Quiz 4

1.

• Not graded.

2.• Which of the following best explains the difference between a sidereal

month and a solar month?

1. If a person measures a month by the amount of time it takes for the moon to reappear in the same constellation, he is using a sidereal month. If he measures a month by how long it takes the moon to reappear in the same place with respect to the sun, he is using solar month.

2. If a person measures the amount of time it takes for the sun to reappear at his zenith, he is using a sidereal month.

3. If a person measures a month by the amount of time it takes for the moon to reappear in the same constellation, he is using a solar month. If he measures a month by how long it takes the moon to reappear in the same place with respect to the sun, he is using sidereal month.

4. If a person measures the amount of time it takes for a star to reappear at his zenith, he is using a solar month.

2.• Which of the following best explains the difference between a sidereal

month and a solar month?

1. If a person measures a month by the amount of time it takes for the moon to reappear in the same constellation, he is using a sidereal month. If he measures a month by how long it takes the moon to reappear in the same place with respect to the sun, he is using solar month.

2. If a person measures the amount of time it takes for the sun to reappear at his zenith, he is using a sidereal month.

3. If a person measures a month by the amount of time it takes for the moon to reappear in the same constellation, he is using a solar month. If he measures a month by how long it takes the moon to reappear in the same place with respect to the sun, he is using sidereal month.

4. If a person measures the amount of time it takes for a star to reappear at his zenith, he is using a solar month.

3.

• With respect to the distant stars, Mars is somtimes observed to be moving westward. In order to explain this, the geocentric model needed to be modified to include which of the following?

1. An epicycle

2. Synchronous motion

3. A line of nodes

4. Occam's razor

3.

• With respect to the distant stars, Mars is sometimes observed to be moving westward. In order to explain this, the geocentric model needed to be modified to include which of the following?

1. An epicycle

2. Synchronous motion

3. A line of nodes

4. Occam's razor

4.The figure below shows how the heliocentric model can explain the retrograde motion of Mars as viewed from Earth. As viewed from someone on the sun, when does Mars exhibit retrograde motion during the time interval from 1 through 9 shown on the figure? 1. Only during time intervals 4-6.

2. Only during time intervals 1-3.

3. Never. Mars would always appear to be moving eastward against the distant stars according to someone on the sun.

4. Only during time intervals 6-9.

4.The figure below shows how the heliocentric model can explain the retrograde motion of Mars as viewed from Earth. As viewed from someone on the sun, when does Mars exhibit retrograde motion during the time interval from 1 through 9 shown on the figure? 1. Only during time intervals 4-6.

2. Only during time intervals 1-3.

3. Never. Mars would always appear to be moving eastward against the distant stars according to someone on the sun.

4. Only during time intervals 6-9.

5.• Tycho Brahe proposed an experiment to determine if the Earth

orbited the sun or if the sun orbited Earth by measuring if the angular separation of two distant stars changed throughout the year. His measurements showed that the angular separation of distant stars did not change throughout the year. Why did this not prove that the sun orbited Earth?

1. The angular separation does change, but it was far too large of an angle to measure.

2. He measured the angular separation during the wrong time of year.

3. The angular separation does change, but it was far too small of an angle to measure.

4. He picked the wrong stars to measure.

5.• Tycho Brahe proposed an experiment to determine if the Earth

orbited the sun or if the sun orbited Earth by measuring if the angular separation of two distant stars changed throughout the year. His measurements showed that the angular separation of distant stars did not change throughout the year. Why did this not prove that the sun orbited Earth?

1. The angular separation does change, but it was far too large of an angle to measure.

2. He measured the angular separation during the wrong time of year.

3. The angular separation does change, but it was far too small of an angle to measure.

4. He picked the wrong stars to measure.

6.

• Is Venus ever visible at midnight for an observer at the equator?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Only during a full moon

4. Only during a solar transit

6.

• Is Venus ever visible at midnight for an observer at the equator?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Only during a full moon

4. Only during a solar transit

7.

• According to the diagram below, when will an observer on Earth say that the entire side of Venus that he can see is fully illuminated?

7.

• According to the diagram below, when will an observer on Earth say that the entire side of Venus that he can see is fully illuminated?

• Never

8.

• If two theories are both able to explain the same phenomena, but one theory is much more complicated, is the more complicated theory wrong?

1. No, the more complicated theory is not necessarily wrong.

2. Yes, the more complicated theory is always wrong.

8.

• If two theories are both able to explain the same phenomena, but one theory is much more complicated, is the more complicated theory wrong?

1. No, the more complicated theory is not necessarily wrong.

2. Yes, the more complicated theory is always wrong.

9.• In the following image, the amount of time it

takes the planet to go from A to B is the same as the time it takes to go from C to D. The amount of ink that would be required to paint in each of the brown triangles is

• 1. much larger for the triangle on the right.

2. about equal.

3. much larger for the triangle on the left.

9.• In the following image, the amount of time it

takes the planet to go from A to B is the same as the time it takes to go from C to D. The amount of ink that would be required to paint in each of the brown triangles is

• 1. much larger for the triangle on the right.

2. about equal.

3. much larger for the triangle on the left.

10.

• The position of a planet is shown at various times in its orbit. Suppose that the time between C and D was 2 months. The distance between C and D is the same as the distance between A and B. What would the time be for the planet to go from A to B?1. More than two months

2. two months

3. Less than two months

10.

• The position of a planet is shown at various times in its orbit. Suppose that the time between C and D was 2 months. The distance between C and D is the same as the distance between A and B. What would the time be for the planet to go from A to B?1. More than two months

2. two months

3. Less than two months

11.• Which of the following best represents Occam's razor?

1. When all things are equal, choose the theory or model that is more mathematically complex and requires more assumptions.

2. There is no such thing as a free lunch.

3. When in doubt, ask what the theory is about before applying it in the scientific method.

4. If a theory is difficult to explain, it is wrong.

5. When all things are equal, choose the theory or model that is simpler or requires fewer assumptions.

11.• Which of the following best represents Occam's razor?

1. When all things are equal, choose the theory or model that is more mathematically complex and requires more assumptions.

2. There is no such thing as a free lunch.

3. When in doubt, ask what the theory is about before applying it in the scientific method.

4. If a theory is difficult to explain, it is wrong.

5. When all things are equal, choose the theory or model that is simpler or requires fewer assumptions.

12.•  The following diagram shows a planet moving along an

epicycle at times labeled 1 through 9.

From the perspective of someone on Earth, when will they see the planet in front of Rush Limbaugh (the guy on the far right)?

1. At about 6 only

2. Never

3. At about 2 and 6.

4. At about 1 and 9.

12.•  The following diagram shows a planet moving along an

epicycle at times labeled 1 through 9.

From the perspective of someone on Earth, when will they see the planet in front of Rush Limbaugh (the guy on the far right)?

1. At about 6 only

2. Never

3. At about 2 and 6.

4. At about 1 and 9.

12.