Practice Questions from Previous Exams
(these are examples of the harder questions you might have to answer)

True-False

The rotational velocity of a planet's surface is inversely related to its mass.

The meridian is really just the projection of the longitude you are standing on into the sky (onto the celestial sphere).

If the Earth's axis were not tilted, the number of daylight hours would be essentially the same during the year for everyone.

If the Earth's axis were not tilted, the number of daylight hours would be essentially the same during the year for everyone.

The total amount of carbon dioxide in all forms on Venus is nearly 100 times that on the Earth.

The rich reds and yellows of Jupiter's clouds are caused by sulphur compounds in its atmosphere.

The gaps in the rings of Saturn are caused by tides due to Titan (the largest moon).

Comets are of interest partly because some may be icy planetesimals preserved from the time of solar system formation.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is true?
\a  the declination of the Moon goes through a full cycle every day
\b  the declination of the Sun goes through a full cycle every day
\c  the declination of a star remains very nearly constant throughout the year
\d  the declination of the Sun remains very nearly constant throughout the year
\e  the declination of the Moon is never equal to that of the Sun

A solar eclipse does not occur every month because:
\a the Moon's orbit is not in the ecliptic
\b the Earth is tilted 23 degrees to the ecliptic
\c the orbital motion of the Earth often keeps it out of the Moon's shadow
\d the sidereal month is not the same length as the lunar month
\e actually, an eclipse DOES occur somewhere on the Earth each month

Which is the best reason our atmosphere is not dominated by carbon dioxide as are those of Mars and Venus?
\a  destruction of carbon dioxide by ultraviolet radiation from the Sun
\b  the Earth is less volcanically active than the other two planets
\c  plants have converted most of our carbon dioxide to oxygen
\d  the impact which created our Moon also removed most of the carbon dioxide
\e  liquid water on the Earth caused most of the carbon dioxide to be trapped in rock form

Mercury does not have an atmophere of any note because
\a  the solar wind stripped it away
\b  it is so close to the Sun the atmosphere was vaporized
\c  there were never any volcanoes on Mercury
\d  there were never any oceans on Mercury
\e  its low surface gravity could not hold onto its hot atmosphere

Which of the following bodies show no differentiation?
\a  Venus
\b  Ganymede
\c  Halley's comet
\d  asteroids
\e  our Moon

Which of the following statements about giant planets is FALSE?
\a They all have more moons than the inner planets
\b They all have ring systems
\c They all are less dense than the inner planets
\d They all rotate more slowly than the inner planets
\e they all have thick cloud layers

Suppose you weigh 100 pounds at sea level. How many pounds would you weigh if the Earth were suddenly to shrink to half its present diameter while retaining all its mass (and you are still standing on it)?
\a 25
\b 50
\c 100
\d 200
\e 400