ASTRONOMY 180 CH 1-4 EXAM (New
2026/ 2027 Update) Questions & Answers
{Grade A} 100% Correct (Verified
Solutions)
What causes the Moon to go through phases? - Correct answer The relative positions
of the Moon, Sun, and Earth as the Moon orbits Earth.
When the Moon is in a quarter phase, the - Correct answer line connecting the Sun and
Earth is at a right angle (90°) to the line connecting the Earth and the Moon.
When the moon appears more than half lit, and is becoming more lit every day, which
phase is it in? - Correct answer waxing gibbous
A line running from due north to due south through a point directly overhead is called -
Correct answer the meridian.
When the Sun crosses the meridian at your location on Earth, it is - Correct answer
local noon.
,Which of the following terms describes the event in which the Moon is directly
centered over the disk of the Sun from the vantage point of Earth but is relatively far
away from Earth in its orbit, so it is not large enough in our sky to cover the entire
Sun? - Correct answer an annular solar eclipse
A measurement of an object's inertia is made via its - Correct answer mass.
According to Newton's first law, a space probe traveling through interplanetary space
will - Correct answer maintain its motion without any outside force.
An asteroid has an average distance from the Sun of 3 AU. How long does it take to
orbit once around the Sun? - Correct answer 5 years
An ellipse has no more than - Correct answer two foci.
Apparent retrograde motion in our sky - Correct answer occurs when a planet
appears to move temporarily "backward" in our sky.
, Astronauts in orbit around Earth feel weightless because - Correct answer they are
falling around Earth.
If a satellite is orbiting Earth at constant speed, - Correct answer its orbit is circular.
If the velocity of a comet at its closest approach to the Sun is more than its escape
velocity, its orbit around the Sun will be - Correct answer unbound.
Kepler's second law, the law of equal areas, states that - Correct answer a planet
moves its fastest when closest to the Sun.
Sandy, a space shuttle astronaut, pushes on a bowling ball twice as hard as Doug,
another space shuttle astronaut. - Correct answer The acceleration of the ball that
Sandy causes is twice as great as Doug's acceleration.
The driver of a car who suddenly brakes for a stoplight is - Correct answer undergoing
acceleration because the car is slowing down.
2026/ 2027 Update) Questions & Answers
{Grade A} 100% Correct (Verified
Solutions)
What causes the Moon to go through phases? - Correct answer The relative positions
of the Moon, Sun, and Earth as the Moon orbits Earth.
When the Moon is in a quarter phase, the - Correct answer line connecting the Sun and
Earth is at a right angle (90°) to the line connecting the Earth and the Moon.
When the moon appears more than half lit, and is becoming more lit every day, which
phase is it in? - Correct answer waxing gibbous
A line running from due north to due south through a point directly overhead is called -
Correct answer the meridian.
When the Sun crosses the meridian at your location on Earth, it is - Correct answer
local noon.
,Which of the following terms describes the event in which the Moon is directly
centered over the disk of the Sun from the vantage point of Earth but is relatively far
away from Earth in its orbit, so it is not large enough in our sky to cover the entire
Sun? - Correct answer an annular solar eclipse
A measurement of an object's inertia is made via its - Correct answer mass.
According to Newton's first law, a space probe traveling through interplanetary space
will - Correct answer maintain its motion without any outside force.
An asteroid has an average distance from the Sun of 3 AU. How long does it take to
orbit once around the Sun? - Correct answer 5 years
An ellipse has no more than - Correct answer two foci.
Apparent retrograde motion in our sky - Correct answer occurs when a planet
appears to move temporarily "backward" in our sky.
, Astronauts in orbit around Earth feel weightless because - Correct answer they are
falling around Earth.
If a satellite is orbiting Earth at constant speed, - Correct answer its orbit is circular.
If the velocity of a comet at its closest approach to the Sun is more than its escape
velocity, its orbit around the Sun will be - Correct answer unbound.
Kepler's second law, the law of equal areas, states that - Correct answer a planet
moves its fastest when closest to the Sun.
Sandy, a space shuttle astronaut, pushes on a bowling ball twice as hard as Doug,
another space shuttle astronaut. - Correct answer The acceleration of the ball that
Sandy causes is twice as great as Doug's acceleration.
The driver of a car who suddenly brakes for a stoplight is - Correct answer undergoing
acceleration because the car is slowing down.
