-
A) A B) B C) C D) D
1. The diagram below shows a planet's orbit around theSun.
At which location is the planet's orbital velocitygreatest?
A) the Sun in slightly elliptical orbitsB) the Sun in circular
orbitsC) Earth in slightly elliptical orbitsD) Earth in circular
orbits
2. The modern heliocentric model of planetary motionstates that
the planets travel around
A) the Moon is closest to EarthB) Earth’s distance from the Sun
is greatestC) Earth, the Moon, and the Sun are located along a
straight line in spaceD) the highest maximum temperatures occur
in the
Northern Hemisphere
3. Earth’s orbital velocity is slowest on July 5 because
A) B)
C) D)
4. Which graph best shows the general relationship between a
planet's distance from the Sun and theSun's gravitational
attraction to the planet?
-
A) 0.3 B) 0.5 C) 0.7 D) 1.4
5. The diagram below represents the elliptical orbit of amoon
revolving around a planet. The foci of this orbitare the points
labeled F1 and F2.
What is the approximate eccentricity of this
ellipticalorbit?
A) A Foucault pendulum shows predictable changesin its direction
of swing.
B) The apparent diameter of the Sun showspredictable changes in
size.
C) The length of daylight at the poles changes from0 to 24 hours
during the year.
D) Summer occurs in the Northern Hemisphere atthe same time that
winter occurs in the SouthernHemisphere.
6. Which observation is a direct result of changes indistance
between Earth and the Sun?
A) B)
C) D)
7. Which graph best represents the change ingravitational
attraction between the Sun and a cometas the distance between them
increases?
A) The Sun follows an apparent daily path, rising inthe east and
setting in the west.
B) A Foucault pendulum appears to shift itsdirection of swing in
a predictable manner.
C) The stars appear to follow circular paths aroundthe North
Star (Polaris).
D) The seasons of spring, summer, fall, andwinter repeat in a
pattern.
8. Which statement provides the best evidence that Earthrevolves
around the Sun?
-
A) B)
C) D)
9. The symbols below represent two planets.
Which combination of planet masses and distances produces the
greatest gravitational force betweenthe planets?
Base your answers to questions 10 through 13 on the diagram of
the solar system below.
A) Venus B) Mars C) Saturn D) Pluto
10. Which planet has the most eccentric orbit?
A) shorter its period of rotation B) shorter its period of
revolutionC) longer its period of rotation D) longer its period of
revolution
11. According to Kepler's Harmonic Law of Planetary Motion, the
farther a planet is located from theSun, the
A) heliocentric model B) geocentric modelC) sidereal model D)
lunar model
12. Which kind of model of the solar system is represented by
the diagram?
-
A) one-ninth as great B) nine times as greatC) one-fourth as
great D) four times as great
13. If the Earth's distance from the Sun were doubled, the
gravitational attraction between the Sun andEarth would be
A) heliocentric model B) tetrahedral modelC) concentric model D)
geocentric model
14. In which type of model are the Sun, other stars, andthe Moon
in orbit around the Earth?
Base your answers to questions 15 through 19 on thediagram below
which represents a planet, P, in anelliptical orbit around a star
located at F1. The foci ofthe elliptical orbit are F1 and F2.
Orbital locations arerepresented by P1 through P6.
A) remain the sameB) be two times greaterC) be three times
greaterD) be nine times greater
15. If the mass of planet P were tripled, the gravitationalforce
between the star and planet P would
A) P2 and P3 B) P4 and P5C) P3 and P4 D) P6 and P1
16. If the shaded portions of the orbital plane are equalin
area, the time period between P1 and P2 will beequal to the time
period between
A) 0.52 B) 0.83 C) 2.11 D) 4.47
17. What is the approximate eccentricity of planet P'sorbit?
A) P1 B) P2 C) P3 D) P4
18. When observed from the planet, the star would haveits
greatest apparent angular diameter when theplanet is located at
position
A) P1 B) P2 C) P3 D) P4
19. The gravitational attraction between planet P and thestar is
greatest when the planet is located at position
-
A) B)
C) D)
20. The graph below shows the varying amount of gravitational
attraction between the Sun and anasteroid in our solar system.
Letters A, B, C, and D indicate four positions in the asteroid's
orbit.
Which diagram best represents the positions of the asteroid in
its orbit around the Sun? [Note: Thediagrams are not drawn to
scale.]
