Astronomy SOL Questions 2000-2006.pdf - Google Drive

Astronomy SOL Questions 2000-2006

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1. The chart shows the placement of Jupiter’s moons for the first nine days of February 1996. How would Jupiter and its moons appear on February 7 as seen through a telescope? (2000, Ch. 24, solar system)


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2. In mid-June the sun enters the constellation Gemini, which is not visible then because of the sun’s brightness. According to this star chart, which of these constellations would not be visible in mid-June because of its closeness to the Sun? (2000, Ch. 25, stars and galaxies) A Virgo B Orion C Ursa Major D Aquarius

3. This model shows the Earth’s position relative to the Sun. At the time of year shown by the model, the areas receiving the most direct sunlight will be near the – (2000, Ch. 23, sunearth-moon) A Arctic Circle B Tropic of Cancer C Equator D Tropic of Capricorn


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4. The planet Uranus is unusual because its axis of rotation lies almost in the plane of its revolution. If the axis is pointing toward the sun as in the picture, what would occur at point X when the planet turns once on its axis? (2000, Ch. 24, solar system) F The point would be in darkness for the complete rotation of the planet. G The point would be in daylight for the full rotation. H The point would be in twilight for the full rotation. J The point would be in daylight for half the time and in darkness for half the time. 5. The moon rotates on its axis at the same rate that it revolves around the Earth. This causes (2000, Ch. 23, sun-earth-moon) A very high tides B the phases of the moon C partial eclipses of the moon D one side of the moon to always face the Earth 6. If matter from Saturn would float in water, while matter from Earth would sink in water, which of the following is true? (2000, Ch. 24, solar system) F Saturn is smaller than Earth. G Saturn is smaller than the Sun. H Saturn has a lower density than Earth. J Saturn has a higher density than Earth.


7. Which of these stars has completed its life cycle? (2000, Ch. 25, stars and galaxies) A Black dwarf B Supergiant C Main-sequence star D Red giant 8. What powers stars? (2000, Ch. 25, stars and galaxies) F Combustion G Fission H Fusion J Radioactivity 9. How are the stars distributed in space? (2000, Ch. 25, stars and galaxies) A Evenly distributed throughout space with no significant clumping B In clumps that are evenly distributed in space, with scattered stars in between C In clumps that are themselves evenly distributed in space D In clumps that are themselves unevenly distributed in space

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10. The sequence of pictures above shows the same portion of the night sky over a number of years. Which of the following is an observation about the pair of stars on the left? (2000, Ch. 25, stars and galaxies) F They have a sister star that is only occasionally visible. G They are moving to the right. H They appear to be revolving around each other. J One of them is increasing in brightness as the other one dims.

11. The pictures show the same stars at different times. Which hypothesis is best supported by these data? (2001, Ch. 25, stars and galaxies) A The stars are moving toward one another. B The three stars are moving very fast. C One star is moving around another star. _ D The biggest star is closest to the Earth.


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12. A star might be much brighter than it appears to be. This is called the star’s absolute magnitude. The difference in apparent magnitude and absolute magnitude is due primarily to the star’s - (2001, Ch. 25, stars and galaxies) A surface temperature B motion through the universe C diameter D distance from the Earth 13. About how long does it take the Earth to make one complete rotation on its axis? (2001, Ch. 23, sun-earth-moon) A One day _ B One week C One month D One year 14. A student sees a very bright star in the sky and thinks it might be the planet Venus. Which observation would lend support to this conclusion? (2001, Ch. 24, solar system) F After a few minutes, its position relative to the surrounding stars has changed significantly. G After an hour, its position relative to the horizon has changed. H After an hour, its brightness has faded significantly. J After a month, its position relative to the surrounding stars has changed. 15. Which diagram represents the placement of the Sun, Earth, and Moon during a lunar eclipse? (2001, Ch. 23, sun-earth-moon)


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16. The pole star, Polaris, is nearly stationary and straight overhead when seen from the North Pole. When viewed from the Equator, it - (2001, Ch. 25, stars and galaxies) F is nearly stationary and on the horizon_ G is nearly stationary and directly overhead H rises barely above the eastern horizon, moves along the southern horizon, and sets in the West J rises straight up in the East, passes directly overhead, and descends straight down in the West 17. Parallax can be used to measure a star’s — (2001, Ch. 25, stars and galaxies) F distance from Earth _ G atmospheric temperature H gravitational strength J surface composition

