For each of the statements which follow, indicate the season is best described by that statement. 

 1.  It is this season in the Southern Hemisphere when it is Spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

 2.  This beginning of this season has the shortest daylight period at our location.

 3.  This season is characterized by many weeks of constant daylight North of the Arctic Circle.

 4.  The Earth is closest to the Sun during this season in the Northern Hemisphere.

 5.  This season starts with the Vernal equinox.

 6.  At our latitude, this season is characterized by a longer period of daylight than darkness.

 7.  This season is characterized by many hours of constant darkness North of the Arctic Circle.

 [Multiple Choice Section]

 1.   The Foucault pendulum provides evidence of the Earth's     (1.) rotation  (2.) revolution  (3.) precession     (4.) inclination

 2.   The star Sirius is observed in the evening sky during the month of January.  At the end of two hours, Sirius will have appeared to move (1.) 30 degrees (2.) 45 degrees  (3.) 3 degrees (4.) not at all

 3.   To a student living in Russell, N.Y., the sun appears to set due West on  (1.) January 1  (2.) Superbowl Sunday  (3.) March 21   (4.) June 21

4.   Because of the Coriolis Effect, winds veer off to the (1.) right in the Northern hemisphere     (2.) left in the Northern hemisphere  (3.) North Pole     (4.) South Pole

5.  The inclination or tilt of a planet's axis to the plane of its orbit around the Sun most strongly affects its  (1.) time of rotation on its axis  (2.) time of revolution around the Sun  (3.) seasons (4.) speed in its orbit

6.  Which is the major source of energy for the Earth?  (1.) electrical storms  (2.) radioactive decay of earth materials  (3.) the Sun  (4.) thermal currents in the mantle

7.  Which set of photographs taken over a period of one year would supply the best evidence of the Earth's shape?  (1.) photographs of the Sun from the Earth (2.) photographs of the Earth from the Moon  (3.) photographs of the Earth's shadow on the Moon   (4.) photographs of star paths from the North Pole

 8.  Which is the best indication that the Sun's distance from the Earth varies?  (1.) the apparent change in the shape of the Sun  (2.) the apparent change in the diameter of the Sun  (3.) the apparent change in the altitude of the Sun  (4.) the apparent change in the seasons

 9.  During what season in the Northern Hemisphere is the Earth farthest from the Sun?  (1.) Summer  (2.) Autumn  (3.) Winter  (4.) Spring

 10.  What causes the Coriolis effect?  (1.) high and low pressure belts  (2.) the Earth's revolution  (3.) the equatorial calms  (4.) the Earth's rotation

 11.  A person knows the solar time on the Prime Meridian and local solar time.  What determination can be made?  (1.) the date  (2.) the altitude of Polaris   (3.) the longitude at which the person is located  (4.) the latitude at which the person is located

 12.  During a ten-year period, which is a noncyclic change?  (1.) the Moon's phases as seen from the Earth  (2.) the apparent diameter of the Sun as seen from the Earth (3.) the changing of the seasons on the Earth  (4.) the impact of a meteorite on the Earth

 13.  The apparent rising and setting of the Sun as seen from the Earth are caused by the  (1.) rotation of the Earth  (2.) rotation of the Sun  (3.) revolution of the Earth  (4.) revolution of the Sun

 14.  As two planets in the solar system move toward each other, the force of gravity between them tends to  (1.) increase  (2.) decrease (3.) remain the same

15.  As the masses of two celestial objects decreases, the force of gravity between them tends to  (1.) increase  (2.) decrease  (3.) remain the same

16.  The star Polaris is 60 degrees above the Northern horizon.  The latitude of my location is  (1.) 30 N (2.) 30 S  (3.) 60 S  (4.) 60 N  

17.  At the time of the Summer Solstice, the number of hours of daylight in Russell, N.Y. is about   (1.) 9  (2.) 12  (3.) 15  (4.) 24

 18.  The type of atom which is used up by the fusion reactions taking place on the Sun is  (1.) neon  (2.) hydrogen  (3.) helium  (4.) uranium