A) They have the same period of revolution.B) They are perfect
spheres.C) They exert the same gravitational force on
each other.D) They have elliptical orbits with the Sun at
one focus.
21. In what way are the planets Mars, Mercury, andEarth
similar?
-
A) Venus will set 1 hour after the Sun becauseEarth rotates at
45° per hour.
B) Venus will set 2 hours after the Sun becauseVenus orbits
Earth faster than the Sun orbitsEarth.
C) Venus will set 3 hours after the Sun becauseEarth rotates at
15° per hour.
D) Venus will set 4 hours after the Sun becauseVenus orbits
Earth slower than the Sun orbitsEarth.
22. An observer on Earth measures the angle of sightbetween
Venus and the setting Sun.
Which statement best describes and explains theapparent motion
of Venus over the next few hours?
A) Mercury B) NeptuneC) Pluto D) Venus
23. Which planet’s orbit around the Sun is most
nearlycircular?
A) Neptune B) JupiterC) Pluto D) Mars
24. The constructed ellipse below is a true scale modelof the
orbit of a planet in our solar system. Thisellipse best represents
the orbit of the planet
A) B)
C) D)
25. Which diagram shows a planet with the least eccentric
orbit?
( Key: • = planet * = star )
A) the Sun B) BetelgeuseC) Earth D) Jupiter
26. Which object is located at one foci of the ellipticalorbit
of Mars?
-
A) B) C) D)
27. The diagram below shows a satellite in four different
positions as it revolves around a planet.
Which graph best represents the changes in this satellite's
orbital velocity as it revolves around theplanet?
A) B)
C) D)
28. The table below shows gravitational data for a
planettraveling in an elliptical orbit around a star. Thetable
shows the relative gravitational force betweenthe star and this
planet at eight positions in the orbit(letters A through H). Higher
numbers indicatestronger gravitational attraction.
Which diagram best represents the positions of theplanet in its
orbit that would produce thegravitational forces shown in the data
table?
A) The gravitational force between the Earth andthe Sun
decreases.
B) The Sun's apparent diameter decreases.C) The Sun's rate of
rotation increases.D) The Earth's orbital speed increases.
29. Which change always occurs as the distance betweenthe Earth
and the Sun decreases?
-
A) B)
C) D)
30. Which graph best represents the force of gravity between
Earth and the Sun during one revolution ofEarth around the Sun?
A) geocentric model with the Sun near the centerB) geocentric
model with Earth near the centerC) heliocentric model with the Sun
near the
centerD) heliocentric model with Earth near the center
31. This diagram of our solar system represents a
A) The Earth is located at the center of themodel.
B) All planets revolve around the Sun.C) The Sun is located at
the center of the model.D) All planets except the Earth revolve
around the
Sun.
32. Which statement best describes the geocentric modelof our
solar system?
A) a very eccentric ellipseB) a slightly eccentric ellipseC) an
oblate spheroidD) a perfect circle
33. The actual shape of the Earth's orbit around the Sunis best
described as
A) 1.3 B) 0.8 C) 0.5 D) 0.3
34. The diagram below represents the construction of amodel of
an elliptical orbit of a planet travelingaround a star.The focal
point and the center of the star representthe foci of the
orbit.
The eccentricity of this orbit is approximately
-
A) less elliptical, with a shorter distance betweenits foci
B) less elliptical, with a greater distance betweenits foci
C) more elliptical, with a shorter distance betweenits foci
D) more elliptical, with a greater distancebetween its foci
35. Compared to the orbit of the Jovian planets, the orbitof
Halley’s comet is
A) decrease, then increaseB) increase, then decreaseC)
continually decreaseD) remain the same
36. The diagram below represents a planet revolving inan
elliptical orbit around a star.
As the planet makes one complete revolution aroundthe star,
starting at the position shown, thegravitational attraction between
the star and theplanet will
A) less than 40 daysB) greater than 40 daysC) 40 days
37. The diagram below shows the orbits of planets A and B in a
star-planet system.
The period of revolution for planet B is 40 days. Theperiod of
revolution for planet A most likely is
A) elliptical and very elongatedB) parabolicC) nearly circularD)
perfectly circular
38. The shape of the orbits of most of the planets in thesolar
system would best be described as
39. Base your answer to the following question on thediagram
below which represents nine positions of theEarth in orbit around
the Sun during one completeorbit of the Moon around the Earth.
