Astronomy quiz question: morning star Venus?

Astronomy 210 Quiz 2, spring semester 2020
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

The locations of Mercury, Venus, and Earth are shown in the diagram below (not to scale, and orbits have been simplified as circles instead of ellipses).


At sunrise, Venus will be:
(A) low over the east horizon.
(B) somewhere high up in the sky.
(C) low over the west horizon.
(D) not visible in the sky.

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (A)

If a line is drawn from Earth to the sun, the observer at sunrise (6 AM) is located perpendicular to that line.


Everything above that line would be above the horizon, such that Venus will be visible at sunrise, low over the east horizon.

Section 30676
Exam code: quiz02SnRl
(A) : 20 students
(B) : 2 students
(C) : 8 students
(D) : 14 students

Success level: 48% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.60

Astronomy quiz question: evening star Venus?

Astronomy 210 Quiz 2, spring semester 2020
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

The locations of Mercury, Venus, and Earth are shown in the diagram below (not to scale, and orbits have been simplified as circles instead of ellipses).


At sunset, Venus will be:
(A) low over the east horizon.
(B) somewhere high up in the sky.
(C) low over the west horizon.
(D) not visible in the sky.

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (D)

If a line is drawn from Earth to the sun, the observer at sunset (6 PM) is located perpendicular to that line.


Everything below that line would be below the horizon, such that Venus will not be visible at sunset.

Section 30674
Exam code: quiz02n1xI
(A) : 5 students
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 5 students
(D) : 18 students

Success level: 59% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.88

Astronomy quiz question: rise/set positions and paths of the sun

Astronomy 210 Quiz 1, spring semester 2020
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

An observer in San Luis Obispo, CA notices that there are approximately 10 hours between sunrise and sunset. On this day, the sun rose:
(A) between northeast and east.
(B) due east.
(C) between east and southeast.
(D) between southwest and west.
(E) due west.
(F) between west and northwest.

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (C)

Students completed this diagram of the paths for the sun for San Luis Obispo, CA on an in-class activity ("lecture-tutorial"). However, this diagram was not provided on the quiz.


In December, the sun will rise on the horizon between east and southeast, and takes 10 hours to set on the horizon between southwest and west.

Section 30676
Exam code: quiz02s4L3
(A) : 8 students
(B) : 4 students
(C) : 30 students
(D) : 2 students
(E) : 0 students
(F) : 1 students

Success level: 68% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.70-->

Astronomy quiz question: rise/set positions and paths of the sun

Astronomy 210 Quiz 1, spring semester 2020
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

An observer in San Luis Obispo, CA notices that there are approximately 10 hours between sunrise and sunset. On this day, the sun will set:
(A) between northeast and east.
(B) due east.
(C) between east and southeast.
(D) between southwest and west.
(E) due west.
(F) between west and northwest.

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (D)

Students completed this diagram of the paths for the sun for San Luis Obispo, CA on an in-class activity ("lecture-tutorial"). However, this diagram was not provided on the quiz.


In December, the sun will rise on the horizon between east and southeast, and takes 10 hours to set on the horizon between southwest and west.

Section 30674
Exam code: quiz01N3ve
(A) : 4 students
(B) : 0 students
(C) : 4 students
(D) : 11 students
(E) : 3 students
(F) : 9 students

Success level: 37% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.52

Astronomy quiz archive: stars/sun/seasons/moon phases

Astronomy 210 Quiz 1, spring semester 2020
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Section 30674, version 1
Exam code: quiz01N3ve


Section 30674

0- 8.0 :	* [low = 6.0]
8.5-16.0 :	****************
16.5-24.0 :	********** [mean = 21.6 +/- 8.6]
24.5-32.0 :	*************
32.5-40.0 :	**** [high = 40.0]

Section 30676, version 1
Exam code: quiz01s4L3


Section 30676

0- 8.0 :	* [low = 8.0]
8.5-16.0 :	****
16.5-24.0 :	***************
24.5-32.0 :	*********** [mean = 26.6 +/- 9.5]
32.5-40.0 :	************** [high = 40.0]

Astronomy quiz question: comparing star distances from apparent magnitudes, absolute magnitudes

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

The apparent magnitudes and absolute magnitudes of three stars are listed below.

	m apparent magnitude	M absolute magnitude
Aldebaran	+0.9	–0.6
Capella Ab	+0.9	+0.4

The star that is farthest away from Earth is:
(A) Aldebaran.
(B) Capella Ab.
(C) (There is a tie.)
(D) (Not enough information is given.)

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (A)

Aldebaran appears to have a brightness of +0.9 as seen from its actual location from Earth, but when placed at the "fair" distance of 10 parsecs away, it becomes brighter (–0.6). This means that Aldebaran was brought closer to Earth when moved to 10 parsecs, and thus is located farther than 10 parsecs away from Earth.