18. What is the position of the star above the horizon? (2001, Ch. 25, stars and galaxies) F 35° _ G 40° H 55° J 60°


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19. A person weighs more on the Earth than on the Moon because the Earth has a greater (2001, Ch. 23, sun-earth-moon) F density G atmospheric pressure H magnetic strength J gravitational pull

20. Which of these elements does this star contain? (2001, Ch. 25, stars and galaxies) A Mercury B Calcium _ C Sodium D Neon 21. Which planet is often called ―Earth’s twin‖ because it is similar in mass and diameter to the Earth? (2002, Ch. 24, solar system) F Mars G Mercury H Venus _ J Pluto


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22. A light-year measures – (2002, Ch. 22, EM radiation and space program) F brightness G distance _ H radiation J time

23. What is the first stage in the life cycle of a star? (2002, Ch. 25, stars and galaxies) F Black hole G Dwarf star H Main-sequence star J Stellar nebula 24. Orbital velocity is the average speed of a planet moving through space in its orbit around the sun. Which of the following planets has the fastest orbital velocity? (2002, Ch. 24, solar system) A Mercury _ B Jupiter C Mars D Pluto


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25. Which layer of the sun is the most dense? (2002, Ch. 23, sun-earth-moon) F Chromosphere G Photosphere H Core _ J Corona 26. Which of these causes days and nights? (2002, Ch. 23, sun-earth-moon) F The orbit of the Earth around the sun G The revolution of the Moon around the Earth H The rotation of the Moon on its axis J The rotation of the Earth on its axis 27. Which of these facts is the best supporting evidence that the universe is expanding? (2002, Ch. 25, stars and galaxies) A The stars vary in chemical composition. B The galaxies are moving away from each other. _ C The galaxies can spin to form eddies. D The universe is filled with galaxies of different sizes.


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28. When the Earth is at its greatest distance from the Sun, its Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, as shown in the drawing. What season takes place in the Southern Hemisphere at this time? (2003, Ch. 23, sun-earth-moon) A Spring B Summer C Autumn D Winter 29. The numerous rocks orbiting the Sun between Jupiter and Mars are - (2003, Ch. 24, solar system) F comets G asteroids _ H meteorites J satellites


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30. Most meteorites that fall to Earth are either chondrites or achondrites. The charts above show the composition of these meteorites. Based on these charts, which is a valid conclusion? (2003, Ch. 24, solar system) F Both types are predominately pyroxene. G Both types are predominately olivine. H Achondrites contain more feldspar. _ J Achondrites contain more nickel-iron. 31. The first manned-mission to land on the moon was commanded by Neil Armstrong and was called — (2003, Ch. 22, EM radiation and space program) F Apollo 11 _ G Gemini 3 H Viking 2 J Mariner 7 32. The sun emits energy by converting hydrogen into helium. What is this process called? (2003, Ch. 23, sun-earth-moon) F Fusion _ G Fission H Sunspot formation J Solar wind


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33. Periodically, there are spectacular meteor showers on Earth. These showers usually occur because the Earth’s orbit passes through the remains of — (2003, Ch. 24, solar system) F a star G a comet _ H solar flares J the rings of Saturn 34. When Venus passes between the Earth and the Sun, it is visible as a tiny black dot on the Sun’s bright disk. Why is Mars never visible in this same way? (2003, Ch. 24, solar system) F The orbit of Mars is more eccentric than that of Venus. G The orbit of Mars is outside that of the Earth’s orbit. _ H Mars is too small to be seen against the backdrop of the Sun. J Mars shines too brightly to be visible against the Sun.