 19.  The path followed by each planet around the Sun is best described as  (1.) an ellipse  (2.) a circle   (3.) a cone  (4.) a constantly changing curve

 20.  Which of the following scientists devised the Geocentric model of the solar system?  (1.) Bohr (2.) Ptolemy  (3.) Newton  (4.) Copernicus

21.  The length of an Earth day is determined by the time required for approximately one  (1.)  Earth rotation  (2.) Earth revolution   (3.) Sun rotation  (4.)  Sun revolution

 22.  What is the basic difference between ultraviolet, visible, and infrared radiation?  (1.) half-life  (2.) temperature  (3.) wavelength  (4.) wave velocity

 23.  Predictable changes in the direction of swing of a Foucault pendulum provide evidence that  (1.) Earth is tilted on its axis  (2.) Earth rotates on its axis (3.) Earth's orbit is slightly elliptical (4.) Earth's magnetic poles reverse over time

24.  In which direction on the horizon does the Sun appear to rise on July 4 in New York State?  (1.) due north  (2.) due south  (3.) north of due east  (4.) south of due east

25.  At which location will the highest altitude of the star Polaris be observed?  (1.) Equator  (2.) Tropic of Cancer  (3.) Arctic Circle (4.) central New York State

26. A navigator aboard ship measures the altitude of Polaris as shown in the diagram. What is the latitude of the ship's position at the time the measurement was taken?
  1. 10° North
  2. 20° North
  3. 40° North
  4. 70° North

27. At which latitude will Polaris be overhead?

  1. 0°
  2. 23.5° N.
  3. 90° S.
  4. 90° N.

28. The circumference of the Earth is about 4.0 x 104 kilometers. This value is equal to

  1. 400 km
  2. 4,000 km
  3. 40,000 km
  4. 400,000 km

29. The diagrams below represent true scale models for the solid Earth. Which diagram would best show the ocean depth also drawn to the same scale?
(1) (2) (3) (4)

30. Which set of photographs taken over a period of one year would supply the best evidence of the Earth's shape?

  1. photographs of the Sun from the Earth
  2. photographs of the Earth from the Moon
  3. photographs of the Earth's shadow on the Moon
  4. photographs of the star paths from the North Pole

31. Based on the diagram below, what is the circumference of planet X?

  1. 9,000 km
  2. 18,000 km
  3. 24,000 km
  4. 36,000 km

32. The diagram below represents a portion of a map of the Earth's grid system. What is the approximate latitude and longitude of point A?

  1. 15° N. 30° W.
  2. 15° S. 30° W.
  3. 15° N. 30° E.
  4. 15° S. 30° E.

33. According to the data below, what is the exact shape of the Earth?

Actual Dimensions of the Earth
Equatorial Radius6,378 km
Polar Radius6,357 km
Equatorial Circumference40,076 km
Polar Circumference40,008 km
  1. slightly flattened at both the Equator and the Poles
  2. slightly bulging at both the Equator and the Poles
  3. slightly flattened at the Equator and slightly bulging at the Poles
  4. slightly flattened at the Poles and slightly bulging at the Equator

34. As a ship crosses the Prime Meridian, the altitude of Polaris is 65°. What is the ship's location?

  1. 0° longitude, 65° South latitude
  2. 0° longitude, 65° North latitude
  3. 0° latitude, 65° West longitude
  4. 0° latitude, 65° East longitude

35. An observer on a moving ship notices that the altitude of Polaris increases each night. Local solar noon occurs at the same time each day. In what direction is the ship moving?

  1. due east
  2. due south
  3. due west
  4. due north

36. The diagram below shows the Sun's maximum altitude (C) relative to a vertical stick in New York State on June 21. In which direction from the base of the stick does shadow C' point?

  1. north
  2. south
  3. east
  4. west

37. What is the exact shape of the Earth's orbit around the Sun?

  1. The orbit is a slightly eccentric ellipse.
  2. The orbit is a very eccentric ellipse.
  3. The orbit is an oblate spheroid.
  4. The orbit is a perfect circle.

38 The diagram below represents a planet orbiting a star. Lines are drawn from the star to four positions of the planet. The amount of time required to move between positions is indicated. Area X is equal to area Y. Why is the distance A-B greater than distance C-D?

