1. Created for PHCA By Dick Heckathorn 30 October 2005
A Basic Test of Astronomical Facts and Concepts A Project Star Activity
Created for PHCA By
Dick Heckathorn
30 October 2005

2. Guidelines for Administering
1 Photocopy the test so each of your students has a copy.
2 Take the test yourself. If not sure, give your best opinion.
3 Make note of the questions that contain concepts you have taught.

3. Guidelines for Administering
4 Predict how well you think your class will score on each of the questions. (NOTE: Write down your prediction and file it away. That way you will not be tempted to change your mind after the fact.)
5 Score the results.
6 Compare your students' results with your predicted results.

4. 1. One night we looked
at the Moon and saw:
A few days later we looked again and saw this:
What do you think best describes the reason for this change?

5. B. The Moon moves into the Earth's shadow.
A. Clouds block the Moon.
B. The Moon moves into the Earth's shadow.
C. The Moon moves into the Sun's shadow.
D. The Moon is black and white and rotates.
E. The Moon moves around the Earth.
F. The Earth moves around the Moon.
G. The Moon passes the planets and goes in and out of their shadows.
A. Clouds block the Moon.
B. The Moon moves into the Earth's shadow.
C. The Moon moves into the Sun's shadow.
D. The Moon is black and white and rotates.
E. The Moon moves around the Earth.
F. The Earth moves around the Moon.
G. The Moon passes the planets and goes in and out of their shadows.
A-G

6. 2. What causes night and day? A. The Earth turns on its axis.
B. The Earth moves around the Sun.
C. The Moon blocks out the Sun's light.
D. The Earth moves in to the Sun's
shadow.
E. The Sun goes around the Earth.
2. What causes night and day?
A. The Earth turns on its axis.
B. The Earth moves around the Sun.
C. The Moon blocks out the Sun's light.
D. The Earth moves in to the Sun's
shadow.
E. The Sun goes around the Earth.
A-E

7. 3. On October 17, 1604, J. Kepler went
outside, looked up and saw a bright star
where none had been what astronomers
call a supernova. When do you think the
star exploded?
A. Before October 17, 1604.
B. On October 17,1604.
C. After October 17, 1604.
3. On October 17, 1604, J. Kepler went
outside, looked up and saw a bright star
where none had been what astronomers
call a supernova. When do you think the
star exploded?
A. Before October 17, 1604.
B. On October 17,1604.
C. After October 17, 1604.
A-C

8. 4. The man is reading a newspaper by the light of a single candle 5 feet away. Draw in the number of candies necessary to light up the paper to the same brightness, if the candle holder were moved to be 10 feet from the newspaper.
A. 1 candle
B. 2 candles
C. 3 candies
D. 4 candies
E. 5 candles
F. more than 5 candles
A. 1 candle
B. 2 candles
C. 3 candies
D. 4 candies
E. 5 candles
F. more than 5 candles
A-F

9. 5. What causes the seasons? A. The Earth's distance from the Sun.
B. The Earth's axis flipping back and forth
as it travels around the Sun.
C. The Sun's motion around the Earth.
D. The Earth's axis always pointing in the
same direction.
E. The shifting seasons on the Earth
5. What causes the seasons?
A. The Earth's distance from the Sun.
B. The Earth's axis flipping back and forth
as it travels around the Sun.
C. The Sun's motion around the Earth.
D. The Earth's axis always pointing in the
same direction.
E. The shifting seasons on the Earth
A-E

10. 6. Which answer goes from smallest size to largest size?
A. Sun ‑> Earth ‑> Moon
B. Sun ‑> Moon ‑> Earth
C. Earth ‑> Moon ‑> Sun
D. Earth ‑> Sun ‑> Moon
E. Moon ‑>Sun‑> Earth
F. Moon ‑> Earth ‑>Sun
6. Which answer goes from smallest size to largest size?
A. Sun ‑> Earth ‑> Moon
B. Sun ‑> Moon ‑> Earth
C. Earth ‑> Moon ‑> Sun
D. Earth ‑> Sun ‑> Moon
E. Moon ‑>Sun‑> Earth
F. Moon ‑> Earth ‑>Sun
A-F

11. E. Anytime of day or night F. Not possible
7. What time could it be if you saw a thin crescent Moon on the western horizon?
A. Sunrise
B. Sunset
C. Noon
D. Midnight
E. Anytime of day or night
F. Not possible
7. What time could it be if you saw a thin crescent Moon on the western horizon?
A. Sunrise
B. Sunset
C. Noon
D. Midnight
E. Anytime of day or night
F. Not possible
A-F

12. 8. What is the name of this pattern of stars? A. Orion D. Big Dipper
B. Ursa Minor E. Pleiades
C. North Star
8. What is the name of this pattern of stars?
A. Orion D. Big Dipper
B. Ursa Minor E. Pleiades
C. North Star
A-E

13. In what constellation is the Sun at Sunset? A. Leo D. Cancer
9. It you could see stars during the day, this is what the sky would look like at noon on a given day. The Sun is in the constellation of Gemini.
In what constellation is the Sun at Sunset?
A. Leo D. Cancer
B. Canis Major E. Taurus
C. Gemini
In what constellation is the Sun at Sunset?
A. Leo D. Cancer
B. Canis Major E. Taurus
C. Gemini
A-E

14. Which objects could they represent?
10. Assume these circles represent two objects in the solar system with their diameters drawn to scale.
Which objects could they represent?
A. Earth and Moon B. Jupiter and Earth
C. Sun and Earth D. Sun and Jupiter
Which objects could they represent?
A. Earth and Moon B. Jupiter and Earth
C. Sun and Earth D. Sun and Jupiter
A-D

15. Evaluation How well did you do.
Your instructor must give you a score of 10 out of 10 as you were asked for your opinion based on your prior background.
Should you have the opportunity to take this quiz after you had been exposed to all the concepts, then one could categorize each question as right or wrong.

16. That’s all folks!