earths shape and polaris practice 2017mleoneearthsci.weebly.com/uploads/3/2/1/2/32129011/key... ·...

EARTHS SHAPE AND POLARIS PRACTICE 2017

A) A B) B C) C D) D

1. In the diagram below, letters A through D representthe locations of four observers on the Earth's surface.Each observer has the same mass.

The gravitational force is weakest between the centerof the Earth and the observer at location

A) its rotationB) the pull of the sun and moonC) storms on the sun's surfaceD) its molten core

2. The Earth is slightly flattened from a perfect sphericalshape because of

A)

B)

C)

D)

3. Which diagram most accurately shows thecross-sectional shape of the Earth?


A) The sailboat is moving around the curvedsurface of Earth.

B) The sailboat appears smaller as it moves fartheraway.

C) The change in density of the atmosphere iscausing refraction of light rays.

D) The tide is causing an increase in the depth ofthe ocean.

4. The diagrams below represent photographs of a largesailboat taken through a telescope over time as theboat sailed away from shore out to sea. Each diagramshows the magnification of the lenses and the time ofday.

Which statement best explains the apparent sinking ofthis sailboat?

A) a circle B) a perfect sphereC) an oblate sphere D) an eccentric ellipse

5. The Earth's actual shape is most correctly described as

A) a Ping-Pong ball B) a footballC) an egg D) a pear

6. Which object best represents a true scale model of theshape of the Earth?

A) slightly less, because the person is fartherfrom the center of Earth

B) slightly less, because the person is closer to thecenter of Earth

C) slightly more, because the person is farther fromthe center of Earth

D) slightly more, because the person is closer to thecenter of Earth

7. Compared to the weight of a person at the North Pole,the weight of the same person at the Equator would be

A) shorter than its equatorial diameterB) longer than its equatorial diameterC) the same length as its equatorial diameter

8. Precise measurements of the Earth indicate that itspolar diameter is

A) greatest in diameter at the EquatorB) greatest in diameter at the polesC) a perfect sphereD) pear shaped

9. Measurements taken from space show the Earth to be

A) The reading would be lower at the North Polethan at the Equator.

B) The reading would be higher at the NorthPole than at the Equator.

C) The readings would be the same at the NorthPole and at the Equator.

10. A gravity meter is used to measure the amount ofgravitational pull at the Earth's North Pole and at theEarth's Equator. How would these readings ofgravitational pull compare? [Assume both readingsare taken at sea level.]

A) photographs of the Earth taken from spacesatellites

B) the amount of daylight received at the NorthPole on June 21

C) the changing orbital speed of the Earth in itsorbit around the Sun

D) the cyclic change of seasons

11. The best evidence that the Earth has a sphericalshape is provided by


A) A B) B C) C D) D

12. In the diagram below, letters A through D representthe locations of four observers on the Earth'ssurface. Each observer has the same mass.

The gravitational force is strongest between thecenter of the Earth and the observer at location

A) is a perfect sphereB) is flattened at the EquatorC) has a curved surfaceD) has a very smooth surface

13. The table below shows the distance that an observermust travel on a north-south line along the surface ofthe Earth in order to change the observed altitude of Polaris by 5°.

The best inference about the Earth's shape that canbe made from these observations is that the Earth

A) 12,740 km B) 25,000 kmC) 40,008 km D) 40,076 km

14. The polar circumference of the Earth is 40,008kilometers. What is the equatorial circumference?

A) B)

C) D)

15. Which diagram most accurately shows thecross-sectional shape of the Earth drawn to scale?

A) The surface of the ocean has depressions.B) The Earth has a curved surface.C) The Earth is rotating.D) The Earth is revolving.

16. An observer watching a sailing ship at sea notes thatthe ship appears to be "sinking" as it moves away.Which statement best explains this observation?

A) telescopic observations of other planetsB) photographs of the Earth from an orbiting

satelliteC) observations of the Sun's altitude made during

the dayD) observations of the Moon made during lunar

eclipses

17. The best evidence of the Earth's nearly sphericalshape is obtained through

A) slightly flattened at both the Equator and thePoles

B) slightly bulging at both the Equator and thePoles

C) slightly flattened at the Equator and slightlybulging at the Poles

D) slightly flattened at the Poles and slightlybulging at the Equator

18. According to the data below, what is the exact shapeof the Earth?


A) The shape of the Earth is not perfectlyspherical.