A) changes in the gravitational attractionbetween the Moon and
the Earth
B) the Earth to have an equatorial bulgeC) the Moon's period of
rotation to equal its period
of revolutionD) the 23 ° tilt of the Earth's axis of
rotation
The elliptical shape of the Moon's orbit around theEarth
causes
A) Moon is rotatingB) Moon’s orbit is ellipticalC) atmospheric
transparency of the Moon changesD) distance between the Moon and
the Sun
changes
40. An observer on Earth determines that the apparentdiameter of
the Moon as viewed from Earth varies ina cyclic manner. The best
explanation for thisobservation is that the
A) rotation rateB) massC) insolation from the SunD) distance
from the Sun
41. The period of time a planet takes to make onerevolution
around the Sun is most dependent on theplanet's average
-
A) small and they are far apartB) small and they are close
togetherC) large and they are far apartD) large and they are close
together
42. The force of gravity between two objects will begreatest if
their masses are
43. Base your answer to the following question on thediagram
below, which represents an exaggeratedview of Earth revolving
around the Sun. Letters A, B,C, and D represent Earth's location in
its orbit on thefirst day of each of the four seasons.
A) Stars seen from Earth appear to circle Polaris.B) Earth's
planetary winds are deflected by the
Coriolis effect.C) The change from high ocean tide to low
ocean
tide is a repeating pattern.D) Different star constellations are
seen from
Earth at different times of the year.
Which observation provides the best evidence thatEarth revolves
around the Sun?
A) The Earth would revolve around the Sun.B) The Earth would
rotate on its axis.C) The Moon would revolve around the Sun.D) The
Sun would revolve around the Earth.
44. In the geocentric model (the Earth at the center ofthe
universe), which motion would occur?
A) 0.22 B) 0.47 C) 0.68 D) 1.47
45. The diagram below shows the elliptical orbit of aplanet
revolving around a star. The star and F2arethe foci of this
ellipse.
What is the approximate eccentricity of this ellipse?
A) Earth B) JupiterC) Pluto D) Saturn
46. Which planet has an orbit with an eccentricity mostsimilar
to the eccentricity of the Moon’s orbitaround Earth?
A) Earth B) SunC) Moon D) Polaris
47. The diagram below represents a simple geocentricmodel. Which
object is represented by the letter X?
-
A) Kinetic energy is increasing and potentialenergy is
decreasing.
B) Kinetic energy is decreasing and potentialenergy is
increasing.
C) Both kinetic and potential energy aredecreasing.
D) Both kinetic and potential energy areincreasing.
48. The diagram below represents a planet in orbitaround a
star.
Which statement best describes how the planet'senergy is
changing as it moves from point A to point B?
A)
B)
C)
D)
49. The symbols below represent star masses anddistances.
Which diagram shows two stars that have thegreatest
gravitational force betweenthem?
-
50. Base your answer to the following question on the diagram
below, which shows positions of the Moon in its orbit and phases of
the Moon as viewedfrom New York State.
A) 0.017 B) 0.055 C) 0.386 D) 0.723
What is the eccentricity of the Moon’s orbit?
A) Constellations move within our galaxy.B) Constellations have
elliptical orbits.C) Earth revolves around the Sun.D) Earth rotates
on its axis.
51. Why are some constellations visible to New YorkState
observers at midnight during April, but not visible at midnight
during October?
-
52. Base your answer to the following question on the diagram
below, which shows a portion of the solarsystem.
A) elliptical, with Earth at one of the fociB) elliptical, with
the Sun at one of the fociC) circular, with Earth at the centerD)
circular, with the Sun at the center
The actual orbits of the planets are
A) inclination of Earth's axisB) rate of rotation of EarthC)
distance between Earth and the SunD) oblate spheroid shapes of
Earth and the Sun
53. Differences in Earth's orbital velocity around theSun are
caused primarily by changes in the
A) masses are small and the objects are closetogether
B) masses are small and the objects are far apartC) masses are
large and the objects are close
togetherD) masses are large and the objects are far apart
54. The force of gravity between two objects is greatestwhen
A) A B) B C) C D) D
55. Base your answer to the question below on thediagram below.
The diagram represents the path of aplanet orbiting a star. Points
A, B, C, and D indicatefour orbital positions of the planet.
