NSCI 111 ASTRONOMY TEST #1 6/8/07 Dr. Holmes
NAME
ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS. THE WORTH OF EACH
QUESTION IS CIRCLED AFTER THE QUESTION.
1) The constellations of the zodiac: Fill in
the name, declination, right ascension for each of the constellations of the
zodiac and then fill in the month that it crosses the meridian at noon (when
the sun is in that constellation) and the month that it crosses the meridian at
9 pm (nice viewing time).
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NAME |
Dec |
R.A. |
Month it crosses meridian at noon |
Month it crosses meridian at 9 pm |
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2) a) What is the approximate
declination and right ascension of the Big Dipper?
b)
Draw the Big Dipper and place the North Star on the diagram also.
3) a) What is the zenith?
b) What is the ecliptic?
c) What is a heliacal rising?
d) What is the winter solstice?
4) Tell me two bits of data (observations)
about the planets:
1.
2.
5) Briefly discuss one of the ancient
(non-Greek) civilization's ideas on astronomy.
6) Briefly discuss one of the major Greek's
ideas on astronomy.
7) Briefly discuss one of the following's
influence on or work in astronomy: Copernicus, Brahe, Kepler, Galileo or
Newton. (use the back of the page if necessary)
8) Describe Newton's three laws of motion in
words:
First Law:
Second Law:
Third Law:
9)
What are the steps in the Scientific Method?
10) TRUE OR FALSE: (for each: +1 if correct,
0 if you leave it blank, -1 if wrong)
(or
based on subtracting from 100: -0 if correct, -1 if blank, -2 if wrong)
_F___a) All stars rise in the East
and set in the West each day.
_T___b) You can see the North Star
from anyplace in the Northern Hemisphere (that has an unobstructed view of the
sky) on any clear night regardless of the month of the year or the time of
night.
_F___c) The moon appears to move from
East to West (westward) through the constellations of the zodiac, and it never
moves eastward.
_F___d) The North Star is one of the
10 brightest stars in the night sky.
_T___e) On or around June 21, the sun
appears to rise the farthest North of due East and to set the farthest North of
due West.
_T___f) There are five planets
visible to the naked eye (at one time or another):
_T___g) Since the sun moves relative
to the stars, the stars appear to rise (and set) a couple of minutes earlier
each day.
_F___h) Columbus argued that the
earth was round and not flat. This was contrary to the generally accepted
belief by the educated leaders that the earth was flat. This disagreement was
the main reason why he had such a hard time getting his ships.
_F___i) At the time of Columbus,
sailors (at least the navigators) could tell their position (both latitude and
longitude) by looking at the stars.
_F___j) Copernicus and Galileo were
contemporaries (they lived at the same time and knew of each other).