PSU astro 7N midterm Exam Questions Answered &
Graded
According to Newton's 2nd law of motion, if the net force acting on the object increases
while the mass of the object remains constant, what happens to the acceleration? -
Correct Answer Acceleration increases
If Each were moved to half its current distance from the sun how would the force of
gravity by the sun on Earth change? - Correct Answer 4x stronger
what did Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation tell us about how gravity works? -
Correct Answer The force of gravity will be stronger on an object with more mass
The Earth radius is about 6400 km. If you were in orbit in the space station 150km
above the ground, the force of gravity you feel from Earth would be - Correct Answer
slightly weaker than when you are standing on Earth
If you were to sit on the ground, there would be a force due to gravity pulling you toward
the Earth. Which of the following is true according to Newton's 3rd law? - Correct
Answer You are pushing the Earth away from yourself with the same force
What would happen to the Earth if the sun's gravity somehow "turned off"
instantaneously? - Correct Answer It would continue to move in a line in the same
direction it was moving when gravity turned off
Consider a planet whose rotation axis is NOT titled with respect to its orbital plane.
What are these seasons like on this planet? - Correct Answer There are no seasons
If the Earth rotated on its axis more slowly than it does now: - Correct Answer Days
would be longer
If Earth had its orbit changed so that all points along its orbit were always the same
distance from the sun(circular orbit), how would this affect the seasons on Earth? -
Correct Answer They would be the same as they are now
A new planet orbits its star faster than the Earth orbits the sun and it rotates more slowly
than the Earth rotates. Which of the following is true? - Correct Answer The new planet
has a shorter year than Earth and a longer day than Earth
What time of year is it dark all day (and night) at the South Pole of Earth? - Correct
Answer June
If Earth's moon was full on May 1, 2007. When was it next in the First quarter phase
after this full moon? - Correct Answer May 22nd
, How much of the total surface area of the moon is illuminated by sunlight during the full
moon phase? - Correct Answer 1/2
At approximately what time does the 3rd quarter moon rise? - Correct Answer midnight
Approximately 2 weeks after a solar eclipse, what phase will the moon be in? - Correct
Answer Full
A moon orbits a planet in exactly the same plane as the planet orbits its star. How often
does this planet experience a solar eclipse? - Correct Answer Once every orbit of its
moon(its month)
From Earth, in which constellation might you find the planet Saturn? - Correct Answer
Taurus
Why don't we see the constellation Orion at night all throughout the year? - Correct
Answer As Earth orbits the sun, its nighttime side points to different constellations at
different points along its orbit
When is the best time for you to be able to see the constellation that is your sign of the
zodiac? - Correct Answer At midnight 6 months after your birthday
Constellations close to the North Pole of Earth _____ - Correct Answer Move in a
circle around the North Star, Polaris, over the course of a single night
There are a total of 88 constellations. Roughly how many of these can be seen at a
given time from a single location on a clear night? - Correct Answer 44
What is the relationship between wavelength and frequency? - Correct Answer If the
frequency increases, wavelength decreases
Compare the frequency of x-ray versus regular light - Correct Answer The x-ray has a
larger frequency than visible light
Compare the frequency and wavelength of a gamma ray with that of visible light: -
Correct Answer Gamma ray frequency is higher and its wavelength is lower
Compared to blue light, red light has - Correct Answer Longer wavelength, smaller
frequency, smaller energy
Which types of radiation have the lowest energy? - Correct Answer Infrared radiation
and radio
The spectrum of an oxygen lamp looks different than the spectrum of a sodium lamp
because: - Correct Answer Each atom has a unique set of electron orbits
Graded
According to Newton's 2nd law of motion, if the net force acting on the object increases
while the mass of the object remains constant, what happens to the acceleration? -
Correct Answer Acceleration increases
If Each were moved to half its current distance from the sun how would the force of
gravity by the sun on Earth change? - Correct Answer 4x stronger
what did Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation tell us about how gravity works? -
Correct Answer The force of gravity will be stronger on an object with more mass
The Earth radius is about 6400 km. If you were in orbit in the space station 150km
above the ground, the force of gravity you feel from Earth would be - Correct Answer
slightly weaker than when you are standing on Earth
If you were to sit on the ground, there would be a force due to gravity pulling you toward
the Earth. Which of the following is true according to Newton's 3rd law? - Correct
Answer You are pushing the Earth away from yourself with the same force
What would happen to the Earth if the sun's gravity somehow "turned off"
instantaneously? - Correct Answer It would continue to move in a line in the same
direction it was moving when gravity turned off
Consider a planet whose rotation axis is NOT titled with respect to its orbital plane.
What are these seasons like on this planet? - Correct Answer There are no seasons
If the Earth rotated on its axis more slowly than it does now: - Correct Answer Days
would be longer
If Earth had its orbit changed so that all points along its orbit were always the same
distance from the sun(circular orbit), how would this affect the seasons on Earth? -
Correct Answer They would be the same as they are now
A new planet orbits its star faster than the Earth orbits the sun and it rotates more slowly
than the Earth rotates. Which of the following is true? - Correct Answer The new planet
has a shorter year than Earth and a longer day than Earth
What time of year is it dark all day (and night) at the South Pole of Earth? - Correct
Answer June
If Earth's moon was full on May 1, 2007. When was it next in the First quarter phase
after this full moon? - Correct Answer May 22nd
, How much of the total surface area of the moon is illuminated by sunlight during the full
moon phase? - Correct Answer 1/2
At approximately what time does the 3rd quarter moon rise? - Correct Answer midnight
Approximately 2 weeks after a solar eclipse, what phase will the moon be in? - Correct
Answer Full
A moon orbits a planet in exactly the same plane as the planet orbits its star. How often
does this planet experience a solar eclipse? - Correct Answer Once every orbit of its
moon(its month)
From Earth, in which constellation might you find the planet Saturn? - Correct Answer
Taurus
Why don't we see the constellation Orion at night all throughout the year? - Correct
Answer As Earth orbits the sun, its nighttime side points to different constellations at
different points along its orbit
When is the best time for you to be able to see the constellation that is your sign of the
zodiac? - Correct Answer At midnight 6 months after your birthday
Constellations close to the North Pole of Earth _____ - Correct Answer Move in a
circle around the North Star, Polaris, over the course of a single night
There are a total of 88 constellations. Roughly how many of these can be seen at a
given time from a single location on a clear night? - Correct Answer 44
What is the relationship between wavelength and frequency? - Correct Answer If the
frequency increases, wavelength decreases
Compare the frequency of x-ray versus regular light - Correct Answer The x-ray has a
larger frequency than visible light
Compare the frequency and wavelength of a gamma ray with that of visible light: -
Correct Answer Gamma ray frequency is higher and its wavelength is lower
Compared to blue light, red light has - Correct Answer Longer wavelength, smaller
frequency, smaller energy
Which types of radiation have the lowest energy? - Correct Answer Infrared radiation
and radio
The spectrum of an oxygen lamp looks different than the spectrum of a sodium lamp
because: - Correct Answer Each atom has a unique set of electron orbits