When viewed by an observer on the planet, the starhas the
largest apparent diameter at position
-
A) eccentricity =299,000,000 km5,000,000 km
B) eccentricity = 5,000,000 km 299,000,000 km
C) eccentricity = 299,000,000 km - 5,000,000 kmD) eccentricity
=
5,000,000 km 299,000,000 km - 5,000,000 km
56. The diagram below represents the elliptical orbit ofthe
Earth around the Sun.
Which equation should be used to find theeccentricity of the
Earth's orbit?
A) B)
C) D)
57. Which graph best represents the relationshipbetween the
gravitational attraction of two objectsand their distance from each
other?
A) circular, with the planet at the centerB) circular, with the
Sun at the centerC) elliptical, with the planet at one of the
fociD) elliptical, with the Sun at one of the foci
58. In our solar system, the orbits of the planets are
bestdescribed as
-
A) mass B) densityC) eccentricity of orbit D) period of
rotation
59. The bar graph below shows one planetary characteristic,
identified as X, plotted for the planets of oursolar system.
Which characteristic of the planets in our solar system is
represented by X?
A) The geocentric model no longer predicted thepositions of the
constellations.
B) The geocentric model did not predict the phasesof the
Moon.
C) The heliocentric model provided a simplerexplanation of the
motions of the planets.
D) The heliocentric model proved that the Earthrotates.
60. For what reason did the heliocentric model of theuniverse
replace the geocentric model of theuniverse?
A) direction of revolutionB) distance from the SunC) polar
circumferenceD) axial tilt
61. The speed of a planet in its orbit around the Sundepends
primarily on the planet's
A) geocentric, with elliptical orbitsB) geocentric, with
circular orbitsC) heliocentric, with elliptical orbitsD)
heliocentric, with circular orbits
62. The diagram below represents our solar system.
This system is best classified as
-
A) shape of Earth's MoonB) shape of an elliptical orbitC) path
of an earthquake waveD) path of a projectile deflected by Earth's
rotation
63. The diagram below represents a student'sconstructed
laboratory drawing.
The student's drawing best represents the
A) Venus B) EarthC) Mars D) Jupiter
64. Which planet has the least distance between the twofoci of
its elliptical orbit?
-
A) weaker gravitational attraction to the star and a shorter
period of revolutionB) weaker gravitational attraction to the star
and a longer period of revolutionC) stronger gravitational
attraction to the star and a shorter period of revolutionD)
stronger gravitational attraction to the star and a longer period
of revolution
65. The diagram below represents planets A and B, of equal mass,
revolving around a star.
Compared to planet A, planet B has a
A) Gravitational pull would decrease andperiod of revolution
would increase.
B) Gravitational pull would decrease and period ofrevolution
would decrease.
C) Gravitational pull would increase and period ofrevolution
would increase.
D) Gravitational pull would increase and period ofrevolution
would decrease.
66. If the average distance between Earth and the Sunwere
doubled, what changes would occur in theSun's gravitational pull on
Earth and Earth's periodof revolution? A) always less
B) always greaterC) always the sameD) sometimes less and
sometimes greater
67. Compared to the velocity of Jupiter in its orbit,
thevelocity of Halley’s comet is
-
A) a heliocentric model, in which celestial objectsorbit
Earth
B) a heliocentric model, in which celestial objectsorbit the
Sun
C) a geocentric model, in which celestial objectsorbit Earth
D) a geocentric model, in which celestial objectsorbit the
Sun
68. The diagram below shows one model of a portion ofthe
universe.
What type of model does the diagram bestdemonstrate?
A)
B)
C)
D)
69. Which diagram represents a geocentric model? [Key: E =
Earth, P = Planet, S = Sun]
-
A) Earth's orbit and the comet's orbit have the same distance
between foci.B) Earth's orbit has a greater distance between foci
than the comet's orbit.C) The comet's orbit has one focus, while
Earth's orbit has two foci.D) The comet's orbit has a greater
distance between foci than Earth's orbit.
70. The diagram below represents the position of Earth in its
orbit and the position of a comet in its orbitaround the Sun.
Which inference can be made about the comet's orbit, when it is
compared to Earth's orbit?
A) the Moon B) the SunC) Venus D) Polaris
71. Which object orbits Earth in both the
Earth-centered(geocentric) and Sun-centered (heliocentric) modelsof
our solar system?
A) deflection of the windB) curved path of projectilesC) motion
of a Foucault pendulumD) the sun's path through the sky
72. Which apparent motion can be explained by ageocentric
model?
