Astronomy Unit Exam Review Sheet 2017 Answers

Astronomy Unit Test Review Sheet
1. Describe how each of the following scientists contributed to Astronomy:
a. Galileo- used a telescope to see craters, moons, etc
b. Kepler- Laws of planetary motion, elliptical orbits
c. Newton- gravity explains why objects fall to the earth and why planets
orbit the sun
d. Hubble- proved the existence of other galaxies; classified galaxies
e. Copernicus- Sun centered universe -heliocentric
f. Ptolemy- Earth centered universe- geocentric
2. What is the difference between a reflecting and a refracting telescope? What

other types of telescopes do scientists use to gather information?
Refracting uses a glass lens and a reflecting telescope uses mirrors. Scientists
also use telescopes such as x-ray and UV telescopes to see invisible light.
3. What is a light year? Explain how it is used by scientists.
A light year is the distance that light travels in one year. Scientists use it to
measure the distance between objects in space.
4. Diagram the electromagnetic spectrum, include all forms of radiation. Which

are most dangerous to humans?
Gamma rays (shorter wavelengths) are the most dangerous because they have
the most energy.
5. List the colors of stars in order from lowest temperature to highest
temperature.
Red, Orange, Yellow, White, Blue
6. What is another name for Polaris? Why was Polaris a useful navigation tool?
Polaris is also known as the North Star. It was used as a navigation tool
because it does not move very much throughout the night.
7. Why do stars appear to be moving in a circle around Polaris?
Many stars seem to move around Polaris as the Earth rotates.
8. Why do we experience different seasons at some parts of the Earth?
The earth receives either direct or indirect sunlight as it revolves around the
sun on a tilt.
9. Diagram Earth as it revolves around the sun and label the seasons.
10. When does, the Northern Hemisphere receive the most direct rays from
the sun?
June (summer solstice)
11. What causes the phases of the moon?
We see different phases of the moon because we see different portions of the
sunlit side of the moon as it orbits the earth.
12. How long does it take for the moon to revolve around the Earth and
repeat the same phase?
It takes about a month for the moon to revolve around the earth.
13. Diagram and name the 8 phases of the moon, starting with a New Moon.
14. Explain why the oceans experience high and low tides on Earth. How
many tides will an area on Earth experience each day?
The earth experiences high tides when that part of the earth’s oceans is pulled
outward by the moon’s gravity. The tides change from high to low (every 4
hrs) as the Earth rotates. There are 2 high and 2 low each day.
15. What are Spring Tides and Neap Tides? When do they occur? Include a
diagram.
Spring tides are the greatest tides because the moon and sun’s gravity
combine. A neap tide is the lowest tide because the moon and sun are at right
angles from each other.
16. What is a lunar eclipse? What is a solar eclipse?
A lunar eclipse is when the moon is shielded by the shadow of the earth. A solar
eclipse is when the sunlight reaching the earth is blocked by the moon.
17. How does the sun generate energy? Explain this process.
Nuclear fusion generates energy as hydrogen atoms combine to form helium

atoms.
18. What determines the lifecycle of a star? Explain why this is.
The life of a star depends on the mass of the star. This will determine how hot it
will burn and how stable it will be.
19. List the following types of stars from oldest to youngest: giant,
supergiant, white dwarf, main sequence.
Main sequence, giant/ supergiant, white dwarf
20. Draw an HR diagram with the x and y axis labeled and where the types
of stars will be (main sequence, red giant, white dwarf, etc.)
21. Name and describe the 3 different types of galaxies?
Spiral galaxies have concentrated centers and spiral arms.
Elliptical galaxies have a concentrated circular or oval shape.
Irregular galaxies have a shape unlike a spiral or elliptical galaxy.
22. What type of galaxy is the Milky Way galaxy?
spiral
23. What is the Big Bang Theory?

