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Astro 101 - Exam 1 UMich Questions and
Correct Answers/ Latest Update /
Already Graded
what is our planet in the solar system
Ans: part of the solar system, in the milky way galaxy, in local group of
galaxies, in local supercluster
how did we come to be
Ans: the Big Bang which produced hydrogen and helium
where did elements come from
Ans: the big bang produced H and He, which are the base of other
elements constructed in stars
how old are we in comparison to the universe
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Ans: human civilization is a second of a year, and our own life is a fraction
of a second
how is earth moving
Ans: earth rotates on an axis once a day and orbits the Sun at 1 AU (150
million kilometers)
how can we specify the position of an object in the local sky
Ans: altitude above the horizon and direction along the horizon
why do stars rise and set
Ans: because of Earth's rotation
why do the constellations we see depend on latitude and time of
year
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Ans: your location determines which constellations are hidden by earth
the time of year determines the location of the Sun and the celestial
sphere
what causes the seasons
Ans: the tilt of the Earth's axis
what are the summer and winter solstices
Ans: when the Northern hemisphere gets its most and least direction
sunlight
what are the spring and fall equinoxes
Ans: when both hemispheres get direct and equal sunlight
how does the orientation of Earth's axis change with time
, 4 | Page
Ans: the tilt remains about 23.5 degrees (so the season pattern is not
affected) but the the cycle slowly and subtly changes the orientation of
earth's axis every 26,000 years
why do we see phases of the moon
Ans: half the Moon is lit by the Sun, half is in shadow, and its appearance
to us is determined by the relative positions of the Sun, Moon, and Earth
what causes eclipses
Ans: -Lunar eclipse: Earth's shadow on the Moon
-Solar eclipse: Moon's shadow on Earth
-Tilt of Moon's orbit means eclipses occur during two periods each year
what was mysterious about the planetary motion in our sky
Astro 101 - Exam 1 UMich Questions and
Correct Answers/ Latest Update /
Already Graded
what is our planet in the solar system
Ans: part of the solar system, in the milky way galaxy, in local group of
galaxies, in local supercluster
how did we come to be
Ans: the Big Bang which produced hydrogen and helium
where did elements come from
Ans: the big bang produced H and He, which are the base of other
elements constructed in stars
how old are we in comparison to the universe
,2 | Page
Ans: human civilization is a second of a year, and our own life is a fraction
of a second
how is earth moving
Ans: earth rotates on an axis once a day and orbits the Sun at 1 AU (150
million kilometers)
how can we specify the position of an object in the local sky
Ans: altitude above the horizon and direction along the horizon
why do stars rise and set
Ans: because of Earth's rotation
why do the constellations we see depend on latitude and time of
year
,3 | Page
Ans: your location determines which constellations are hidden by earth
the time of year determines the location of the Sun and the celestial
sphere
what causes the seasons
Ans: the tilt of the Earth's axis
what are the summer and winter solstices
Ans: when the Northern hemisphere gets its most and least direction
sunlight
what are the spring and fall equinoxes
Ans: when both hemispheres get direct and equal sunlight
how does the orientation of Earth's axis change with time
, 4 | Page
Ans: the tilt remains about 23.5 degrees (so the season pattern is not
affected) but the the cycle slowly and subtly changes the orientation of
earth's axis every 26,000 years
why do we see phases of the moon
Ans: half the Moon is lit by the Sun, half is in shadow, and its appearance
to us is determined by the relative positions of the Sun, Moon, and Earth
what causes eclipses
Ans: -Lunar eclipse: Earth's shadow on the Moon
-Solar eclipse: Moon's shadow on Earth
-Tilt of Moon's orbit means eclipses occur during two periods each year
what was mysterious about the planetary motion in our sky