B) The lines of longitude are not parallel.C) The north-south distance for every 10º of

latitude is a constant value.D) The Earth's equatorial radius and polar radius

are equal.

19. The north-south distance between the Earth'sEquator (0º) and the North Pole (90º N) is 10,002kilometers. The distance between 0º and 10º N is1,106 kilometers. Which statement is best supportedby this information?

A) 44° B) 47° C) 76° D) 90°

20. What is the approximate altitude of Polaris atWatertown, New York?

A) Massena B) Slide MountainC) Niagara Falls D) Plattsburgh

21. At which New York State location would an observermeasure the highest altitude of Polaris?

A) equator (0°)B) North Pole (90° N)C) Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N)D) Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° S)

22. If an observer on Earth views Polaris at their Zenith,the observer is located at the

A) 43° B) 45° C) 75° D) 90°

23. What is the approximate altitude of Polaris atMassena, New York?

A) 15° B) 23.5° C) 66.5° D) 90°

24. The altitude of Polaris measured by an observer atthe Tropic of Cancer is

A) 23.5° B) 41.3° C) 66.7° D) 90°

25. On April 21, the altitude of Polaris, as viewed froma location in New York State, was measured as41.3°. What will the altitude of Polaris be whenviewed one month later, on May 21, from the samelocation?

A) Polaris rotates on its axis.B) Earth rotates on its axisC) Polaris revolves around Earth.D) Earth revolves around Polaris.

26. Which statement best explains why stars viewedfrom the Northern Hemisphere appear to revolvearound Polaris?

A) 16° N B) 37° NC) 53° N D) 90° N

27. The diagram below represents an observermeasuring the altitude of Polaris.

At which latitude is this observer located?


Base your answers to questions 28 through 30 on the time-exposure photograph shown below. Thephotograph was taken by aiming a camera at a portion of the night sky above a New York Statelocation and leaving the camera's shutter open for a period of time to record star trails.

A) 4 h B) 8 h C) 12 h D) 15 h

28. During the time exposure of the photograph, the stars appear to have moved through an arc of 60°.How many hours did this time exposure take?

A) 5 h B) 8 h C) 12 h D) 15 h

29. During the time exposure of the photograph, the stars appear to have moved through an arc of 120°.How many hours did this time exposure take?

A) the Sun B) the Moon C) Sirius D) Polaris

30. Which celestial object is shown in the photograph near the center of the star trails?

A) 43° B) 47° C) 76° D) 90°

31. What is the approximate altitude of Polaris atSyracuse, New York?

A) equator (0°)B) North Pole (90° N)C) Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N)D) Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° S)

32. If an observer on Earth views Polaris on thehorizon, the observer is located at the

A) 43° B) 47° C) 75° D) 90°

33. From Utica, New York, Polaris is observed at analtitude of approximately

A) New York City B) Slide MountainC) Niagara Falls D) Plattsburgh

34. At which New York State location would an observermeasure the highest altitude of Polaris?

A) Niagara Falls B) ElmiraC) Watertown D) Massena

35. At which location is the altitude of Polaris approximately 42°?


A) 38° N B) 38° SC) 52° N D) 52° S

36. The diagram below shows an observer on Earthviewing the star Polaris.

What is the observer's latitude?

A) 20° N B) 20° S C) 70° N D) 70° S

37. The diagram below shows an observer measuring the altitude of Polaris.

What is the latitude of the observer?


38. Base your answer to the following question on the world map below. Letters A through D representlocations on Earth's surface.

A) A B) B C) C D) D

At which location could an observer not see Polaris in the night sky at any time during the year?

A) 90° N B) 66.5° NC) 43° N D) 23.5° N

39. The diagram below shows an observer on Earthmeasuring the altitude of Polaris.

What is the latitude of this observer?

A) Jamestown B) PlattsburghC) Oswego D) New York City

40. At which New York State location will an observermost likely measure the altitude of Polaris asapproximately 42°?


A) Polaris is located in a winter constellationB) Polaris is located at the zenith at each location.C) Polaris' apparent movement through the sky

follows a south-to-north orientation.D) Polaris' altitude is equal to a locations

latitude.

41. Which statement about Polaris is best illustrated bythe diagrams shown below?

A) 60° south latitude and 0° longitudeB) 60° north latitude and 0° longitudeC) 0° latitude and 60° east longitudeD) 0° latitude and 60° west longitude

42. As a ship crosses the Prime Meridian, an observer onthe ship measures the altitude of Polaris at 60°.What is the ship's location?