Similarly, Capella Ab appears to have a brightness of +0.9 as seen from its actual location from Earth, but when placed at the "fair" distance of 10 parsecs away, it also becomes brighter (+0.4), and must also be located farther than 10 parsecs away from Earth.

However, because Aldebaran's increase in brightness when brought to 10 parsecs was greater than Capella Ab's increase in brightness, then Aldebaran's actual location is further out from 10 parsecs (and farther away from Earth) than Capella Ab.

Section 70158
Exam code: quiz05Sh0w
(A) : 21 students
(B) : 6 students
(C) : 1 student
(D) : 1 student

Success level: 73% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.50

Section 70160
Exam code: quiz05NpRm
(A) : 9 students
(B) : 8 students
(C) : 3 students
(D) : 2 students

Success level: 44% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.38

Astronomy quiz question: hottest star?

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

Which star is the hottest?
(A) A5 main sequence star.
(B) F0 supergiant.
(C) B5 white dwarf.
(D) M0 red dwarf.
(E) (There is a tie.)

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (A)

An H-R diagram is provided with this quiz.


These stars are plotted on an H-R diagram below. The M0 red dwarf is the coolest, followed by the F0 giant, A5 main-sequence star, and the B5 white dwarf is the hottest, with a temperature of just under 20,000 K.


Section 70158
Exam code: quiz05Sh0w
(A) : 1 student
(B) : 2 students
(C) : 22 students
(D) : 2 students
(E) : 1 student

Success level: 77% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.75

Astronomy quiz question: A5 white dwarf vs. G5 supergiant

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

An A5 white dwarf has a ___________ than a G5 supergiant.
(A) brighter luminosity.
(B) larger size.
(C) hotter temperature.
(D) (Two of the above choices.)
(E) (All of the above choices.)
(F) (None of the above choices.)

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (C)

An H-R diagram is provided with this quiz.


These stars are plotted on an H-R diagram below. The A5 white dwarf has a hotter temperature, but a dimmer luminosity and smaller size than the G5 supergiant.


Section 70158
Exam code: quiz05Sh0w
(A) : 2 students
(B) : 1 student
(C) : 20 students
(D) : 3 students
(E) : 2 students
(F) : 1 students

Success level: 70% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.75

(Cf. a re-worded version of this same question: "A G5 supergiant has a ___________ than an A5 white dwarf.")

Astronomy quiz question: B5 main sequence star vs. M5 giant

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

A B5 main sequence star and an M5 giant could have the same:
(A) luminosity.
(B) size.
(C) temperature.
(D) (Two of the above choices.)
(E) (All of the above choices.)
(F) (None of the above choices.)

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (A)

An H-R diagram is provided with this quiz.


These stars are plotted on an H-R diagram below. The B5 main sequence star has a smaller size and a hotter temperature than the M5 giant, but they could have the same luminosity.


Section 70158
Exam code: quiz05Sh0w
(A) : 22 students
(B) : 1 student
(C) : 0 students
(D) : 2 students
(E) : 1 student
(F) : 3 students

Success level: 77% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.63

Astronomy quiz question: smallest star?

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

Which star is the smallest?
(A) B5 white dwarf.
(B) M0 red dwarf.
(C) A5 main sequence star.
(D) F0 supergiant.
(E) (There is a tie.)

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (A)

An H-R diagram is provided with this quiz.


These stars are plotted on an H-R diagram below. The F0 supergiant is the largest, followed by the A5 main-sequence star, M0 red dwarf, and the B5 white dwarf is the smallest, with a radius of just over 0.01× the radius of the sun.


Section 70160
Exam code: quiz05NpRm
(A) : 13 students
(B) : 8 students
(C) : 1 students
(D) : 0 students
(E) : 0 students

Success level: 63% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): –0.05

Astronomy quiz question: G5 supergiant vs. A5 white dwarf

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

A G5 supergiant has a ___________ than an A5 white dwarf.
(A) brighter luminosity.
(B) larger size.
(C) hotter temperature.
(D) (Two of the above choices.)
(E) (All of the above choices.)
(F) (None of the above choices.)

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (D)

An H-R diagram is provided with this quiz.


These stars are plotted on an H-R diagram below. The G5 supergiant has a brighter luminosity, larger size, but a cooler temperature than the A5 white dwarf.


Section 70160
Exam code: quiz05NpRm
(A) : 1 student
(B) : 1 student
(C) : 0 students
(D) : 12 students
(E) : 6 students
(F) : 2 students

Success level: 56% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.71

(Cf. a re-worded version of this same question: "An A5 white dwarf has a ___________ than a G5 supergiant.")

Astronomy quiz question: B5 supergiant vs. K5 main sequence star

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

A B5 supergiant and a K5 main sequence star could have the same:
(A) luminosity.
(B) size.
(C) temperature.
(D) (Two of the above choices.)
(E) (All of the above choices.)
(F) (None of the above choices.)

