Astronomy quiz question: astronomy as analytical science

Astronomy 210 Quiz 2, Spring Semester 2011
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Newton's laws remade astronomy into an analytical science because these laws:
(A) predict exactly how a body will move if the forces on it are known.
(B) describe the motion of the planets without explaining why it occurs.
(C) deduced truth about the universe by reasoning from first principles.
(D) hold that objects move because of their innate tendencies.

Correct answer: (A)

Response (B) describes Kepler's empirical laws; response (C) was Aristotle's natural philosophy approach, of which response (D) was an example.

Section 30674
(A) : 29 students
(B) : 5 students
(C) : 5 students
(D) : 3 students

"Success level": 71% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.50

Section 30676
(A) : 26 students
(B) : 8 students
(C) : 11 students
(D) : 2 students

"Success level": 58% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.46