Astronomy 100, Section 1, Fall 2001

Homework 1

Answers are in blue

  1. Our solar system is in a galaxy called

    2. (A)  the Great Amdromeda.
    (B)  the Milky Way.
    (C)  the Large Magellanic Cloud.
    (D)  the Local Group.
    (E)  the Universe.
     
  2. Our galaxy and its neighbors together form a cluster of galaxies called

    3. (A)  the Great Andromeda.
    (B)  the Milky Way.
    (C)  the Magellanic Clouds.
    (D)  the Local Group.
    (E)  the Universe.
     
  3. "Astronomical Unit" (AU) is a unit of distance defined to be the average distance between

    4. (A)  the Earth and the Moon.
    (B)  the Moon and the Sun.
    (C)  the Earth and the Sun.
    (D)  the Sun and Polaris.
    (E)  the Earth and Venus.
     
  4. "Light year" is a unit of

    5. (A)  time.
    (B)  mass.
    (C)  energy.
    (D)  length.
    (E)  brightness.
     
  5. 1 parsec (pc) is 3.09 × 10+18 cm. 1 Mpc is

    6. (A)  3.09 × 10+24 cm.
    (B)  3.09 × 10+21 cm.
    (C)  3.09 × 10+18 cm.
    (D)  3.09 × 10+15 cm.
    (E)  3.09 × 10+12 cm.
     
  6. Which of the following is correct?

    7. (A)  10+12  >  10+15
    (B)  10+15  <  10-15
    (C)  10+12  >  10-15
    (D)  10-15  >  10-12
    (E)  none of the above
     
  7. Which of the following is in the correct order?

    8. (A)  pc  >  AU  >  km  >  cm  >  inch
    (B)  pc  >  AU  >  m  >  cm  >  inch
    (C)  AU  >  pc  >  km  >  inch  >  cm
    (D)  AU  >  km  >  mile  >  inch  >  cm
    (E)  pc  >  AU  >  mile  >  km  >  m
     
  8. The size of the solar system is closest to

    9. (A)  100 km.
    (B)  100 AU.
    (C)  100 pc.
    (D)  100 times the size of the Earth.
    (E)  100 times the size of the Sun.
     
  9. Astronomers and astrologers both observe, theorize, and make predictions. What distinguishes an astronomer from an astrologer?

    10. (A)  Astronomers publish in refereed journals and astrologers publish in unrefereed magazines.
    (B)  Astronomers revise their models when their predictions are proved wrong, but astrologers don't.
    (C)  Astronomers are ignored but astrologers are consulted for decision making by Nancy Reagan.
    (D)  Astronomers use the scientific method, while astrologers use mythical methods.
    (E)  All of the above.
     
  10. If you stand straight, directly above your head would be

    11. (A)  the zenith.
    (B)  the nadir.
    (C)  the north celestial pole.
    (D)  the north ecliptic pole.
    (E)  all of the above.
     
  11. The Earth's spin (or rotation) is responsible for

    12. (A)  the seasons.
    (B)  the weather.
    (C)  the earth quakes.
    (D)  the sunrise and sunset.
    (E)  motion sickness.
     
  12. The revolution of the Earth around the Sun

    13. (A)  has a period of 1 month.
    (B)  defines the ecliptic.
    (C)  is so fast that it causes motion sickness.
    (D)  causes the stars to rise and set every night.
    (E)  is an illusion, the Earth is the center of the Universe.
     
  13. The astronomical horizon lies 90o from

    14. (A)  the zenith.
    (B)  the Milky Way.
    (C)  the ecliptic plane.
    (D)  the celestial poles.
    (E)  the celestial equator.
     
  14. Which of the following does  not  give you any clue to the shape of the earth?

    15. (A)  pictures of the Earth taken from space
    (B)  circum-navigation
    (C)  hull-down ships on the horizon
    (D)  the shape of the full moon
    (E)  the shape of the Earth's shadow during a lunar eclipse
     
  15. Which of the following is correct?

    16. (A)  Declination and right ascension are coordinates in the celestial sphere.
    (B)  Longitude and latitude are coordinates in the celestial sphere.
    (C)  Declination and right ascension are coordinates in the ecliptic plane.
    (D)  Longitude and latiture are coordinates in the ecliptic plane.
    (E)  Right ascension is to latitude as declination is to longitude.
     
  16. Where on Earth can you see circumpolar stars?

    17. (A)  Sydney, Australia
    (B)  Champaign-Urbana
    (C)  the north pole
    (D)  Hollywood, California
    (E)  all of the above
     
  17. Stars appear to trace circles around the north celestial pole. How long does it take a star to complete a circle?
    (A)  roughly 1 year
    (B)  roughly 1 month
    (C)  roughly one day
    (D)  roughly an hour
    (E)  it varies from star to star
     
  18. If you are outside and see Polaris (the North Star) at the zenith, you are

    19. (A)  at the equator.
    (B)  in Australia.
    (C)  at the north pole
    (D)  in Urbana.
    (E)  either (C) or (D).
     
  19. If you are outside and see Polaris (the North Star) at the horizon, you are

    20. (A)  at the equator.
    (B)  in Australia.
    (C)  at the north pole
    (D)  in Urbana.
    (E)  either (C) or (D).
     
  20. If you are outside and see Polaris (the North Star) at 40 degrees above the horizon, you are

    21. (A)  at the equator.
    (B)  in Australia.
    (C)  at the north pole
    (D)  in Urbana.
    (E)  either (C) or (D).
     
  21. If you are outside but can't see Polaris (the North Star) anywhere in the sky, you are

    22. (A)  at the equator.
    (B)  in Australia.
    (C)  at the north pole
    (D)  in Urbana.
    (E)  either (C) or (D).
     
  22. Perihelion is the point in a planetary orbit

    23. (A)  nearest the Sun.
    (B)  nearest the Moon.
    (C)  farthest from the Sun.
    (D)  farthest from the Moon.
    (E)  that can be illuminated by the Sun.
     
  23. The average driving speed on a highway in a construction zone is 50 miles per hour. Compared to this speed, the Earth's rotational speed at the equator is

    24. (A)  similar.
    (B)  1000 times slower.
    (C)  20 times slower
    (D)  20 times faster.
    (E)  1000 times faster.
     
  24. The average driving speed on a highway in a construction zone is 50 miles per hour. Compared to this speed, the Earth's orbital speed around the Sun is

    25. (A)  similar.
    (B)  1000 times slower.
    (C)  20 times slower
    (D)  20 times faster.
    (E)  1000 times faster.
     
  25. The pop star Michael Jackson's birthday is Aug 29, the due date of this homework, so he is a Virgo according to the horoscope. On this day, the Sun is in which constellation of the zodiac? (Hint: check Table 2.2 in the textbook.)

    26. (A)  Cancer
    (B)  Leo
    (C)  Virgo
    (D)  Libra
    (E)  Capricornus
     
    Last updated August 29, 2001