1. daily warm up questions
Astronomy
daily warm up questions
Answers are located in the notes section of each slide.

2. Which event in the life cycle of a star causes it to begin to glow?
A. The particles making up the star repel each other.
B. The temperature of the star mass increases.
C. The matter making up the star condenses.
D. The neutrons in the star begin to spin.
B. The temperature of the star mass increases.

3. What characteristics do scientists measure to determine the temperature and composition of stars?
A. the position of the stars in the galaxy
B. the light radiated from the stars
C. the proximity of the stars to each other
D. the speed at which stars are moving
B. The light radiated from the stars

4. Many scientists used to accept the model that all objects in the universe revolved around the sun. What did they learn that made them change this model?
A. Stars do not revolve around the Sun.
B. Planets do not revolve around the Sun.
C. Comets do not revolve around the Sun.
D. Asteroids do not revolve around the Sun.
A. Stars do not revolve around the Sun.

5. We can be sure that the Milky Way galaxy we live in is a spiral galaxy rather than an elliptical galaxy because
A. It has curved arms.
B. It does not show any rotation.
C. It’s stars are all about the same age.
D. New stars are no longer forming.
A. It has curved arms.

6. Which of the following lists Earth, Jupiter, the Moon, and the Sun in order from largest to smallest?
A. Jupiter, Earth, Sun, Moon
B. Sun, Jupiter, Earth, Moon
C. Sun, Jupiter, Moon, Earth
D. Jupiter, Sun, Earth, Moon
B Sun Jupiter, Earth, Moon

7. How would the measurable properties of a golf ball change if it were moved from Earth to the Moon?
A. It would have the same mass, but different weight.
B. It would have the same weight, but a different mass.
C. It would have the same density, but a different mass.
D. It would have the same mass, but a different density.
A. It would have the same mass, but different weight.

8. Venus has the highest surface temperature of all the planets in our solar system. Which is the best explanation for this?
A. Venus rotates on its axis very slowly.
B. Venus is very close to the Sun.
C. Venus revolves around the Sun relatively quickly.
D. Venus’s atmosphere has thick clouds and carbon dioxide.
D. Venus’s atmosphere has thick clouds and carbon dioxide.

9. Astronomers usually measure the distance from Earth to the Moon in
A. Meters
B. Kilometers
C. Light-years
D. fathoms
B. kilometers

10. A characteristic of gaseous planets is that they have
A. no density.
B. a density greater than Earth’s.
C. a density the same as Earth’s.
D. a density less than Earth’s.
D. A density less than Earth’s.

11. Which planet is closest to the Sun?
A. Jupiter
B. Mars
C. Venus
D. Mercury
D. Mercury

12. Venus is completely enveloped in clouds that hide its surface from view on Earth. Which statement is also true about these clouds?
A. They keep the surface cool.
B. They produce sulfuric acid.
C. They are mostly made of water.
D. They are caused by volcanoes.
B. They produce sulfuric acid.

13. Earth is made of solid materials
Earth is made of solid materials. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are all made of gas. Which is true about the density of these planets?
A. They are more dense than Earth.
B. They have no density.
C. They are less dense than Earth.
D. They have the same density as Earth.
C. They are less dense than Earth.

14. The dark, lava-colored lowlands of the Moon are called
A. Mountains
B. Volcanoes
C. Valleys
D. Maria
D. Maria

15. A hurricane-type cloud known as the Great Red Spot can be found on which planet?
A. Saturn
B. Mars
C. Uranus
D. Jupiter
D. Jupiter

16. The atmosphere of Venus consists of thick yellow clouds formed mostly from
A. Helium
B. Sulfur
C. Hydrogen
D. Carbon
B. Sulfur

17. Which accounts for the fact that a compass can be used to find north on the Earth?
A. Earth has a magnetic field.
B. Earth has only one moon.
C. Most of the Earth is covered by water.
D. Earth’s temperature is not constant.
A. Earth has a magnetic field.

