Astro 7n Exam 1 (Unit 1 & 2) Quiz
Questions
According to Newton's Second Law of motion, if the net force acting on the object increases
while the mass of the object remains constant, what happens to the acceleration?
Hint: Remember F = m * a - correct answer-Acceleration Increases
If the earth were moved to half its current distance from the sun, how would the force of
gravity by the sun on the earth change?
Hint: Recall the form of the equation that you derived, earlier in the game: "gravitational
acceleration (g) is proportional to the mass (m) of the body you are bound to, and
INVERSELY proportional to the SQUARE of your distance (r) from its center mass," or g = m
/ (r * r) - correct answer-It would be four times stronger
What did newton's law of universal gravitation tell us about how gravity works?
Hint: Recall that the FORCE of gravity ('F = ma' or 'F = mg'), unlike gravitational acceleration
(just the 'a' or 'g'), depends on the masses of two objects interacting -- remember that the 'g'
in 'F = mg' is also dependent on a mass value (of a second object). - correct answer-The
force of gravity from the sun will be stronger on an object with more mass
The earth's radius is about 6400 km. If you were to orbit in the space station 150 km above
the ground, the force of gravity you feel from earth would be...?
Hint: think only about Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation. Recall the form of the equation
that you derived earlier in the game: "gravitational acceleration (g) is proportional to the
mass (m) of the body you are bound to, and INVERSELY proportional to the SQUARE of
your distance (r) from its center mass," or g = m / (r * r) - correct answer-Slightly weaker than
when you are standing on earth
If you were to sit on the ground ere would be a force due to gravity pulling you toward earth.
which of the following is true according to newton's 3rd law?
Hint: Remember each force has an equal and opposite reaction. - correct answer-You are
pushing the earth away from yourself with the same force
What would happen to the earth if the Sun's gravity somehow turned off instantaneously?
Hint: Recall Newton's First Law of Motion (also referred to as "inertia"): "An object at rest will
remain as rest unless acted upon by a force. An object in motion will continue in motion --- in
a straight path and at constant velocity -- unless acted upon by a force, Think of a moment
about the force of gravity between the Earth and the Sun, and which way or ways that force
, is directed. - correct answer-It would continue to move in a line in the same direction it was
moving when the gravity turned off
Consider a planet whose rotation axis is NOT tilted with respect to its orbital plane. What are
the season's like on this planet?
Hint: The seasons on Earth aren't caused by different distances from the Sun in different
parts of the orbit. What are they caused by? - correct answer-There are no seasons
If the Earth rotated on its axis more slowly than it does now...
Hint: How long does it take for the Earth to rotate - correct answer-Its days would be longer
If Earth has its orbit changed so that at all points along its orbit it was always the same
distance from the sun (circular orbit), how would this affect the seasons on Earth?
Hint: Remember that the orbit of the sun around the earth is an eclipse but that it is pretty
close to being a circle - correct answer-They would be the same as they are now.
A new planet orbits its star faster than the Earth orbits the Sun and it rotates more slowly
than the earth rotates. Therefore....
Hint: the Year is how long it takes the earth to orbit the sun. The day is how long it takes the
Earth to spin once on its axis - correct answer-The new planet has a shorter year than earth
and a longer day than earth
What time of year is it dark all day (and night) at the south pole of Earth?
Hint: When it is summer at the north pole what season is it at the south pole? - correct
answer-June
If Earth's Moon was full on May 1, 2007. When was it next in the first quarter phase after this
full moon?
Hint: Remember the order is full Moon then third quarter than new moon then first quarter
and back to full moon again - correct answer-May 22
How much of the total surface area of the moon is illuminated by sunlight during the full
moon phase?
hint: We don't see the whole surface of the moon, do we? - correct answer-One half
At approximately what time does the third quarter moon rise?
Hint: Draw a sketch like what you saw in the moon phase game and think about when a
point on earth rotates into daylight - correct answer-Midnight
Approximately two weeks after a "solar eclipse", what phase will the Moon be in?
