What kind of tide are you witnessing in front of you? a. Spring high. b. Neap low. c. Neap high. d. Spring low. answer: d file:///f /Astronomy/Lecture4PracticeQuiz.txt (5 of 7)8/12/2005 8:56:53 AM
18. Assume that the Moon orbits Earth exactly along the ecliptic (as the Sun does). a. Precession would not occur. b. A total lunar and a total solar eclipse would occur every month. c. Days and nights would no longer be equal on the dates of the equinoxes. d. Ocean tides would not occur. 19. As the Moon revolves around Earth once, it rotates a. once. b. about 29 times. c. none of these choices. The Moon does not rotate. d. 24 times. 20. The difference between the Moon's synodic and sidereal periods of revolution is the result of a. Earth's revolution around the Sun as the Moon orbits Earth. b. tilt of Earth's axis. c. precession. d. the slowing down of Earth's rotation due to tidal pull of the Moon. 21. Let us assume that Earth no longer has the Moon orbiting around it. a. Precession would no longer occur. b. The length of the day on Earth would begin to decrease. c. Ocean tides would continue to occur, but they would be less dramatic. file:///f /Astronomy/Lecture4PracticeQuiz.txt (6 of 7)8/12/2005 8:56:53 AM
d. We would all be lighter in weight, since gravity would be reduced significantly. file:///f /Astronomy/Lecture4PracticeQuiz.txt (7 of 7)8/12/2005 8:56:53 AM