18. Which statement best explains why there is no atmosphere on the Moon?
A. The temperature of the Moon varies too much to develop an atmosphere.
B. The Moon does not have enough gravity to hold an atmosphere.
C. The Moon revolves too quickly to keep an atmosphere.
D. The density of the Moon is too great to allow an atmosphere.
B. The Moon does not have enough gravity to hold an atmosphere.

19. Artificial satellites are grouped into all of the following categories EXCEPT
A. Commercial
B. Meteor
C. Scientific
D. Secret military
B. Meteor

20. Each year Earth moves once around
A. Mars
B. Venus
C. The Sun
D. The Moon
C. The Sun

21. If you were to watch the stars at night, they would seem to
A. Stay in exactly the same place in the sky.
B. Move across the sky at night, as the Sun does during the day.
C. Go in circles around the point straight up from where you are.
D. Move across the sky at night, in the opposite direction that the Sun moves during the day.
B. Move across the sky at night, as the Sun does during the day.

22. Why is Venus always near the Sun when viewed from Earth?
A. Venus orbits Earth, which orbits the Sun.
B. Venus orbits the Sun, which orbits Earth.
C. Venus’s orbit is closer to the Sun than Earth’s orbit.
D. Venus is visible only when its orbit gets close to the Sun.
C. Venus’s orbit is closer to the Sun than Earth’s orbit.

23. Middle school science students in Georgia recorded the Sun’s location in the sky every day at noon during September and February. Which of these MOST LIKELY describes what the students observed?
A. The size of the Sun changed.
B. The color of the Sun changed.
C. The force of gravity from the Sun changed.
D. The position of the Sun in the sky changed.
D. The position of the Sun in the sky changed.

24. During winter months observed from Northern latitudes, the constellation Orion will rise in the East, travel across the night sky, and set in the West. Which BEST explains this observation?
A. The constellation Orion is orbiting the Sun.
B. The constellation Orion is orbiting the Earth.
C. The constellation Orion appears to move across the sky as a result of the Earth’s tilt.
D. The constellation Orion appears to move across the sky as a result of the Earth’s rotation.
D. The constellation Orion appears to move across the sky as a result of the Earth’s rotation.

25. The pull of gravity on Earth is a direct result of the
A. Mass of Earth.
B. Magnetic field of Earth.
C. Rotation of Earth on its axis.
D. Weight of Earth’s atmosphere.
A. Mass of Earth.

26. The Moon orbits Earth at a speed of approximately one kilometer per second. The Moon is kept in orbit by which of the following?
A. Gravity
B. Lunar phases
C. Magnetism
D. Ocean tides
A. gravity

27. The reason that a student does not feel the gravitational pull of the Sun is because
A. The Sun has no gravitational pull.
B. The mass of the Sun is very small.
C. The Sun is very far away.
D. Earth is so much smaller than the Sun.
C. The Sun is very far away.

28. How does the gravity on the Moon compare to gravity on Earth?
A. Gravity is the same wherever you are.
B. There is less gravity on the Moon.
C. There is more gravity on the Moon.
D. Gravity depends on each person.

29. Why does the Moon orbit Earth instead of the Sun?
A. Gravity depends on distance and the Moon is closer to Earth.
B. Only large objects orbit around the Sun and the Moon is too small.
C. The Moon used to be a part of Earth so it must orbit Earth.
D. The Moon is moving too fast and cannot change its orbit.

30. The Sun’s gravity holds each planet in its orbit
The Sun’s gravity holds each planet in its orbit. Pluto is farther away from the Sun than Earth is. How does the effect of the Sun’s gravity on Pluto compare with the effect of the Sun’s gravity on Earth?
A. The Sun has the same gravitational pull on all the planets that are in orbit.
B. The Sun has more gravitational pull on Pluto because it is smaller.
C. The Sun has less gravitational pull on Earth because it is closer.
D. The Sun has less gravitational pull on Pluto because it is farther away.
D. The Sun has less gravitational pull on Pluto because it is farther away.