A) 43° N B) 43° SC) 47° N D) 47° S

43. The diagram below shows an observer on Earthmeasuring the altitude of Polaris.

What is the latitude of this observer?


44. Base your answer to the following question on "the map below, which shows the latitude andlongitude of five observers, A, B, C, D, and E, on Earth.

"

A) 0° B) 10° C) 80° D) 90°

What is the altitude of Polaris (the North Star) above the northern horizon for observer A?

A)

B)

C)

D)

45. Which diagram represents the approximate altitudeof Polaris as seen by an observer located Syracuse,New York?

A) rises and sets at different locations each dayB) has an elliptical orbit around EarthC) is located directly over Earth's EquatorD) is located directly over Earth's North Pole

46. The dashed line on the map below shows a ship'sroute from Long Island, New York, to Florida. Asthe ship travels south, the star Polaris appears lowerin the northern sky each night.

The best explanation for this observation is that Polaris


A) Polaris is located directly over the Tropic ofCancer

B) Polaris is the brightest and most easily locatedstar

C) the altitude of Polaris is equal to theobserver's latitude

D) the position of Polaris changes with theseasons

47. The North Star (Polaris) can be used for navigationin Earth's Northern Hemisphere because

A) Plattsburgh B) AlbanyC) New York City D) Kingston

48. The diagram below shows a student in New YorkState observing Polaris.

The student is located nearest to which city in NewYork State?

A)

" "B)

" "C)

" "D)

" "

49. "Which diagram best shows the altitude of Polaris observed near Buffalo, New York?"

A) distance to a starB) altitude of a starC) mass of the EarthD) mass of the suspended weight

50. The diagram below shows an instrument made froma drinking straw, protractor, string, and rock.

This instrument was most likely used to measure the


A)

B)

C)

D)

51. Which diagram best represents the location of Polaris for an observer located at the Equator?

A) Each night the altitude decreases in thenorthern sky.

B) Each night the altitude decreases in thesouthern sky.

C) Each night the altitude increases in the northernsky.

D) Each night the altitude increases in the southernsky.

52. The diagram below represents the route of a shiptraveling from New York City to Miami, Florida.Each night, a passenger on the ship observes Polaris.

Which statement best describes the observedchanges in the altitude of Polaris made by thepassenger during the voyage?

A) 10° N B) 40° NC) 50° N D) 90° N

53. The diagram below shows the altitude of Polaris above the horizon at a certain location.



A) 15° N B) 25° NC) 30° N D) 65° N

54. The diagram below shows the angular altitude of Polaris above the horizon at a certain location.


A)

""

B)

""

C)

""

D)

""

55. "Which graph best represents the altitude of Polaris observed at northern latitude positions on theEarth's surface?"

A) latitude B) longitudeC) solar time D) local time

56. The angle of the star Polaris above the northernhorizon can be used to determine an observer's

A) decrease B) increaseC) remain the same

57. As a person travels due west across New York State,the altitude of Polaris will

A) B)

C) D)

58. Which graph best represents the relationshipbetween the latitude of an observer and the observedaltitude of Polaris above the northern horizon?

A) decrease B) increaseC) remain the same

59. As a person travels northward from the Equator, thealtitude of Polaris will appear to

A) due east B) due southC) due west D) due north

60. An observer on a moving ship notices that thealtitude of Polaris increases each night. Local solarnoon occurs at the same time each day. In whatdirection is the ship moving?

A) 0º B) 23 ½ºN.C) 90º S. D) 90º N.

61. At which latitude will Polaris be overhead?

A) Watertown B) MassenaC) Buffalo D) New York City

62. What could be the approximate location of anobserver if he measured the altitude of Polaris to be41 degrees above the horizon?

Answer KeySHAPE OF THE EARTH AND POLARIS PRACTICE 2017

1. A2. A3. D4. A5. C6. A7. A8. A9. A10. B11. A12. D13. C14. D15. A16. B17. B18. D19. A20. A21. A22. B23. B24. B25. B26. B27. C28. A29. B30. D31. A32. A33. A34. D35. B36. C

37. A38. B39. B40. A41. D42. B43. A44. B45. B46. D47. C48. D49. B50. B51. D52. A53. B54. B55. B56. A57. C58. D59. B60. D61. D62. D

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