35. Which of the above evolutionary stages of a massive star is called a supernova? (2003, Ch. 25, stars and galaxies) F1 G2 H3 J4

36. Which planet rotates the fastest? (2003, Ch. 24, solar system) A Mercury B Mars C Jupiter _ D Saturn


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37. Photographs of the surface of Mars reveal the presence of sand dunes that shift over time. These dunes demonstrate the presence of what phenomenon on Mars? (2003, Ch. 24, solar system) F Precipitation G Winds _ H Magnetic pole reversals J Plate tectonics 38. Which planet in the solar system has an orbit so eccentric that it crosses the orbit of another planet? (2003, Ch. 24, solar system) A Mars B Mercury C Jupiter D Pluto

39. At what position would Earth be found in the solar system diagram shown above? (2004, Ch. 24, solar system) F1 G2_ H3 J4 40. What element is the main component of most stars? (2004, Ch. 25, stars and galaxies) A Nitrogen B Iron C Hydrogen _ D Oxygen 41. During which portion of the Earth’s revolution around the Sun is the Northern Hemisphere tilted toward the Sun? (2004, Ch. 24, solar system) F Vernal equinox G Summer solstice _ H Autumnal equinox J Winter solstice 42. Why do stars appear to change position during the night? (2004, Ch. 25, stars and galaxies) F Earth rotates on its axis. _ G Earth revolves around the sun. H The stars are moving away from each other. J Stars are very far away from the solar system.


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43. Because of the unique position of the Earth in the solar system, life has flourished due to the Presence of — (2004, Ch. 24, solar system) A helium B volcanoes C liquid water _ D salt 44. During which of these phases of the moon will the tides be highest? (2004, Ch. 23, sunearth-moon)

ASTRONOMY SOL QUESTIONS 2000-2005

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45. Why does erosion not occur on the moon? (2004, Ch. 23, sun-earth-moon) A The rock surface of the moon is too hard. B There is no animal life. C There is no wind or rain. _ D The gravitational pull of the moon is too weak. 46. Which planet has a fierce hurricane-like storm that is several times the size of Earth? (2004, Ch. 24, solar system) F Mars G Venus H Saturn J Jupiter 47. In 1912, an astronomer at Arizona’s Lowell Observatory noticed that the lines in the spectra of most galaxies shifted toward the red end of the spectrum. Another American astronomer, Edwin Hubble, later interpreted this discovery as evidence that - (2004, Ch. 25, stars and galaxies) F galaxies were once part of one huge megagalaxy G an explosion will one day result from the pressure building as the galaxies expand H galaxies are moving away from each other in a constantly expanding universe _ J the largest galaxies are slowly engulfing their smaller neighbors 48. What is the approximate percentage of the Earth that is illuminated by the Sun at any given time? (2005, Ch. 23, sun-earth-moon) F 10% G 25% H 50% _ J 90% 2050700


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49. Which layer of the Sun is seen during a total solar eclipse? (2005, Ch. 23, sun-earth-moon) F Chromosphere G Photosphere H Core J Corona _

50. Which planet has the shortest day? (2005, Ch. 24, solar system) F Mercury G Venus H Jupiter _ J Saturn


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51. The picture shows an infrared composite of the Earth as seen by a weather satellite system. What does the dark shaded area on this map represent? (2005, Ch. 23, sun-earthmoon) F The moon’s shadow G Thick cloud cover H Nighttime _ J Ocean currents 52. Gas and dust in interstellar nebulae can form - (2005, Ch. 25, stars and galaxies) F stars _ G comets H meteors J asteroids 53. Which of the following best describes Earth’s orbital position in our solar system? (2005, Ch. 24, solar system) A Outside of three smaller planets B Outside of the gas giants C An outer planet D An inner planet


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54. In the late 1920s, Edwin Hubble and Milton Humason determined the distance to a number of galaxies and the velocity of those galaxies relative to the Earth. The graph shows the early results that were obtained. What approximate ratio did the scientists calculate between velocity and distance based on these early findings? (2005, Ch. 25, stars and galaxies) A 150 kilometers per second per one million light years _ B 300 kilometers per second per one million light years C 450 kilometers per second per one million light years D 600 kilometers per second per one million light years


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55. Based on the drawing above, what is the main reason that Venus would appear brighter at point Q rather than at point R as seen from the Earth? (2005, Ch. 24, solar system) F The planet is closer to the Earth at point Q than at point R. G More of the visible side of the planet is illuminated at point Q than at point R. _ H The planet appears overhead against a dark sky when it is at point Q but not at point R. J Light from the planet at point Q is less affected by the sun’s gravity than at point R.

ASTRONOMY SOL QUESTIONS 2000-2005 56. Which image below best represents our galaxy? (2005, Ch. 25, stars and galaxies)

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