PHY 102: Exam and Homework Q's and
Answers
Which of the following are parts of the scientific process, as described in class? (Check all
that apply). Answer- A. building a theory or hypothesis
E. careful observation or measurement
F. experimental tests of a hypothesis
H. modification of the model or theory (if needed)
The speed of light, c, (measured in meters/second) is...? Answer- E. 300,000,000
A light year is... Answer- C. a unit of distance
Color, Wavelength, Frequency, and Energy are all equivalent descriptions for a particular
type of light wave. Answer- A. True
The energy of light is directly proportional to its... Answer- frequency
Which of the following definitions correctly describe the ecliptic? (Check all that apply)
Answer- B. the plane in which the Earth orbits the Sun
D. the apparent path of the Sun relative to the background stars
E. the apparent path of the Sun on the celestial sphere
Which of the following explanations correctly describes the reason we see the Sun rise and
set each day? Answer- D. The Earth rotates on its axis
Which of the following explanations correctly describes the reason Earth's Moon shows
phases? Answer- B. The changing angle between the Sun, Moon, and Earth causes a
variable fraction of the Moon's surface to reflect sunlight
Which of the following are a consequence of the Earth's yearly motion around the Sun?
(Check all that apply) Answer- C. different stars are seen at night at different times of the
year
D. the Sun appears in different constellations in different months
E. the Sun changes its height in the sky in different seasons
, Which of the following explanations correctly describes the reason Earth experiences
seasons? Answer- A. The Earth's Northern hemisphere is tilted 23.5 degrees toward the
Sun in Summer and away from the Sun in Winter
During a partial lunar eclipse... Answer- F. The Moon is partially within the Earth's umbra
During an annular solar eclipse... Answer- F. The Moon covers all but the outer ring of the
Sun
The Ptolemaic cosmology (Claudius Ptolomy's model of the solar system) was
predominantly believed for many centuries in Europe. Which statement below is FALSE
about the Ptolemaic system? Answer- C. It was much simpler than the earlier models and
therefore not as accurate.
Of the cosmological models listed below, which placed the Earth at the center of the model?
(Check all that apply) Answer- A. Ptolemaic (Claudius Ptolomy)
B. Aristotelian (Aristotle)
D. Tychonic (Tycho Brahe)
Two ingerdients in the scientific method are careful observations, and the formulation of a
model (or theory) which adequately explains the observations. The history of astronomy in
the post-renaissance period provides a beautiful example of this in the cooperation
between... Answer- A. Tycho Brahe's observations, and Johannes Kepler's model
The fastest moving planet in our Solar system is... Answer- C. the planet nearest the Sun
An engineer who designs "static" structures knows that a particular design is a failure if...
Answer- E. the structure becomes too dynamic.
A car is parked on a hill. Besides its weight and a frictional force on the tires and brakes,
what other force must act in order to keep the car "static"? Answer- D. The normal force: the
ground pushing on the car.
You're driving down the highway and a bug hits your windshield and sticks there. Which
undergoes the greater change in momentum? Answer- B. both undergo the same sized
change in momentum
In a roller coaster you are taken to the top of the tallest hill, then allowed to coast over the
rest of the track. At the lowest point on the track... Answer- C. your kinetic energy is a
maximum.
Answers
Which of the following are parts of the scientific process, as described in class? (Check all
that apply). Answer- A. building a theory or hypothesis
E. careful observation or measurement
F. experimental tests of a hypothesis
H. modification of the model or theory (if needed)
The speed of light, c, (measured in meters/second) is...? Answer- E. 300,000,000
A light year is... Answer- C. a unit of distance
Color, Wavelength, Frequency, and Energy are all equivalent descriptions for a particular
type of light wave. Answer- A. True
The energy of light is directly proportional to its... Answer- frequency
Which of the following definitions correctly describe the ecliptic? (Check all that apply)
Answer- B. the plane in which the Earth orbits the Sun
D. the apparent path of the Sun relative to the background stars
E. the apparent path of the Sun on the celestial sphere
Which of the following explanations correctly describes the reason we see the Sun rise and
set each day? Answer- D. The Earth rotates on its axis
Which of the following explanations correctly describes the reason Earth's Moon shows
phases? Answer- B. The changing angle between the Sun, Moon, and Earth causes a
variable fraction of the Moon's surface to reflect sunlight
Which of the following are a consequence of the Earth's yearly motion around the Sun?
(Check all that apply) Answer- C. different stars are seen at night at different times of the
year
D. the Sun appears in different constellations in different months
E. the Sun changes its height in the sky in different seasons
, Which of the following explanations correctly describes the reason Earth experiences
seasons? Answer- A. The Earth's Northern hemisphere is tilted 23.5 degrees toward the
Sun in Summer and away from the Sun in Winter
During a partial lunar eclipse... Answer- F. The Moon is partially within the Earth's umbra
During an annular solar eclipse... Answer- F. The Moon covers all but the outer ring of the
Sun
The Ptolemaic cosmology (Claudius Ptolomy's model of the solar system) was
predominantly believed for many centuries in Europe. Which statement below is FALSE
about the Ptolemaic system? Answer- C. It was much simpler than the earlier models and
therefore not as accurate.
Of the cosmological models listed below, which placed the Earth at the center of the model?
(Check all that apply) Answer- A. Ptolemaic (Claudius Ptolomy)
B. Aristotelian (Aristotle)
D. Tychonic (Tycho Brahe)
Two ingerdients in the scientific method are careful observations, and the formulation of a
model (or theory) which adequately explains the observations. The history of astronomy in
the post-renaissance period provides a beautiful example of this in the cooperation
between... Answer- A. Tycho Brahe's observations, and Johannes Kepler's model
The fastest moving planet in our Solar system is... Answer- C. the planet nearest the Sun
An engineer who designs "static" structures knows that a particular design is a failure if...
Answer- E. the structure becomes too dynamic.
A car is parked on a hill. Besides its weight and a frictional force on the tires and brakes,
what other force must act in order to keep the car "static"? Answer- D. The normal force: the
ground pushing on the car.
You're driving down the highway and a bug hits your windshield and sticks there. Which
undergoes the greater change in momentum? Answer- B. both undergo the same sized
change in momentum
In a roller coaster you are taken to the top of the tallest hill, then allowed to coast over the
rest of the track. At the lowest point on the track... Answer- C. your kinetic energy is a
maximum.