Questions
According to Newton's Second Law of motion, if the net force acting on the object increases
while the mass of the object remains constant, what happens to the acceleration?
Hint: Remember F = m * a - correct answer-Acceleration Increases
If the earth were moved to half its current distance from the sun, how would the force of
gravity by the sun on the earth change?
Hint: Recall the form of the equation that you derived, earlier in the game: "gravitational
acceleration (g) is proportional to the mass (m) of the body you are bound to, and
INVERSELY proportional to the SQUARE of your distance (r) from its center mass," or g = m
/ (r * r) - correct answer-It would be four times stronger
What did newton's law of universal gravitation tell us about how gravity works?
Hint: Recall that the FORCE of gravity ('F = ma' or 'F = mg'), unlike gravitational acceleration
(just the 'a' or 'g'), depends on the masses of two objects interacting -- remember that the 'g'
in 'F = mg' is also dependent on a mass value (of a second object). - correct answer-The
force of gravity from the sun will be stronger on an object with more mass
The earth's radius is about 6400 km. If you were to orbit in the space station 150 km above
the ground, the force of gravity you feel from earth would be...?
Hint: think only about Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation. Recall the form of the equation
that you derived earlier in the game: "gravitational acceleration (g) is proportional to the
mass (m) of the body you are bound to, and INVERSELY proportional to the SQUARE of
your distance (r) from its center mass," or g = m / (r * r) - correct answer-Slightly weaker than
when you are standing on earth
If you were to sit on the ground ere would be a force due to gravity pulling you toward earth.
which of the following is true according to newton's 3rd law?
Hint: Remember each force has an equal and opposite reaction. - correct answer-You are
pushing the earth away from yourself with the same force
What would happen to the earth if the Sun's gravity somehow turned off instantaneously?
Hint: Recall Newton's First Law of Motion (also referred to as "inertia"): "An object at rest will
remain as rest unless acted upon by a force. An object in motion will continue in motion --- in
a straight path and at constant velocity -- unless acted upon by a force, Think of a moment
about the force of gravity between the Earth and the Sun, and which way or ways that force
, is directed. - correct answer-It would continue to move in a line in the same direction it was
moving when the gravity turned off
Consider a planet whose rotation axis is NOT tilted with respect to its orbital plane. What are
the season's like on this planet?
Hint: The seasons on Earth aren't caused by different distances from the Sun in different
parts of the orbit. What are they caused by? - correct answer-There are no seasons
If the Earth rotated on its axis more slowly than it does now...
Hint: How long does it take for the Earth to rotate - correct answer-Its days would be longer
If Earth has its orbit changed so that at all points along its orbit it was always the same
distance from the sun (circular orbit), how would this affect the seasons on Earth?
Hint: Remember that the orbit of the sun around the earth is an eclipse but that it is pretty
close to being a circle - correct answer-They would be the same as they are now.
A new planet orbits its star faster than the Earth orbits the Sun and it rotates more slowly
than the earth rotates. Therefore....
Hint: the Year is how long it takes the earth to orbit the sun. The day is how long it takes the
Earth to spin once on its axis - correct answer-The new planet has a shorter year than earth
and a longer day than earth
What time of year is it dark all day (and night) at the south pole of Earth?
Hint: When it is summer at the north pole what season is it at the south pole? - correct
answer-June
If Earth's Moon was full on May 1, 2007. When was it next in the first quarter phase after this
full moon?
Hint: Remember the order is full Moon then third quarter than new moon then first quarter
and back to full moon again - correct answer-May 22
How much of the total surface area of the moon is illuminated by sunlight during the full
moon phase?
hint: We don't see the whole surface of the moon, do we? - correct answer-One half
At approximately what time does the third quarter moon rise?
Hint: Draw a sketch like what you saw in the moon phase game and think about when a
point on earth rotates into daylight - correct answer-Midnight
Approximately two weeks after a "solar eclipse", what phase will the Moon be in?