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (F)

An H-R diagram is provided with this quiz.


These stars are plotted on an H-R diagram below. The B5 supergiant has a brighter luminosity, larger size, and a hotter temperature than the K5 main sequence star.


Section 70160
Exam code: quiz05NpRm
(A) : 5 students
(B) : 0 students
(C) : 0 students
(D) : 2 students
(E) : 1 student
(F) : 14 students

Success level: 66% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.57

Astronomy quiz question: Balloon Experimental Twin Telescope for Infrared Interferometry (BETTII)

Astronomy 210 Quiz 3, fall semester 2019
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

"BETTII3_low.jpg"
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
asd.gsfc.nasa.gov/bettii/

The two far-infrared reflector telescopes of the Balloon Experimental Twin Telescope for Infrared Interferometry (BETTII)[*] have the same 0.50 m (1.6 ft) diameter, and are separated by a distance of 8.0 m (26 ft) between them. This telescope system is attached to a balloon that ascends to an altitude of 40 km (25 miles) in the upper atmosphere.[**] Taking this far-infrared telescope system into the upper atmosphere improves the light-gathering power due to less __________ at high altitudes.
(A) absorption.
(B) turbulence.
(C) light pollution.
(D) temperature fluctuations.

[*] S. A. Rinehart ; R. B. Barclay ; R. K. Barry ; D. J. Benford ; P. C. Calhoun, et al., "Design and status of the Balloon Experimental Twin Telescope for infrared interferometry (BETTII): an interferometer at the edge of space," Proc. SPIE 8445, Optical and Infrared Interferometry III, 844508 (September 12, 2012), dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.926376.
[**] asd.gsfc.nasa.gov/bettii/.


Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (A)

Far-infrared light entering the top of the atmosphere from space does not make it down to sea level (the bottom edge of the graph), due to absorption of this wavelength by the atmosphere. However, it can still be detected in the upper atmosphere, as has traveled a shorter distance through the atmosphere, where there was less absorption (primarily due to water vapor).

Section 70158
Exam code: quiz03St3M
(A) : 3 students
(B) : 11 students
(C) : 17 students
(D) : 1 student

Success level: 15% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.25

Section 70160
Exam code: quiz03Nz6L
(A) : 0 students
(B) : 8 students
(C) : 12 students
(D) : 2 students

Success level: 5% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0

Astronomy quiz question: Balloon Experimental Twin Telescope for Infrared Interferometry (BETTII)

Astronomy 210 Quiz 3, fall semester 2014
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

"BETTII3_low.jpg"
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
asd.gsfc.nasa.gov/bettii/

The two far-infrared reflector telescopes of the Balloon Experimental Twin Telescope for Infrared Interferometry (BETTII)[*] have the same 0.50 m (1.6 ft) diameter, and are separated by a distance of 8.0 m (26 ft) between them. This telescope system is attached to a balloon that ascends to an altitude of 40 km (25 miles) in the upper atmosphere.[**] If the two mirrors of this telescope system were instead combined into a single mirror with the same total surface area, the resolving power would:
(A) decrease.
(B) remain the same.
(C) increase.
(D) (The telescope would no longer be able to function.)

[*] S. A. Rinehart ; R. B. Barclay ; R. K. Barry ; D. J. Benford ; P. C. Calhoun, et al., "Design and status of the Balloon Experimental Twin Telescope for infrared interferometry (BETTII): an interferometer at the edge of space," Proc. SPIE 8445, Optical and Infrared Interferometry III, 844508 (September 12, 2012), dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.926376.
[**] asd.gsfc.nasa.gov/bettii/.

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (A)

Increasing the distance between telescopes creates a much larger effective diameter to increase resolving power. Thus decreasing this separation distance would decrease resolving power.

Section 70158
Exam code: quiz03s8tE
(A) : 27 students
(B) : 8 students
(C) : 5 students
(D) : 0 students
(No response: 1 student)

Success level: 66% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.45

Section 70160
Exam code: quiz03n6n4
(A) : 24 students
(B) : 7 students
(C) : 4 students
(D) : 0 students

Success level: 72% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.60

Astronomy quiz question: waning crescent moon setting

Astronomy 210 Quiz 3, fall semester 2019
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

What time is it when the waning crescent moon is setting?
(A) 12:00 PM (noon).
(B) 3:00 PM (afternoon).
(C) 6:00 PM (sunset).
(D) 9:00 PM (evening).
(E) 12:00 AM (midnight).
(F) 3:00 AM (wee hours).
(G) 6:00 AM (sunrise).
(H) 9:00 AM (morning).

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (B)

The waning crescent moon is highest overhead at 9:00 AM. In a simple model of lunar phases, the moon will take 12 hours from rising to setting, and will take six hours from being highest overhead (at 9:00 AM) to setting, so it will set at 3:00 PM.

