(A) Topic 5,6,7,8 wrong

Question 1

Explain why we see inferior planets best at the maximum angle of elongation

Answer 1

Inferior planets can’t be seen in opposition

Question 2

Explain the term elongation

Answer 2

Angle at which we see an inferior planet

Question 3

What happens during an occultation?

Answer 3

One celestial body obscures and covers the other, blocking its light

Question 4

When does an opposition occur?

Answer 4

When a planet is opposite the Earth from the Sun

Question 5

Describe the main features of a meteor shower

Answer 5

• can last several hours
• happens when the Earth passes through a dusty meteoroid stream in the wake of a comet

Question 6

Define the term meteor

Answer 6

Fragments of dust from comets or asteroids that Earth smashes into whilst orbiting the sun

Question 7

What is a planetary track?

Answer 7

Path a planet makes on a star map

Question 8

What is inclination?

Answer 8

Angle between the orbital plane of the object and the plane of the ecliptic

Question 9

What is the Earth’s inclination?

Answer 9

23.5

Question 10

Devise an experiment to observe the Sun using a paper or card

Answer 10

1. Cut out a small hole in a card paper
2. Find a smooth surface
3. Angle the hole so the sun can be seen through it
4. Look at the Sun (through the projection)

Question 11

Why are red torches used by astronomers?

Answer 11

To ensure they don’t ruin their adapted eye

Question 12

How does the milky way look from Earth as seen with the naked eye?

Answer 12

furry light irregular column

Question 13

How can we find an observer’s latitude using NCP?

Answer 13

Altitude of NCP = Latitude of Observer

Question 14

Explain why the sky appears to move from east to west when we know the Earth rotates

Answer 14

The apparent motion of the sky- we think we are stationary, whereas in reality, we may be standing still but the Earth is still moving

Question 15

Define circumpolar stars

Answer 15

Stars that never set below the horizon: can be seen from one location throughout the year

Question 16

What two things affect how long we can view the constellations?

Answer 16

• Earth’s titled axis
• 23.5 degree angle to the ecliptic

Question 17

What formula determines the circumpolarity of stars?

Answer 17

declination >/ (90 - latitude of observers)
observer’s latitude +/- co-declination of stars
declination=co-latitude

Question 18

Define the term upper culmination

Answer 18

Star at its highest point

Question 19

Define the term lower culmination

Answer 19

Star at its lowest point

Question 20

What other word can be used instead of culmination?

Answer 20

transit

Question 21

What is co-declination?

Answer 21

Distance between NCP and stars

Question 22

What is the formula for co-declination?

Answer 22

Co-declination = 90 degrees - declination

Question 23

When does the upper culmination take place?

Answer 23

Takes place when right ascension = LST

Question 24

Define cardinal point

Answer 24

Compass point in space

Question 25

Define circumpolarity

Answer 25

When a star never sets below the horizon from a certain latitude

Question 26

Define culmination

Answer 26

When a star (or another body) reaches the observer meridian

Question 27

Define the term meridian

Answer 27

Imaginary line between north and south pole

Question 28

What is an hour angle?

Answer 28

Angle between the meridian of the observer and star's meridian line

Question 29

What is the formula for the hour angle?

Answer 29

local sidereal time - RA of stars

Question 30

Define the term Altitude

Answer 30

How high an object is above the horizon

Question 31

Define the term Azimuth

Answer 31

How far eastwards an object is in degrees

Question 32

When can we work out the Sun's altitude and use which equation?

Answer 32

When the sun is at its highest point in daytime sun altitude = sun declination + (90 degrees - latitude of observer)

Question 33

Describe other visibility problem that affect astronomers

Answer 33

- Rising and setting of sun + thicker atmosphere - Saharan dust + volcanic ash in Upper Earth atmosphere - weather conditions - landscape - other celestial bodies

Question 34

Why are many of the constellations based on Greek Mythology?

Answer 34

Ptolemy, a Greek astronomer was responsible for scripting all the constellations

Question 35

What are star maps and charts?

Answer 35

Map that gives positions and magnitudes of stars

Question 36

What is a planisphere?

Answer 36

Rotating star locator

Question 37

What is the Plough used to find?

Answer 37

Polaris and Arcturus

Question 38

What does Orion point to?

Answer 38

Sirius the brightest star

Question 39

What does the square of Pegasus point?

Answer 39

Andromeda Galaxy

Question 40

Define the term open cluster

Answer 40

Group of stars close to each other but form no specific symmetry

Question 41

Define the term globular cluster

Answer 41

Groups of stars which are spherical shaped with more stars closer to the nucleus

Question 42

Define the term nebulae

Answer 42

Place where stars are born + where they die

Question 43

Define the term supernovae

Answer 43

The large explosion which takes place after the death of a star

Question 44

Define the term aurorae

Answer 44

The solar wind interacts with the atmosphere which produces light and colour displays in the sky

Question 45

What are binary stars?

Answer 45

Stars that orbit around a common center - share a gravitational bond

Question 46

What is another name for binary stars?

Answer 46

double stars

Question 47

What are optical double stars?

Answer 47

Stars that look close together from Earth but are actually not related to each other

Question 48

How do we know the difference between a star and a planet when viewed from Earth without a telescope?

Answer 48

Planets are typically brighter and don't tend to oscillate

Question 49

Define the term asterism

Answer 49

Pattern of stars that may or may not be related to a constellation.

Question 50

Define epicycles

Answer 50

Each planet revolves uniformly along a circular path, which revolves around the earth in a larger circular path

Question 51

Who came up with the idea of epicycles?

Answer 51

Ptolemy

Question 52

Why were epicycles created?

Answer 52

To justify the geocentric theory by solving the inability to explain the imperfect motion of heavenly bodies

Question 53

What is the inverse proportion law?

Answer 53

Every body in the Universe attracts another with a force that is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of their distance

Question 54

How is the inverse proportion law related to Kepler's third law?

Answer 54

As an object orbits nearer in an elliptical orbit, there must be an increase in gravitational force between them at that point

Question 55

What is Kepler's third law?

Answer 55

The square of the orbital period of a planet (t) is proportional to the cube of its mean distance (r) from the sun

Question 56

What is the role of mass in Kepler's third law?

Answer 56

Gravitational attraction is dependent on the mass, therefore mass must accounted for

Question 57

What is an orbit?

Answer 57

The celestial path of body in space around another body

Question 58

What is Kepler's first law?

Answer 58

Planets move in elliptical orbits around the sun, with the sun at one focus

Question 59

What is Kepler's second law?

Answer 59

An imaginary line from the Sun to a planet sweeps out equal areas in equal intervals of time

Question 60

What is an ellipse?

Answer 60

Oval shape with two foci

Question 61

Who introduced the Geo-heliocentric model?

Answer 61

Tycho-Brahe

Question 62

What did the geo-heliocentric model suggest?

Answer 62

Moon and the Sun orbited Earth but everything else orbited the Sun

Question 63

What did Kepler discover using Tycho's observations?

Answer 63

Planets didn't follow circular orbits but elliptical