Guideline for Test Questions.

Below is a list of questions you should be able to answer to prepare yourself to take the tests. They are grouped by chapter and by test. The ones noted by Q are from the chapters in Bennett, et al. The others are from my past tests. Do not assume that the questions from past tests are more important to study for than those from the book!

There is some duplication between questions. TP stand for terrestrial planet, JP stands for Jovian planet and AP for any planet.

Chapter 1

Q1-3, 5-7, 11-18, 20-2, 24

Astronomers are always looking at stars as they were not as they are now. Explain why this is so.

Describe all of the basic motions of the Earth.

Chapter 2

Q4-6, 8-16, 18-26

and S1

Q1, 3 -4,8,10-12

Suppose a star rose at ?? today. When will it rise ? days from now?

Which planets can never be seen at opposition? At inferior conjunction?

Describe the path that a star on the celestial equator follows from the time it rises until it sets for a person at a latitude of 34¡ N, N pole, S pole, equator. Give times as well as position.

Describe the circumstance and appearance of all three types of lunar eclipse. A sketch might help. Choose one of the types and describe how it would look if you were on the moon during that eclipse.

Describe the astronomical conditions necessary for the occurrence of a total solar and total lunar eclipse.

Describe the motion of the moon 1) With respect to the sky over one night 2) With respect to the sky over the entire month 3) With respect to the constellations over an entire month. Include the path and the rate of motion along the path

Describe the 3 types of solar eclipses and suggest two circumstances might result in more total solar eclipses.

Describe the phases of the moon in terms of the moon's position in the sky relative to the sun.

Explain why the Earth has seasons. Suggest a way that it would NOT have seasons.

Describe the motion of the planet ? with respect to the constellations.

Define synchronous rotation.

Chapter 3

Q11-12

What do we mean by the eccentricity of an orbit

Chapter 4

Q1-13, 15-18, 20-24, 27-28

Consider an object shot upward from the earth with less than escape velocity. Describe its motion.

Imagine you are out in space and push away from you an object having a mass identical to your own. What happens? Explain.

Protons are about 2000 times as massive as electrons. How much more or less energy will be produced if a proton and anti proton collide then an electron and positron?

If a planet orbits a star at ? AU in ? years. How massive is the start relative to the Sun?

How is temperature different from heat?

Give an example of kinetic and potential energy.

Chapter 5

Q 2, 4-12,14-23,25-28

How can astronomers measure the temperatures of stars?

Explain how emission and absorption spectra are formed. Why do different elements have different spectra?

Explain how the Doppler effect works for light and a good use for it in astronomy.

Briefly describe the electromagnetic spectrum with examples from each major region.

If a star's temperature increases/decreases by a factor of ? how does it brightness change? How does its color change? How does the wavelength at which it is brightest change?

Chapter 6

Q2-5, 8-10,12-17,19-22

What do astronomers use CCD's for?

Why do single dish radio telescopes have worse resolution than optical telescopes?

To which wavelength regions is the Earth's atmosphere opaque and what can we do about it?

Why do single dish radio telescopes have worse resolution than optical telescopes?

Sketch a diagram of a reflector/refractor. Show how the light is focused. Label each part of the telescope

Chapter 7

Q2-3,5-7,9-11, 17,18,20- 23

How do astronomers measure the following planetary properties:
mass, rotation rate, temperature

What is the most abundant element in the Solar System? What is the second most abundant?

Chapter 8

Q1-12, 14-22, 24

How did the Solar System form? Explain why the planets have coplanar orbits and why Jovian and Terrestrial planets have different chemical compositions.

Chapter 9

Q1-24, 26-30

What is regolith?

Describe the interiors of TP and TP and tell why there is a difference.

Contrast the surfaces of TP and TP. Name the types of features and give reasons for the differences.

Describe the surface features of TP. Include how they are formed.

Contrast the impact cratering on all of the terrestrial objects, refer to ages of surfaces, and crater forming, modifying and destroying processes

Describe the way in which the scarps of Mercury were probably produced.

What are the basic features of the giant impact theory of the formation of the Moon? Why is it the preferred theory?

Name four consequences of not having an atmosphere on the moon and how lack of an atmosphere brings them about.

Chapter 10

Q1, 2, 4-10, 12-21, 23, 25,27-32

Contrast the atmospheres of TP, TP and TP. Describe chemistry, the change of temperature and pressure with height, weather, seasons (if any) and how the atmospheres got to be that way.

Chapter 11

Q1-11, 13-18, 20-22, 24-26

Compare the interiors of JP and JP. Why are they different?

Explain why Saturn is more oblate than Jupiter.

Describe the magnetic fields of JP?

Contrast the atmospheres of JP and JP. Name chemical and physical properties. Relate the history to indicate how they got to be that way

What is going on in Jupiter's Great Red Spot?

Describe the satellites ____ and _____ (be sure and mention which planet each orbits. Explain why their surfaces look that way.

Describe JP’s ring system and account for its motion, shape, appearance, gaps, etc.

Chapter 12

1-10, 12,13, 15-24

Why do astronomers believe that meteorites come from asteroids, whereas meteor showers are related to comets?

Describe a Kuiper Belt Object

Sketch a comet, labeling and describing all of the parts. Give approximate sizes for all the components.

With the aid of a drawing, describe the structure of a comet. Don't forget what the nucleus looks like

What are Earth Crossing asteroids and why are they important?

Contrast the physical properties of asteroids and comet nuclei. Include their typical orbits.

Describe the development of a comet's appearance as it orbits the sun

Chapter 13

Q1-7, 9- 14, 19-22

What has the discovery of extrasolar planets taught us about planetary system formation?