Section 70158
Exam code: quiz03St3M
(A) : 1 students
(B) : 15 students
(C) : 0 students
(D) : 2 students
(E) : 0 students
(F) : 6 students
(G) : 4 students
(H) : 3 students
(No responses: 1 student)

Success level: 52% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.75

Astronomy quiz question: waxing crescent moon rising

Astronomy 210 Quiz 3, fall semester 2019
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

What time is it when the waxing crescent moon is rising?
(A) 12:00 PM (noon).
(B) 3:00 PM (afternoon).
(C) 6:00 PM (sunset).
(D) 9:00 PM (evening).
(E) 12:00 AM (midnight).
(F) 3:00 AM (wee hours).
(G) 6:00 AM (sunrise).
(H) 9:00 AM (morning).

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (H)

The waxing crescent moon is highest overhead at 3:00 PM. In a simple model of lunar phases, the moon will take 12 hours from rising to setting, and will take six hours from rising to being highest overhead (at 3:00 PM), so it will have risen at 9:00 AM.

Section 70160
Exam code: quiz03Nz6L
(A) : 0 students
(B) : 5 students
(C) : 2 students
(D) : 3 students
(E) : 0 students
(F) : 3 students
(G) : 1 student
(H) : 7 students
(No responses: 1 student)

Success level: 36% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.83

Astronomy quiz question: morning star Jupiter?

Astronomy 210 Quiz 2, fall semester 2019
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

The locations of Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn are shown in the diagram below (not to scale, and orbits have been simplified as circles instead of ellipses).


At sunrise, Jupiter will be:
(A) low over the east horizon.
(B) somewhere high up in the sky.
(C) low over the west horizon.
(D) not visible in the sky.

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (D)

If a line is drawn from Earth to the sun, the observer at sunrise (6 AM) is located perpendicular to that line.


Everything below that line would be below the horizon, such that Jupiter will not be visible at sunrise.

Section 70158
Exam code: quiz02SnPy
(A) : 7 students
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 4 students
(D) : 20 students

Success level: 60% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.89

Astronomy quiz question: evening star Saturn?

Astronomy 210 Quiz 2, spring semester 2019
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

The locations of Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn are shown in the diagram below (not to scale, and orbits have been simplified as circles instead of ellipses).


At sunset, Saturn will be:
(A) low over the east horizon.
(B) somewhere high up in the sky.
(C) low over the west horizon.
(D) not visible in the sky.

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (C)

If a line is drawn from Earth to the sun, the observer at sunset (6 PM) is located perpendicular to that line.


Everything above that line would be above the horizon, such that Saturn will be visible at sunset, and be located low over the west horizon (above the sun setting in the west).

Section 70160
Exam code: quiz02n4rN
(A) : 5 students
(B) : 0 students
(C) : 14 students
(D) : 3 students

Success level: 66% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.17

Astronomy quiz question: third quarter moon setting

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

What time is it when the third quarter moon is setting?
(A) 12:00 PM (noon).
(B) 3:00 PM (afternoon).
(C) 6:00 PM (sunset).
(D) 9:00 PM (evening).
(E) 12:00 AM (midnight).
(F) 3:00 AM (wee hours).
(G) 6:00 AM (sunrise).
(H) 9:00 AM (morning).

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (A)

The third quarter moon is highest overhead at 6:00 AM. In a simple model of lunar phases, the moon will take 12 hours from rising to setting, and so will take six hours from being highest overhead (at 6:00 AM) to subsequently set at 12:00 PM.

Section 70158
Exam code: quiz01SLYc
(A) : 17 students
(B) : 0 students
(C) : 9 students
(D) : 1 student
(E) : 5 students
(F) : 4 students
(G) : 3 students
(H) : 1 student
(No responses: 1 student)

Success level: 41% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.73

Astronomy quiz question: rise/set positions and paths of the sun

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

An observer in San Luis Obispo, CA watches the sun rise in June. As soon as __________ later, the sun will rise on the horizon due east.
(A) 10 hours.
(B) 12 hours.
(C) 14 hours.
(D) One month.
(E) Three months.
(F) Six months.

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (E)

Students completed this diagram of the paths for the sun for San Luis Obispo, CA on an in-class activity ("lecture-tutorial"). However, this diagram was not provided on the quiz.


In June, the sun will rise on the horizon between northeast and east, and takes 14 hours to set on the horizon between west and northwest. The sun will rise on the horizon due east during March or September. So the soonest that the sun will rise on the horizon due east after June would be September, three months later.

Section 70158
Exam code: quiz01SLYc
(A) : 13 students
(B) : 25 students
(C) : 4 students
(D) : 0 students
(E) : 10 students
(F) : 2 students

Success level: 26% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.64