Astronomy quiz archive: sun/spectra/star properties

Astronomy 210 Quiz 5, fall semester 2019
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Section 70158, version 1
Exam code: quiz05Sh0w


Section 70158

0- 8.0   :
8.5-16.0 :	*** [low = 10.0]
16.5-24.0 :	*
24.5-32.0 :	********* [mean = 32.0 +/- 8.2]
32.5-40.0 :	******************* [high = 40.0]

Section 70160, version 1
Exam code: quiz05NpRm


Section 70160

0- 8.0   :
8.5-16.0 :	* [low = 16.0]
16.5-24.0 :	**********
24.5-32.0 :	***** [mean = 26.0 +/- 7.5]
32.5-40.0 :	****** [high = 40.0]

Physics quiz archive: energy conservation, momentum conservation

Physics 205A Quiz 4, fall semester 2019
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA
Sections 70854, 70855
Exam code: quiz04JuR4



Sections 70854, 70855 results

0- 6 :	** [low = 6]
7-12 :	****
13-18 :	*******
19-24 :	********************** [mean = 21.9 +/- 6.1]
25-30 :	***************** [high = 30]

Astronomy quiz archive: solar system

Astronomy 210 Quiz 4, fall semester 2019
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Section 70158, version 1
Exam code: quiz04S3re


Section quiz04S3re

0- 8.0 :	* [low = 6.0]
8.5-16.0 :	***
16.5-24.0 :	******
24.5-32.0 :	******* [mean = 26.5 +/- 8.6]
32.5-40.0 :	************ [high = 36.5]

Section 70160, version 1
Exam code: quiz04NDme


Section 70160

0- 8.0 :	** [low = 6.0]
8.5-16.0 :	***
16.5-24.0 :	****** [mean = 23.5 +/- 8.7]
24.5-32.0 :	********
32.5-40.0 :	**** [high = 36.5]

Astronomy midterm question: Auriga, Gemini, and Leo in early evening sky

Astronomy 210 Midterm 1, fall semester 2019
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

An astronomy magazine article describes the positions of constellations in the night sky at a certain time of year[*]:

Early in the evening, Auriga and Gemini are high in the sky, while Leo, the Lion, stands at attention about halfway up the sky.

Discuss a plausible date and time for an observer in San Luis Obispo, CA to make this observation of Auriga, Gemini, and Leo in the early evening sky. If there is no such plausible date and time, then explain why. Defend your answer by clearly explaining how you used your starwheel to do this, along with any assumptions that you may have made. (Ignore daylight saving time.)

[*] "Sky Maps: December 2018-December 2019," Skywatch (2019), p. 18.

Solution and grading rubric:

• p:
  Correct. Discussion includes the following:
  1. locates the constellations Auriga and Gemini on the starwheel, and rotates starwheel such that both are at or near the zenith (Leo will then be visible somewhere between the zenith and the eastern horizon); and
  2. selects a time that is dark enough to see stars in the early evening (somewhere between 7 PM and 10 PM or so); and
  3. looks up the date (March/April) corresponding to that early evening time.
• r:
  Nearly correct (explanation weak, unclear or only nearly complete); includes extraneous/tangential information; or has minor errors. Places Auriga and Gemini at the zenith, but discusses December at 12 AM or June at 1 PM as an "early evening" time, or has March/April but does not explicitly choose a time.
• t:
  Contains right ideas, but discussion is unclear/incomplete or contains major errors. Finds a plausible date and evening time (or discusses that this would be impossible) when Auriga and Gemini are low in the west horizon, with Leo high in the sky.
• v:
  Limited relevant discussion of supporting evidence of at least some merit, but in an inconsistent or unclear manner. At least attempts to use starwheel in a systematic manner.
• x:
  Implementation/application of ideas, but credit given for effort rather than merit. Discussion not clearly based on using a starwheel in a systematic manner.
• y:
  Irrelevant discussion/effectively blank.
• z:
  Blank.

Grading distribution:
Section 70158
Exam code: midterm01Sw3e
p: 19 students
r: 6 students
t: 9 students
v: 2 students
x: 0 students
y: 0 students
z: 0 students

Section 70160
Exam code: midterm01N0dL
p: 7 students
r: 3 students
t: 11 students
v: 2 students
x: 0 students
y: 0 students
z: 0 students

A sample "p" response (from student 2120):

Astronomy midterm question: 15 hour sunrise to moonrise work shift

Astronomy 210 Midterm 1, fall semester 2019
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

While giving a tour to visitors, a family member recounted how her father worked on their tree farm[*]:

[Dorothy "Dot"] Lombard said her father worked several years on the tree farm before he bought the property in 1956. He loaded logs into his four-wheel drive skidder, cut away brush and took lengthy notes. He would work from sunrise to moonrise.

