Astronomy 1010 Midterm 1 Exam and
Actual Answers.
Which of the following correctly orders structures in the Universe in order of size from smallest
to largest? - Answer Solar System, Star Cluster, Milky Way, Galaxy Cluster
What causes the seasons? - Answer The tilt of the Earth's rotation axis to its orbit around the
Sun causes parts of the Earth to experience more direct illumination from the Sun and longer
days during the summer than the winter
Newton developed a universal law of gravitation that is expressed as----
Using this law, what is the likely cause of Kepler's observation that planets travel faster when
they are closer to the Sun? - Answer The force of gravity is stronger closer to the Sun.
Telescopes with cameras that use adaptive optics provide higher spatial-resolution images
primarily because - Answer deformable mirrors are used to correct the blurring due to Earth's
atmosphere
This is a long exposure image of the North Celestial Pole. What information does the elevation
of the North Celestial Pole (the height above the horizon) provide about your location on Earth?
- Answer Northern latitude
Light from a far-away 8,000 K star passes through a cloud of cold oxygen gas before reaching
Earth. Which of the following best illustrates the spectrum that would be recorded? - Answer
rainbow with black line
A diagram of the Sun, the Earth, and the Moon is shown looking down on the North Pole of
Earth. The curved arrow indicates the direction of rotation of the Earth. Nothing is drawn to
scale, especially not the turtle. What is the time of day (approximately) where the turtle is
located? - Answer 6pm (sunset)
Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) can float while orbiting Earth. Why are
astronauts on the ISS weightless? - Answer They are falling around Earth at the same rate as
the ISS.
There is a full Moon at Sunset and you are looking directly at the Moon. Which direction are you
Actual Answers.
Which of the following correctly orders structures in the Universe in order of size from smallest
to largest? - Answer Solar System, Star Cluster, Milky Way, Galaxy Cluster
What causes the seasons? - Answer The tilt of the Earth's rotation axis to its orbit around the
Sun causes parts of the Earth to experience more direct illumination from the Sun and longer
days during the summer than the winter
Newton developed a universal law of gravitation that is expressed as----
Using this law, what is the likely cause of Kepler's observation that planets travel faster when
they are closer to the Sun? - Answer The force of gravity is stronger closer to the Sun.
Telescopes with cameras that use adaptive optics provide higher spatial-resolution images
primarily because - Answer deformable mirrors are used to correct the blurring due to Earth's
atmosphere
This is a long exposure image of the North Celestial Pole. What information does the elevation
of the North Celestial Pole (the height above the horizon) provide about your location on Earth?
- Answer Northern latitude
Light from a far-away 8,000 K star passes through a cloud of cold oxygen gas before reaching
Earth. Which of the following best illustrates the spectrum that would be recorded? - Answer
rainbow with black line
A diagram of the Sun, the Earth, and the Moon is shown looking down on the North Pole of
Earth. The curved arrow indicates the direction of rotation of the Earth. Nothing is drawn to
scale, especially not the turtle. What is the time of day (approximately) where the turtle is
located? - Answer 6pm (sunset)
Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) can float while orbiting Earth. Why are
astronauts on the ISS weightless? - Answer They are falling around Earth at the same rate as
the ISS.
There is a full Moon at Sunset and you are looking directly at the Moon. Which direction are you
