Foundations of Astronomy
Ninth Edition
Michael Seeds
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Which statement below best describes the
motion of the moon relative to the stars?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
The moon moves Eastward
relative to the stars about 1
degree per day.
The moon moves Westward
relative to the stars about 1
degree per day.
The moon moves Eastward
relative to the stars about 13
degrees per day.
The moon moves Westward
relative to the stars about 13
degrees per day.
The moon does not move
relative to the stars.
20%
a
20%
b
20%
c
20%
d
20%
e
How does the moon's motion relative to the stars
compare to the sun's motion relative to the stars?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
The moon moves slower than
the sun and in the same
direction.
The moon moves faster than the
sun and in the same direction.
The moon moves slower than
the sun and in the opposite
direction.
The moon moves faster than the
sun and in the opposite
direction.
The moon does not move
relative to the stars.
20%
a
20%
b
20%
c
20%
d
20%
e
How does one cycle of the moon's motion relative to the stars
compare to one cycle of the moon's motion relative to the sun?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
The two cycles take the same
amount of time.
The cycle relative to the stars is
shorter than the cycle relative to
the sun.
The cycle relative to the stars is
longer than the cycle relative to
the sun.
The two cycles vary in length
such that at times the star cycle
is shorter and at other times the
sun cycle is shorter.
The moon does not move
relative to the sun.
20%
a
20%
b
20%
c
20%
d
20%
e
The time for one cycle of lunar phases is:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
about one day.
about 24.8 hours.
about one year.
the same as the time for
one cycle of the moon
relative to the stars.
the same as the time for
one cycle of the moon
relative to the sun.
20%
a
20%
b
20%
c
20%
d
20%
e
In one cycle of lunar phases, each crescent and
gibbous phase has a duration of about one:
20%
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
hour.
day.
week.
month.
year.
a
20%
b
20%
c
20%
d
20%
e
If the moon reaches full phase on May 6,
it is at _____ phase on May 17.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
new
waxing crescent
waxing gibbous
waning gibbous
waning crescent
20%
a
20%
b
20%
c
20%
d
20%
e
The third quarter phase moon rises at about:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
sunrise.
noon.
sunset.
midnight.
There is no way to
predict the time
that a particular
phase rises.
20%
a
20%
b
20%
c
20%
d
20%
e
Which of the following is true for an observer
located at the tip of the umbra in this figure?
20%
20%
20%
20%
20%
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
The angular size of the tack is greater than
the angular size of the light source.
The angular size of the tack is the same as
the angular size of the light source.
The angular size of the tack is less than the
angular size of the light source.
The distance to the tack is greater than the
distance to the light source.
The penumbra is darker than the umbra.
What can be said about the maximum
duration of lunar and solar eclipses?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
They both can last only a
maximum of a few minutes.
They both can last up to about
six hours.
A lunar eclipse can last up to 7.5
minutes and a solar eclipse up
to almost six hours.
A lunar eclipse can last up to
almost six hours and a solar
eclipse up to 7.5 minutes.
It is impossible to make any
prediction about the duration of
eclipses.
20%
a
20%
b
20%
c
20%
d
20%
e
Of the six total lunar
eclipses listed in this table,
which two definitely cannot
be observed by someone
under clear skies located in
Greenwich, England?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Aug 28, 2007 &
December 10, 2011
March 3, 2007 &
December 21, 2010
February 21, 2008 &
June 15, 2011
Sept. 7, 2006 &
March 3, 2007
Dec. 21, 2010 &
Feb. 21, 2008
20%
a
20%
20%
20%
b
c
d
20%
e
We can see total solar eclipses because:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
the linear diameters of the sun
and the moon are almost equal.
the distances to the sun and the
moon are about the same.
the angular diameters of the sun
and the moon are almost equal.
total solar eclipses would be
visible on any planet with a
moon.
the moon always shows the
same face to the Earth.
20%
a
20%
b
20%
c
20%
d
20%
e
We observe that the angular diameter of the moon is about the same
as the angular diameter of the sun (about 1/2 degree). We also
know that the AU is about 390 times the average Earth–moon
distance. With this knowledge and this figure, what can we conclude
about the linear diameters of the sun and moon? (Hint: you do not
need the small-angle formula.)
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
The linear diameter of the sun is the
same as the linear diameter of the moon.
The linear diameter of the sun is about
195 times the linear diameter of the
moon.
The linear diameter of the sun is about
390 times the linear diameter of the
moon.
The linear diameter of the sun is about
780 times the linear diameter of the
moon.
The linear diameter of the moon is about
195 times the linear diameter of the sun.
20%
a
20%
20%
20%
b
c
d
20%
e
Which of the following is true about
the umbra of the moon's shadow?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
It is very dark, or a total
shadow.
It is semi-dark, or a
partial shadow.
Its "cone" points away
from the sun.
Its "cone" points toward
the sun.
Choices 1 and 3 above.
Choices 2 and 4 above.
17%
a
17%
b
17%
17%
c
d
17%
e
17%
f
During a total lunar eclipse, the moon is:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
completely dark.
a reddish color.
in Earth's umbra.
in Earth's penumbra.
Both 2 and 3 above.
Both 1 and 3 above.
17%
1
17%
17%
17%
2
3
4
17%
5
17%
6
Which type of eclipse may be visible to all
the people on one side of Earth?
a. an annular eclipse
b. a total solar
eclipse
c. a total lunar
eclipse
d. all of the above
e. none of the above
20%
a
20%
b
20%
c
20%
d
20%
e
Using the small-angle formula, what is the angular
diameter of Earth as seen from the moon?
25%
a.
b.
c.
d.
25%
25%
25%
about 1.9 degrees; or 6850
seconds of arc
about 1.0 degrees; or 3426
seconds of arc
about 3.2 degrees; or 11520
seconds of arc
about 10.1 degrees; or 36360
seconds of arc
a
b
c
d
What part of the sun is
visible during the
"peak" of a total solar
eclipse?
a.
b.
c.
d.
photosphere
chromosphere
corona
both 2 and 3
above
e. all of the above
20%
a
20%
b
20%
c
20%
d
20%
e
Compare the range in angular size for the sun and moon shown
in this figure. From these ranges we can conclude that:
20%
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Earth’s orbit around the sun and the moon’s
orbit around Earth are both circular.
Earth’s orbit around the sun is more
elliptical than the moon’s orbit around Earth.
Earth’s orbit around the sun is less elliptical
than the moon’s orbit around Earth.
We can not conclude anything about the
orbits.
Only one of the orbits is elliptical.
20%
20%
20%
20%
a
b
c
d
e
If the moon is at one of its nodes, it must be:
a. at new phase.
b. at first quarter
phase.
c. at full phase.
d. at third quarter
phase.
e. on the ecliptic.
20%
a
20%
b
20%
c
20%
d
20%
e
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon is:
a.
b.
c.
d.
at new phase.
near the ecliptic.
at full phase.
both 1 and 2
above
e. both 2 and 3
above
20%
a
20%
b
20%
c
20%
d
20%
e
A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon is:
a.
b.
c.
d.
at new phase.
near the ecliptic.
at full phase.
both 1 and 2
above
e. both 2 and 3
above
20%
a
20%
b
20%
c
20%
d
20%
e