Astronomy and Meteorology Review
1. 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 –
A surface temperature
B motion through the universe
C diameter
D distance from the Earth
(2001, Ch. 25, stars and
galaxies)
During which portion of the Earth’s revolution around the
Sun is the Northern Hemisphere tilted toward the Sun?
F Vernal equinox
G Summer solstice
H Autumnal equinox
J Winter solstice
(2004, Ch. 24, solar
2. About how long does it take the Earth to make one
complete rotation on its axis?
A One day
B One week
C One month
D One year
(2001, Ch. 23, sun-earth-
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Which diagram represents the placement of the Sun,
Earth, and Moon during a lunar eclipse?
8.
“Solar SME, Lunar SEM”
(2001, Ch. 23, sun-earthmoon)
9.
10.
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?
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.
(2001, Ch. 24, solar
11.
A person weighs more on the Earth than on the Moon
because the Earth has a greater –
F density
G atmospheric pressure
H magnetic strength
J gravitational pull
(2001, Ch. 23, sun-earth-
12.
Which of these elements does
this star contain?
A Mercury
B Calcium
C Sodium
D Neon
(2001, Ch. 25, stars and
13.
Which planet is often called “Earth’s twin” because it is
similar in mass and diameter to the Earth?
F Mars
G Mercury
H Venus
J Pluto
(2002, Ch. 24, solar
14.
(2002, Ch. 22, EM radiation and space program)
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?
F The moon’s shadow
G Thick cloud cover
H Nighttime
J Ocean currents
(2005, Ch. 23, sun-earth-
15.
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?
A Mercury
B Jupiter
C Mars
D Pluto
(2002, Ch. 24, solar
16.
Which layer of the sun is the most dense?
F Chromosphere
G Photosphere
H Core
J Corona
(2002, Ch. 23, sun-earth-
17.
Which of these causes days and nights?
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
(2002, Ch. 23, sun-earthmoon)
18.
Which of these facts is the best supporting evidence that
the universe is expanding?
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.
(2002, Ch. 25, stars and
19.
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?
A Spring
B Summer
C Autumn
D Winter
(2003, Ch. 23, sun-earth-
20.
Which image best represents
our galaxy?
(2005, Ch. 25, stars and
galaxies)
The numerous rocks orbiting the Sun between Jupiter
21. and Mars are –
F comets
G asteroids
H meteorites
J satellites
(2003, Ch. 24, solar
The sun emits energy by converting hydrogen into helium.
22. What is this process called?
F Fusion
G Fission
H Sunspot formation
J Solar wind
(2003, Ch. 23, sun-earth-
23.
Periodically, there are spectacular meteor showers on
Earth. These showers usually occur because the Earth’s
orbit passes through the remains of —
F a star
G a comet
H solar flares
J the rings of Saturn
(2003, Ch. 24, solar
24.
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?
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.
(2003, Ch. 24, solar
25.
Which of the above evolutionary stages of a massive
star is called a supernova?
F1
G2
H3
J4
(2003, Ch. 25, stars and
What element is the main component of most stars?
26.
A Nitrogen
B Iron
C Hydrogen
D Oxygen
(2004, Ch. 25, stars and
27.
During which portion of the Earth’s revolution around the
Sun is the Northern Hemisphere tilted toward the Sun?
F Vernal equinox
G Summer solstice
H Autumnal equinox
J Winter solstice
(2004, Ch. 24, solar
Why do stars appear to change position during the
night?
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.
(2004, Ch. 25, stars and
Because of the unique position of the Earth in the solar
system, life has flourished due to the Presence of —
A helium
B volcanoes
C liquid water
D salt
(2004, Ch. 24, solar
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 –
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
(2004, Ch. 25, stars and
What is the approximate percentage of the Earth that is
illuminated by the Sun at any given time?
F 10%
G 25%
H 50%
J 90%
(2005, Ch. 23, sun-earth-
Gas and dust in interstellar nebulae can form –
F stars
G comets
H meteors
J asteroids
(2005, Ch. 25, stars and
Which of the following best describes Earth’s
orbital position in our solar system?
A Outside of three smaller planets
B Outside of the gas giants
C An outer planet
D An inner planet
(2005, Ch. 24, solar
system)
(2005, Ch. 25, stars and
galaxies)
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?
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
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?
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.
(2005, Ch. 24, solar