A) changes in the orbital velocity of the EarthB) tilting of the
Earth's axisC) the oblate spheroid shape of the EarthD) the phases
of the Moon
73. The elliptical shape of the Earth's orbit results in
A) A B) B C) C D) D
74. The diagram below shows four positions of a planetin its
orbit around the Sun.
At which position is the planet's orbital speedgreatest?
-
A) B)
C) D)
75. In each diagram below, the mass of the star is the same. In
which diagram is the force of gravitygreatest between the star and
the planet shown?
A) winter B) springC) summer D) fall
76. Earth is farthest from the Sun during the
NorthernHemisphere's summer, and Earth is closest to theSun during
the Northern Hemispheres winter.During which season in the Northern
Hemisphere isEarth's orbital velocity greatest?
Base your answers to questions 77 and 78 on the diagram below,
which represents the currentlocations of two planets, Aand B,
orbiting a star. Letter X indicates a position in the orbit of
planet A.Numbers 1 through 4 indicate positions in the orbit of
planet B.
A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4
77. As planet A moves in orbit from its current location to
position X, planet B most likely moves in orbitfrom its current
location to position
A) Mercury B) Jupiter C) Earth D) Mars
78. If the diagram represents our solar system and planet B is
Venus, which planet is represented byplanet A?
-
A)
B)
C)
D)
79. Which bar graph correctly shows the orbitaleccentricity of
the planets in our solar system?
A) Pluto B) SaturnC) Mars D) Mercury
80. Which planet has an orbital eccentricity most likethe
orbital eccentricity of the Moon?
A) degree of tilt of the planet’s axisB) distance between the
planet and the SunC) planet’s period of rotationD) amount of
insolation given off by the Sun
81. One factor responsible for the strength ofgravitational
attraction between a planet and the Sunis the
A) B)
C) D)
82. Which diagram best represents a portion of theheliocentric
model of the solar system? [S = Sun, E = Earth, and M = Moon]
A) decrease B) increaseC) remain the same
83. When the distance between the foci of an ellipse
isincreased, the eccentricity of the ellipse will
A) B)
C) D)
84. Which graph best represents the relationshipbetween the
gravitational attraction of two objectsand their distance from each
other?
A) Stars in constellations revolve around Earth.B) Stars in
constellations revolve around the Sun.C) Earth revolves around the
Sun.D) Earth rotates on its axis.
85. Which motion causes some constellations to bevisible in New
York State only during winter nightsand other constellations to be
visible only duringsummer nights?
-
A) Earth’s axis is tilted at 23.5°.B) Earth’s rotational speed
varies with the seasons.C) The Moon has an elliptical orbit.D) The
Moon has a spherical shape.
86. What is the main reason that the gravitationalattraction
between Earth and the Moon changes eachday?
A) The shaded sections of the diagram areequal in area.
B) The distance from the Sun to the Earth is thesame at point A
and at point D.
C) The orbital velocity of the Earth at point A equals its
orbital velocity at point C.
D) The gravitational force between the Earth andthe Sun at point
B is the same as thegravitational force at point D.
87. The diagram below represents the Earth's orbitalpath around
the Sun. The Earth takes the sameamount of time to move from A to B
as from C to D.
Which values are equal within the system?
A) B)
C) D)
88. Which diagram best represents the motions ofcelestial
objects in a heliocentric model?
A) degree of tilt of the planet's axisB) distance between the
planet and the SunC) planet's period of rotationD) amount of
insolation given off by the Sun
89. One factor responsible for the strength ofgravitational
attraction between a planet and the Sunis the
-
Answer KeyOrbits and Eccentricity
1. A2. A3. B4. D5. C6. B7. A8. D9. C10. D11. D12. A13. C14. D15.
C16. B17. A18. B19. B20. A21. D22. C23. D24. C25. A26. A27. C28.
B29. D30. C31. C32. A33. B34. B35. D
36. A37. A38. C39. A40. B41. D42. D43. D44. D45. C46. D47. A48.
A49. C50. B51. C52. B53. C54. C55. A56. B57. D58. D59. C60. C61.
B62. C63. B64. A65. B66. A67. D68. C69. C70. D
71. A72. D73. A74. B75. B76. A77. A78. A79. A80. B81. B82. C83.
B84. A85. C86. C87. A88. D89. B