Discuss what phase the moon would have when rising to signal the end of an approximately 15 hour work shift that began at sunrise. Support your answer using a diagram showing the positions of the sun, moon, Earth, and an observer on Earth.

[*] Zack Peterson, "'This Is a Great Forest': German Contingent Travels to Reading, VT, to Tour Model Tree Farm," Valley News (June 23, 2013), vnews.com/Archives/2013/06/GermanForesters-zp-vn-062213.

Solution and grading rubric:

• p:
  Correct. Complete diagram (with the sun, moon, and observer on Earth), and discusses:
  1. assuming sunrise at 6 AM, then end of a 15 hour work shift would be at 9 PM; and
  2. the moon that rises at 9 PM would be highest overhead six hours later, at 3 AM, corresponding to the waning gibbous moon.
• r:
  Nearly correct (explanation weak, unclear or only nearly complete); includes extraneous/tangential information; or has minor errors. Diagram and/or explanation has minor errors. Understands that work shift would end at 9 PM, but subtracts six hours instead to find the moon phase that is setting at 9 PM instead of rising at 9 PM.
• t:
  Contains right ideas, but discussion is unclear/incomplete or contains major errors. Problems with either diagram or discussion. Typically chooses waxing gibbous moon, which is directly overhead at 9 PM.
• v:
  Limited relevant discussion of supporting evidence of at least some merit, but in an inconsistent or unclear manner. At least attempts to draw a moon phase diagram and apply rise/overhead/set times.
• x:
  Implementation/application of ideas, but credit given for effort rather than merit. Discussion not clearly based on a moon phase diagram.
• y:
  Irrelevant discussion/effectively blank.
• z:
  Blank.

Grading distribution:
Section 70158
Exam code: midterm01Sw3e
p: 20 students
r: 7 students
t: 8 students
v: 1 students
x: 0 students
y: 0 students
z: 0 students

Section 70160
Exam code: midterm01N0dL
p: 4 students
r: 2 students
t: 11 students
v: 4 students
x: 1 student
y: 1 student
z: 0 students

A sample "p" response (from student 4320):

Astronomy midterm question: 12 hours between Mercury setting and Venus rising?

Astronomy 210 Midterm 1, fall semester 2019
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

An astronomy question on an online discussion board was asked and answered[*]:

J.F.: Can an observer ever witness Mercury setting at the same time while Venus is rising?
rzfr: No, that is impossible. It will take about 12 hours between Mercury setting and Venus rising.

Discuss why it would take about 12 hours between Mercury setting and Venus rising for an observer in San Luis Obispo, CA, and how you know this. Support your answer using a diagram showing the positions of the sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, and an observer on Earth.

[*] answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090328072648AALZoVS.

Solution and grading rubric:

• p:
  Complete diagram and reasoning includes the following explanations for why there would be about 12 hours between Mercury setting and Venus rising:
  1. places observer on Earth at sunset to watch Mercury (in an inner orbit) setting in the west; and
  2. places observer on Earth at sunrise to watch Venus (in an inner orbit) rising in the east.
• r:
  Nearly correct (explanation weak, unclear or only nearly complete); includes extraneous/tangential information; or has minor errors. Typically diagram is correct, but supporting argument is contradictory or incomplete. May have placed Mercury to rise at sunrise and placed Venus to set at sunset.
• t:
  Contains right ideas, but discussion is unclear/incomplete or contains major errors. Still has Mercury and Venus along inner orbits around the sun.
• v:
  Limited relevant discussion of supporting evidence of at least some merit, but in an inconsistent or unclear manner. Some attempt at diagram(s), but no clear indication of observer/horizon on Earth and/or placement of inner planets. Typically misplaces Mercury and Venus in their relative outer/inner orbits around the sun.
• x:
  Implementation/application of ideas, but credit given for effort rather than merit.
• y:
  Irrelevant discussion/effectively blank.
• z:
  Blank.

Grading distribution:
Section 70158
Exam code: midterm01Sw3e
p: 20 students
r: 4 students
t: 5 students
v: 6 students
x: 0 students
y: 0 students
z: 1 student

Section 70160
Exam code: midterm01N0dL
p: 6 students
r: 5 students
t: 5 students
v: 7 students
x: 0 students
y: 0 students
z: 0 students

A sample "p" response (from student 1234):