31. Objects in an orbiting space shuttle float because
A. The space shuttle slows down when it reaches orbit.
B. Earth’s gravity has less effect on objects as they get farther away from Earth.
C. The mass of the object is less in space.
D. The space shuttle’s engines cause too much vibration for objects to remain still.
B. Earth’s gravity has less effect on objects as they get farther away from Earth.

32. The force that keeps communication satellites in orbit around Earth is
A. Gravity
B. Friction
C. Magnetism
D. Electricity
A. gravity

33. Mary learned that a planet’s orbital velocity is related to its distance from the Sun. He noted that orbital velocities range from 4.7 km/sec (Pluto) to 47.8 km/sec (Mercury). Which planet is likely to have an orbital velocity of 5.4 km/sec?
A. Venus
B. Earth
C. Mars
D. Neptune
D. Neptune

34. The force that causes rain to fall to Earth is
A. Wind
B. Solar heat
C. Gravity
D. Electromagnetism
C. Gravity

35. A planet has twice the mass of Earth and the same radius as Earth
A planet has twice the mass of Earth and the same radius as Earth. If you were standing on this planet, the force of gravity would be
A. twice that on Earth
B. half that on Earth
C. the same as on Earth
D. four times greater than Earth’s
A. Twice that on Earth.

36. Juan’s class is studying the Solar System
Juan’s class is studying the Solar System. What causes the planets to orbit the Sun rather than drift off into space?
A. Momentum
B. The force of gravity
C. The force of magnetism
D. Heat energy from the Sun
B. The force of gravity.

37. Which force pulls the planets of the solar system towards the Sun?
A. Nuclear
B. Centripetal
C. Gravitational
D. electromagnetic
C. Gravitational

38. Gravity is the force that governs the planets’ motion around which celestial body?
A. The Sun
B. The Earth
C. The galaxy
D. The milky way
A. The sun

39. An astronomer observes a neutron star that has formed after a supernova. It is spinning rapidly and emitting radio waves. This star is a
A. Supergiant
B. Black hole
C. Nova
D. pulsar
D. pulsar

40. The asteroid belt is located between
A. The Sun and Earth.
B. Mars and Jupiter
C. Neptune and Pluto
D. Saturn and Uranus
B. Mars and Jupiter

41. A comet is largely made up of
A. Iron and nickel
B. Rock
C. Petroleum
D. Water and Ice
D. Water and ice

42. When a star like the Sun runs out of hydrogen in its center, it evolves into a
A. Red Giant
B. Blue straggler
C. Supernova
D. Yellow Dwarf
C. Supernova

43. Which is made primarily of pieces of rock or iron that enter Earth’s atmosphere?
A. Asteroids
B. Comets
C. Solar flares
D. Meteorites
D. Meteorites

44. Imagine you are an astronomer who just observed a huge burst of light from an exploding star. What did you most likely observe?
A. A pulsar
B. A black hole
C. A supernova
D. A meteor
C. A supernova

45. Terry was learning about an object in the Solar System that is made of frozen gases and solid rock. Which of these objects was she learning about?
A. A star
B. A comet
C. A meteor
D. An Asteroid
B. A comet

46. The moon appears to change shape because
A. The Moon rotates.
B. Earth rotates.
C. Earth revolves around the Sun.
D. The Moon revolves around Earth.
D. The moon revolves around Earth.

47. It is about 28 days from one full moon to the next
It is about 28 days from one full moon to the next. This is because 28 days is about the time it takes for one
A. Revolution of the Moon around the Earth.
B. Revolutions of Earth around the Sun.
C. Rotation of the Sun.
D. Rotation of Earth.
A. Revolution of the Moon around the Earth.

48. A solar eclipse occurs when
A. Earth blocks the Moon from the Sun.
B. The first four planets are in line.
C. The Moon blocks Earth from the Sun.
D. The last four planets are in a line.
C. The Moon blocks Earth from the Sun.