A theory about how the universe began after a big explosion.
24. What evidence can be used to support the Big Bang theory? Who is
credited for this law?
Hubble proved that the universe was expanding by showing that the light
coming from it is red shifted or longer.
25. Explain how the solar system formed. Be detailed.
Gravitational collapse of a part of a giant molecular cloud, most of the

collapsing mass collected in the center, forming the Sun, while the rest
flattened into a protoplanetary disk out of which the planets, moons, asteroids,
and other small bodies formed.
26. What are the 4 main criteria used to identify a planet
a. Orbit a star
b. Be big enough that its own gravity causes it to be round
c. Be small enough that it isn’t a star itself
d. Have cleared the area of its orbit of smaller objects
27. Explain the following in terms of what it causes on the planet

What does
it cause/ Length on Earth Length on Length on
create on (hours or days) Mercury Jupiter
the planet
Rotation: Spins on its 24 hours 56.84 days 0.41 days

axis
orbits the 0.24 years
Revolution: sun 365.24 days/ 1 11.86 years
year
28. Describe how the planets formed and include why the inner planets are
so different in structure than the outer planets.
Inner planets are rocky and small compared to the outer plants that are gas
giants. The heat from the sun caused the inner planets gases like hydrogen
and helium, to escape.
29. Define the following space objects:
a. Asteroid: very small, irregularly shaped, rock bodies
b. Meteor: in the earth’s atmosphere, forms a streak of light across the sky
c. Meteoroid: small pieces of matter in outer space
d. Meteorite: a meteor that has impacted Earth’s surface.
e. Comet: small, icy objects that orbit the sun.
30. Describe the following regions of space:
a. Asteroid Belt: The asteroid belt is the region of the Solar System located roughly
between the orbits of the planets Mars and Jupiter occupied by several irregularly
shaped bodies called asteroids.
b. Kuiper Belt: A region of the solar system beyond the planets extending form the
orbit of to the sun.
c. Oort Cloud: is an extended shell of icy objects that exist in the outermost regions
of the solar system.

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Astronomy Unit Test Review Sheet

1. Describe how each of the following scientists contributed to Astronomy:

a. Galileo- used a telescope to see craters, moons, etc

b. Kepler- Laws of planetary motion, elliptical orbits

orbit the sun

d. Hubble- proved the existence of other galaxies; classified galaxies

e. Copernicus- Sun centered universe -heliocentric

f. Ptolemy- Earth centered universe- geocentric

2. What is the difference between a reflecting and a refracting telescope? What

3. What is a light year? Explain how it is used by scientists.

4. Diagram the electromagnetic spectrum, include all forms of radiation. Which

Red, Orange, Yellow, White, Blue

7. Why do stars appear to be moving in a circle around Polaris?

Many stars seem to move around Polaris as the Earth rotates.

8. Why do we experience different seasons at some parts of the Earth?

June (summer solstice)

11. What causes the phases of the moon?

16. What is a lunar eclipse? What is a solar eclipse?

Nuclear fusion generates energy as hydrogen atoms combine to form helium

Main sequence, giant/ supergiant, white dwarf

21. Name and describe the 3 different types of galaxies?

Spiral galaxies have concentrated centers and spiral arms.

Elliptical galaxies have a concentrated circular or oval shape.

Irregular galaxies have a shape unlike a spiral or elliptical galaxy.

22. What type of galaxy is the Milky Way galaxy?

23. What is the Big Bang Theory?

25. Explain how the solar system formed. Be detailed.

Gravitational collapse of a part of a giant molecular cloud, most of the

26. What are the 4 main criteria used to identify a planet

b. Be big enough that its own gravity causes it to be round

c. Be small enough that it isn’t a star itself

d. Have cleared the area of its orbit of smaller objects

27. Explain the following in terms of what it causes on the planet

Rotation: Spins on its 24 hours 56.84 days 0.41 days

29. Define the following space objects:

a. Asteroid: very small, irregularly shaped, rock bodies

c. Meteoroid: small pieces of matter in outer space

d. Meteorite: a meteor that has impacted Earth’s surface.

e. Comet: small, icy objects that orbit the sun.

30. Describe the following regions of space:

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