Astronomy Multiple Choice
1. Evidence that the universe is expanding is 3. Which object forms by the contraction of a
? ?
best provided by the large sphere of gases causing the nuclear
fusion of lighter elements into heavier
(1) red shift in the light from distant galaxies elements?
(2) change in the swing direction of a Foucault
pendulum on Earth (1) comet (3) star
(3) parallelism of Earth’s axis in orbit (2) planet (4) moon
(4) spiral shape of the Milky Way Galaxy
2. In New York State, summer is warmer than 4. Which statement best describes the position
? winter because in summer New York State of the Sun at sunrise and sunset as seen by ?
has an observer in New York State on June 21?
(1) fewer hours of daylight and receives low (1) The Sun rises north of due east and sets
angle insolation north of due west.
(2) fewer hours of daylight and receives high (2) The Sun rises south of due east and sets
angle insolation south of due west.
(3) more hours of daylight and receives low- (3) The Sun rises north of due east and sets
angle insolation south of due west.
(4) more hours of daylight and receives high (4) The Sun rises
angle insolation
, The bar graph below shows one planetary characteristic, identified as X, plotted for the planets of
our solar system.
5. Which characteristic of the planets in our solar system is represented by X?
?
(1) mass (3) eccentricity of orbit
(2) density (4) period of rotation
Base your answers to questions 6 through 9 on the diagram below, which represents Earth in its
orbit around the Sun. The position of Earth on the first day of each season is labeled A, B, C, and
D.
, 6. Which diagram correctly shows the directions of Earth’s revolution and rotation?
?
7. At which location are the Sun’s noontime rays perpendicular to Earth’s surface at the
? Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N)?
(1) A (3) C
(2) B (4) D
8. What is the approximate rate of Earth’s revolution around the Sun?
?
(1) 1° per day (3) 15° per day
(2) 1° per year (4) 15° per year
9. Which event is caused by Earth’s revolution?
?
(1) the apparent shift in the path of a Foucault pendulum
(2) deflection of planetary winds to the right in the Northern Hemisphere
(3) the apparent rising and setting of the Sun
(4) different constellations observed in the night sky throughout the year
, 10. As viewed from Earth, most stars appear to 13. The star Algol is estimated to have
? ?
move across the sky each night because approximately the same luminosity as the
star Aldebaran and approximately the same
(1) Earth revolves around the Sun temperature as the star Rigel. Algol is best
(2) Earth rotates on its axis classified as a
(3) stars orbit around Earth
(4) stars revolve around the center of the (1) main sequence star
galaxy (2) red giant star
(3) white dwarf star
(4) red dwarf star
11. The explosion associated with the Big Bang 14. The best evidence that Earth spins on its
? ?
theory and the formation of the universe is axis is the motion of
inferred to have occurred how many billion
years ago? (1) tectonic plates
(2) Polaris
(1) less than 1 (3) 4.6 (3) a wind vane
(2) 2.5 (4) over 10 (4) a Foucault pendulum
The diagram below represents the 15. When viewed from Earth, the light from very
?
constellation distant galaxies shows a red shift. This is
Lyra. evidence that these distant galaxies are
(1) revolving around the Sun
(2) revolving around the Milky Way
(3) moving away from Earth
(4) moving toward Earth
12. Which statement best explains why Lyra is
? visible to an observer in New York State at
midnight in July but not visible at midnight in
December?
(1) Earth spins on its axis.
(2) Earth orbits the Sun.
(3) Lyra spins on its axis.
(4) Lyra orbits Earth.
1. Evidence that the universe is expanding is 3. Which object forms by the contraction of a
? ?
best provided by the large sphere of gases causing the nuclear
fusion of lighter elements into heavier
(1) red shift in the light from distant galaxies elements?
(2) change in the swing direction of a Foucault
pendulum on Earth (1) comet (3) star
(3) parallelism of Earth’s axis in orbit (2) planet (4) moon
(4) spiral shape of the Milky Way Galaxy
2. In New York State, summer is warmer than 4. Which statement best describes the position
? winter because in summer New York State of the Sun at sunrise and sunset as seen by ?
has an observer in New York State on June 21?
(1) fewer hours of daylight and receives low (1) The Sun rises north of due east and sets
angle insolation north of due west.
(2) fewer hours of daylight and receives high (2) The Sun rises south of due east and sets
angle insolation south of due west.
(3) more hours of daylight and receives low- (3) The Sun rises north of due east and sets
angle insolation south of due west.
(4) more hours of daylight and receives high (4) The Sun rises
angle insolation
, The bar graph below shows one planetary characteristic, identified as X, plotted for the planets of
our solar system.
5. Which characteristic of the planets in our solar system is represented by X?
?
(1) mass (3) eccentricity of orbit
(2) density (4) period of rotation
Base your answers to questions 6 through 9 on the diagram below, which represents Earth in its
orbit around the Sun. The position of Earth on the first day of each season is labeled A, B, C, and
D.
, 6. Which diagram correctly shows the directions of Earth’s revolution and rotation?
?
7. At which location are the Sun’s noontime rays perpendicular to Earth’s surface at the
? Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N)?
(1) A (3) C
(2) B (4) D
8. What is the approximate rate of Earth’s revolution around the Sun?
?
(1) 1° per day (3) 15° per day
(2) 1° per year (4) 15° per year
9. Which event is caused by Earth’s revolution?
?
(1) the apparent shift in the path of a Foucault pendulum
(2) deflection of planetary winds to the right in the Northern Hemisphere
(3) the apparent rising and setting of the Sun
(4) different constellations observed in the night sky throughout the year
, 10. As viewed from Earth, most stars appear to 13. The star Algol is estimated to have
? ?
move across the sky each night because approximately the same luminosity as the
star Aldebaran and approximately the same
(1) Earth revolves around the Sun temperature as the star Rigel. Algol is best
(2) Earth rotates on its axis classified as a
(3) stars orbit around Earth
(4) stars revolve around the center of the (1) main sequence star
galaxy (2) red giant star
(3) white dwarf star
(4) red dwarf star
11. The explosion associated with the Big Bang 14. The best evidence that Earth spins on its
? ?
theory and the formation of the universe is axis is the motion of
inferred to have occurred how many billion
years ago? (1) tectonic plates
(2) Polaris
(1) less than 1 (3) 4.6 (3) a wind vane
(2) 2.5 (4) over 10 (4) a Foucault pendulum
The diagram below represents the 15. When viewed from Earth, the light from very
?
constellation distant galaxies shows a red shift. This is
Lyra. evidence that these distant galaxies are
(1) revolving around the Sun
(2) revolving around the Milky Way
(3) moving away from Earth
(4) moving toward Earth
12. Which statement best explains why Lyra is
? visible to an observer in New York State at
midnight in July but not visible at midnight in
December?
(1) Earth spins on its axis.
(2) Earth orbits the Sun.
(3) Lyra spins on its axis.
(4) Lyra orbits Earth.