49. What phase of the Moon would it have to be for a solar eclipse to occur?
Full Moon
New Moon
First Quarter
Third Quarter
B. New Moon

50. When the Moon goes through Earth’s shadow, we see
A. Solar Eclipse
B. Lunar Eclipse
C. Total Eclipse
D. Planetary eclipse
B. Lunar eclipse

51. Solar eclipses rarely occur because
A. The moon usually travels directly between the Earth and the Sun.
B. The moon’s orbit is tilted in relation to the Earth’s orbit.
C. The moon usually travels directly behind the Earth.
D. The moon is too close to the Earth.
B. The moon’s orbit is tilted in relation to the Earth‘s orbit.

52. Why does the amount of daylight change during the course of a year?
A. The amount of light and heat radiated by the Sun changes at different times of the year.
B. The distance between the Sun and Earth changes from summer to winter.
C. The North Pole points more toward the Sun at one time of the year than another.
D. Earth rotates at different speeds at different times of the year.
C. The North Pole points more toward the Sun at one time of the year than another.

53. There are about 24 hours in a day
There are about 24 hours in a day. What would happen to the length of a day if the rotation of Earth sped up?
A. The length of a day would be shorter.
B. The length of a day would be longer.
C. The length of a day would remain the same.
D. The length of the day would be unpredictable.
A. The length of a day would be shorter.

54. Daylight in the Northern Hemisphere lasts longer in summer than in winter, and the change in the length of day happens in a predictable pattern. Which statement correctly explains this condition of Earth’s environment?
A. The Sun moves closer to Earth in summer and farther away in winter.
B. Earth, with its tilted axis, moves around the Sun in a predictable way.
C. There is a predictable change in the amount of heat and light given off by the Sun.
D. Earth turns slower in summer than in winter.
B. Earth, with its tilted axis, moves around the Sun in a predictable way.

55. Which change would result in the same season year-round, everywhere on Earth?
A. Earth moving at least twice as fast in its orbit as it does now
B. Enlarging the diameter of Earth’s orbit until it is much farther from the Sun
C. Straightening the tilt of the Earth’s axis to be 90 degrees to the plane of Earth’s orbit
D. Changing Earth’s orbit so it would always be the same distance from the Sun
C. Straightening the tilt of the Earth’s axis to be 90 degrees to the plane of Earth’s orbit.

56. Which statement describes why the Earth has seasons?
A. Its axis is tilted as it revolves around the sun.
B. The distance changes as it revolves around the sun.
C. The moon revolves around it.
D. The sun’s axis is tilted.
A. Its axis is tilted as it revolves around the Sun.

57. During which portion of the Earth’s revolution around the sun is the Northern Hemisphere titled toward the sun?
A. Vernal equinox
B. Summer solstice
C. Autumnal equinox
D. Winter solstice
B Summer solstice

58. What type of eclipse could occur if the Moon, Earth, and Sun were directly lined up in the above order?
Solar eclipse
Lunar eclipse
Partial eclipse
Planetary eclipse
A. Solar eclipse

59. The Earth orbits the sun in a counter-clockwise direction
The Earth orbits the sun in a counter-clockwise direction. The moon also orbits the Earth in a counter-clockwise direction. Which phase of the moon would most likely be seen in the diagram?
Full Moon
New Moon
Waning Crescent
Waxing Crescent
C. Waning Crescent

60. Where would the sun be totally eclipsed on Earth’s surface?
C. In the area of the Umbra.
Where would the sun be totally eclipsed on Earth’s surface?
In the area of the Penumbra
Near the North Pole.
In the area of the Umbra.
It wouldn’t ever be totally eclipsed.

61. What phase of the Moon would most likely be seen in the diagram?
A. Waxing Gibbous
What phase of the Moon would most likely be seen in the diagram?
Waxing Gibbous
Waning Gibbous
Waxing Crescent
Waning Crescent