Astronomy a beginners guide to the universe 8th CHaisson mcmillan chapter 01 clicker questions

Astronomy
A BEGINNER’S GUIDE
TO THE UNIVERSE
EIGHTH EDITION

CHAPTER 1

The Copernican Revolution
Clickers

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Question 1
Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn show retrograde motion because

a)
b)

planets move on epicycles.
planets orbit the Sun in the
same direction.

c)
d)
e)

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Earth moves faster in its orbit.
they are closer than Uranus.

they rotate quickly on their axes.


Question 1
Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn show retrograde motion because

a)
b)

planets move on epicycles.
planets orbit the Sun in the
same direction.

c)
d)
e)

Earth moves faster in its orbit.
they are closer than Uranus.
they rotate quickly on their axes.

Explanation: As Earth overtakes and
“passes” the outer planets, they seem
to slow down and then reverse direction.

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Question 2
How did the geocentric model account for day and night on Earth?

a)
b)
c)

The Earth rotated.
The Sun rotated.
The geocentric model couldn’t
account for day and night.

d)
e)

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The Earth revolved around the Sun.
The Sun orbited Earth.


Question 2
How did the geocentric model account for day and night on Earth?

a)
b)
c)

The Earth rotated.
The Sun rotated.
The geocentric model couldn’t
account for day and night.

d)
e)

The Earth revolved around the Sun.
The Sun orbited Earth.

Explanation: The geocentric model
held that the Earth was motionless in
the center of the universe.

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Question 3
Epicycles were used in Ptolemy’s model to explain why

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

planets moved in the sky.
Earth was at the center.
retrograde motion occurred.
Earth wobbled on its axis.
inner planets were always
seen near the Sun.

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Question 3
Epicycles were used in Ptolemy’s model to explain why

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

planets moved in the sky.
Earth was at the center.
retrograde motion occurred.
Earth wobbled on its axis.
inner planets were always
seen near the Sun.

Explanation: Planets were assumed
to move uniformly on an epicycle,
as it moved uniformly around Earth.

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Question 4
The geocentric model was supported by Aristotle because of which of the following?

a)

b)
c)
d)
e)

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Stars don’t seem to show any parallax.
We don’t feel as though Earth moves.
Objects fall toward Earth, not the Sun.
We don’t see an enormous wind.
All of the above were valid reasons.


Question 4
The geocentric model was supported by Aristotle because of which of the following?

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Stars don’t seem to show any parallax.
We don’t feel as though Earth moves.
Objects fall toward Earth, not the Sun.
We don’t see an enormous wind.
All of the above were valid reasons.

Explanation: Aristotle thought that if the Earth

rotated and orbited, we would feel its motion.
In Aristotle’s time, the size of the solar system
and distances to stars were assumed to be much,
much smaller. Parallax was expected to be seen.

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Question 5
The heliocentric model assumes that

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

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planets move on epicycles.
Earth is the center of the solar system.
the stars move on the celestial sphere.
the Sun is the center of the solar system.
Earth’s axis wobbles over 26,000 years.


Question 5
The heliocentric model assumes that

a)

b)
c)
d)
e)

planets move on epicycles.
Earth is the center of the solar system.
the stars move on the celestial sphere.
the Sun is the center of the solar system.
Earth’s axis wobbles over 26,000 years.

Explanation: Heliocentric models
proposed by Aristarchus and others
were considered wrong by Aristotle
and his followers.

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Question 6
Copernicus’s important contribution to astronomy was

a)
b)
c)
d)

proving planets move around the Sun in elliptical orbits.
the theory of gravity.
proposing a model that easily explained the retrograde motions of the planets.

discovering the Sun was not at the
center of the Milky Way.

e)

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discovering the four moons of Jupiter.


Question 6
Copernicus’s important contribution to astronomy was

a)
b)
c)
d)

proving planets move around the Sun in elliptical orbits.
the theory of gravity.
proposing a model that easily explained the retrograde motions of the planets.
discovering the Sun was not at the
center of the Milky Way.

e)

discovering the four moons of Jupiter.

Explanation: His heliocentric model easily
explained retrograde motion because

planets orbited the Sun at different speeds.

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Question 7
Copernicus’s heliocentric model was flawed because he

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

assumed planets moved in ellipses.
didn’t know about Uranus and Neptune.
couldn’t account for gravity.
couldn’t explain retrograde motion.
didn’t assume planets moved
in ellipses.

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Question 7
Copernicus’s heliocentric model was flawed because he

a)
b)
c)

d)
e)

assumed planets moved in ellipses.
didn’t know about Uranus and Neptune.
couldn’t account for gravity.
couldn’t explain retrograde motion.
didn’t assume planets moved
in ellipses.

Explanation: Copernicus’s model still
needed small epicycles to account for
observed changes in planetary speeds.

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Question 8
Who published the first astronomical observations made with a telescope?

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

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Hipparchus
Galileo

Tycho
Copernicus
Kepler


Question 8
Who published the first astronomical observations made with a telescope?

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Hipparchus
Galileo
Tycho
Copernicus
Kepler

Explanation: Galileo published the “Starry Messenger” in 1610, detailing his observations of the Moon, Jupiter’s
moons, stars, and nebulae.

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Question 9
Which of Galileo’s initial observations was most challenging to established geocentric beliefs?

a)

b)
c)
d)
e)

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Craters on the Moon
Sunspots
Lunar maria
Satellites of Jupiter
Stars of the Milky Way


Question 9
Which of Galileo’s initial observations was most challenging to established geocentric beliefs?

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Craters on the Moon
Sunspots
Lunar maria
Satellites of Jupiter
Stars of the Milky Way

Explanation: Seeing four moons clearly

move around Jupiter disproved that
everything orbited Earth and showed
Earth could orbit the Sun and not lose its
moon, too.

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Question 10
Which hero of the Renaissance postulated three “laws” of planetary motion?

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

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Kepler
Newton
Galileo
Tycho Brahe
Copernicus


Question 10
Which hero of the Renaissance postulated three “laws” of planetary motion?

a)

b)
c)
d)
e)

Kepler
Newton
Galileo
Tycho Brahe
Copernicus

Explanation: Note that Isaac Newton is also well known for three general laws of motion, but Kepler’s laws are about
objects in orbits, like planets orbiting a star.

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Question 11
Kepler’s first law of planetary orbits states that

a)
b)
c)
d)

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planets orbit the Sun.
orbits are noncircular.
orbits are elliptical in shape.

all of the above are stated.


Question 11
Kepler’s first law of planetary orbits states that

a)
b)
c)
d)

planets orbit the Sun.
orbits are noncircular.
orbits are elliptical in shape.
all of the above are stated.

Explanation: Kepler’s laws apply
to all orbiting objects. The Moon
orbits Earth in an ellipse, and the
Space Shuttle orbits Earth in an
ellipse, too.

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Question 12
Earth is closer to the Sun in January. From this fact, Kepler’s second law tells us that

a)
b)

c)

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Earth orbits slower in January.
Earth orbits faster in January.
Earth’s orbital speed doesn’t change.


Question 12
Earth is closer to the Sun in January. From this fact, Kepler’s second law tells us

a)
b)
c)

Earth orbits slower in January.
Earth orbits faster in January.
Earth’s orbital speed doesn’t change.

Explanation: Kepler’s second law
means that a planet moves
faster when closer to its star.

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