Earth Motions

1. The star Sirius is observed in the evening sky during the month of January. At the end of three hours, Sirius will appear to have moved

60°
45°
3°
0°

2. Venus, Mars, Saturn and Pluto have "eccentricity of orbits" of .007, .093, .056 and .205 respectively. Which planet has the most eccentric orbit?

Venus
Mars
Saturn
Pluto

3. Which provides the best evidence for the Earth's rotation?

The rising of the Sun.
The changing of the seasons.
The phases of the Moon.
The motion of the Foucault pendulum.

4. During a period of one year, what would be the greatest altitude of the Sun at the North Pole?

90°
66.5°
23.5°
0°

5. Why do stars appear to move through the night sky at a rate of 15 degrees per hour?

The Earth moves around the Sun at a rate of 15 degrees per hour.
The stars move around the center of the galaxy at 15 degrees per hour.
The Earth rotates on its axis at a rate of 15 degrees per hour.
The stars revolve around the Earth at a rate of 15 degrees per hour.

6. What information is needed to determine the circumference of the Earth?

The altitude of the sun at one location.
The altitude of Polaris at one location.
The altitude of the sun at two locations.
The altitude of the sun at three locations.

7. At what latitude would an observer on the Earth find the altitude of Polaris to be 37 degrees?

37° S
53° N
37° N
90° N

8. An observer on a moving ship notices that the altitude of Polaris increases each night. Local solar noon occurs at the same time each day. In what direction is the ship moving?

Due east
Due south
Due west
Due north

9. When does local solar noon occur for an observer in New York State?

When the clock reads 12 noon.
When the Sun reaches its maximum altitude.
When the Sun is directly overhead.
When the Sun is on the Prime Meridian

10. In New York State, to see the Sun at noon, one would look towards the

North
South
East
West

11. What is the exact shape of the Earth's orbit around the Sun?

A slightly eccentric ellipse.
A very eccentric ellipse.
An oblate spheroid.
A perfect circle.

12. Which is the best indication that the Moon's distance from the Earth varies?

The apparent change in the shape of the Moon.
The apparent change in the diameter of the Moon.
The apparent change in the altitude of the Moon.
The apparent change in the color of the Moon.

13. Which of the following is the most accurate model of the Earth's shape?

A basketball.
A football.
An egg.
A pear.

14. In the Earth's orbit of the Sun, as the Earth comes closer to the Sun, the rate of the Earth's rotation

Increases
Decreases
Remains the same

15. On March 21, two observers, one at 45 degrees north latitude and the other at 45 degrees south latitude, watch the "rising" Sun. In which direction(s) must they look?

Both observers must look westward.
Both observers must look eastward.
The observer at 45 degrees north must look west, the other must look east.
The observer at 45 degrees south must look west, the other must look east.

16. Astronomers have concluded that the planets rotate because

The Earth rotates.
Features on the planets appear to change position in a cyclic fashion.
Movement of sunspots indicate that the Sun rotates.
The rate of a planet's rotation is related to its distance from the Sun.

17. In the geocentric model (the Earth at the center of the universe), which motion would occur?

The Earth would revolve around the Sun.
The Earth would rotate on it's axis.
The Moon would revolve around the Sun
The Sun would revolve around the Earth.

18. At 40 degrees north latitude, for how many days a year is the Sun at the zenith (directly overhead) position at noon?

0
1
2
3

19. During which season in the Northern Hemisphere, does the Earth reach its greatest distance from the Sun?

Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter

20. Based on observations made in the Northern Hemisphere, which statement provides the best supporting evidence that the Earth rotates on its axis?

The stars appear to follow daily, circular paths around polaris.
The apparent solar diameter varies throughout the year.
The length of the daylight period varies throughout the year.
The seasons repeat in a cyclic pattern.

21. What is the season of the year when the Earth is at position C in the diagram?



Summer
Fall
Winter
Spring

22. Which statement is true about the shape of the Earth?

It is a perfect sphere.
It is larger in circumference along the equator.
It is larger in circumference through the poles.
It's larger in the Northern Hemisphere because there is more lithoshpere in the north.

23. Which motion causes the Moon to show phases when viewed from the Earth?

The rotation of the Moon on its axis.
The revolution on the Moon around the Earth.
The rotation of the Sun on its axis.
The revolution of the Sun around the Moon.

24. The Earth rotates on its axis at a rate of approximately

1°/hr
15°/hr
23.5°/hr
360°/hr

25. At approximately what rate does the earth travel in it's orbit around the sun?

1°/day
15°/hr
24°/day
12°/month

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