  1. The planet travels at a constant orbital velocity around the star.
  2. The planet travels the same number of degrees per hour.
  3. The length of a planet's day is the same throughout the year.
  4. The planet's orbital velocity is dependent on its distance from the star.

39. During a period of one year, what would be the greatest altitude of the Sun at the North Pole?

  1. 90°
  2. 66½°
  3. 23½°
  4. 0°

40. Which is the best evidence for the Earth's rotation?

  1. the rising of the Sun
  2. the changing of the seasons
  3. the phases of the Moon
  4. the motion of a Foucault pendulum

41. Which motion causes the Moon to show phases when viewed from the Earth?

  1. the rotation of the Moon on its axis
  2. the revolution of the Moon around the Earth
  3. the rotation of the Sun on its axis
  4. the revolution of the Sun around the Moon

42. In the diagram below, the direct rays of the Sun are striking the Earth's surface at 23½° N. What is the date shown in the diagram?

  1. March 21
  2. June 21
  3. September 23
  4. December 21

43. New York State has several more hours of daylight in summer than in winter. Which statement helps explain this observation?

  1. The Earth is tilted on its axis.
  2. The distance between the Earth and the Sun varies.
  3. The diameter of the Sun appears to change.
  4. The speed of the Earth in its orbit changes.

44. Based on observations made in the Northern Hemisphere, which statement is the best supporting evidence that the Earth rotates on its axis?

  1. The stars appear to follow daily circular paths around Polaris.
  2. The apparent solar diameter varies throughout the year.
  3. The length of the daylight period varies throughout the year.
  4. The seasons (spring, summer, fall, and winter) repeat in a cyclic pattern.

45. On March 21, two observers, one at 45° north latitude and the other at 45° south latitude, watch the "rising" Sun. In which direction(s) must they look?

  1. Both observers must look westward.
  2. Both observers must look eastward.
  3. The observer at 45° N. must look westward while the other must look eastward.
  4. The observer at 45° S. must look westward while the other must look eastward.

46. On December 21, at which latitude would an observer find the Sun directly overhead?

  1. 0°
  2. 23½° North
  3. 23½° South
  4. 90° South

47. Why do stars appear to move through the night sky at the rate of 15 degrees per hour?

  1. The Earth actually moves around the Sun at a rate of 15° per hour.
  2. The stars actually move around the center of the galaxy at a rate of 15° per hour.
  3. The Earth actually rotates at a rate of 15° per hour.
  4. The stars actually revolve around the Earth at a rate of 15° per hour.

48. A sundial measures time based upon the position of the Sun in the sky. This time is called

  1. apparent solar time
  2. standard time
  3. Greenwich time
  4. mean time

DIRECTIONS: Base your answers to questions 49 through 53 on your knowledge of earth science, the Earth Science Reference Tables, and the diagram below. The diagram is a model of the orbit of an imaginary planet Q around a star. Points A, B, C, and D, indicate four orbital positions of planet Q.

49. At which position in its orbit does planet Q have the greatest velocity?

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D

50. As planet Q moves from position A to position C, what change occurs in the gravitational attraction between the star and planet Q?

  1. The gravitational attraction becomes 1/25 as great.
  2. The gravitational attraction becomes 5 times greater.
  3. The gravitational attraction becomes 1/5 as great.
  4. The gravitational attraction becomes 25 times greater.

51. Which graph best approximates the gravitational force between the star and planet Q at positions A through D?
(1) (2) (3) (4)

52. What is the approximate eccentricity of planet Q's orbit? [Use the Earth Science Reference Tables.]

  1. 0.06
  2. 0.15
  3. 0.67
  4. 1.50

Note that question 53 has only three choices.

53. How would a scale drawing of the Earth's orbit around the Sun compare to the scale drawing shown of planet Q's orbit?

  1. Earth's orbit would appear to have a more circular shape than planet Q's.
  2. Earth's orbit would appear to have a more eccentric shape than planet Q's.
  3. Earth's orbit would appear to be the same shape as Planet Q's.

Link to Answers to this Practice Test