Astronomy quiz question: solstice months

Astronomy 210 Quiz 1, spring semester 2014
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

[Version 1]
An observer in San Luis Obispo, CA notices that there are approximately 10 hours between sunrise and sunset. Which month is this?
(A) March.
(B) June.
(C) September.
(D) December.
(E) (Two of the above choices.)

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (B)

The winter solstice (10 hours daylight, 14 hours night) occurs in December. (The vernal and autumnal equinoxes (12 hours daylight, 12 hours night) occur in March and in September; and the summer solstice (14 hours daylight, 10 hours night) occurs in June.)

Section 30674
Exam code: quiz01nYe3
(A) : 2 students
(B) : 5 students
(C) : 1 student
(D) : 18 students
(E): 4 students

Success level: 61% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.70

[Version 2]
An observer in San Luis Obispo, CA notices that there are approximately 14 hours between sunrise and sunset. Which month is this?
(A) March.
(B) June.
(C) September.
(D) December.
(E) (Two of the above choices.)

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (B)

The summer solstice (14 hours daylight, 10 hours night) occurs in June. (The vernal and autumnal equinoxes (12 hours daylight, 12 hours night) occur in March and in September; and the winter solstice (10 hours daylight, 14 hours night) occurs in December.)

Section 30676
Exam code: quiz01SLo3
(A) : 4 students
(B) : 26 students
(C) : 0 students
(D) : 3 students
(E): 12 students

Success level: 60% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.83

Astronomy quiz question: San Luis Obispo, CA equinox

Astronomy 210 Quiz 1, Spring Semester 2011
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

On a certain day an observer in San Luis Obispo, CA notices that there are 12 hours between sunrise and sunset. How soon after this date will there be 12 hours between sunrise and sunset?
(A) One month.
(B) Three months.
(C) Six months.
(D) Nine months.
(E) Twelve months.

Correct answer: (C)

12 hours between sunrise and sunset occurs on an equinox, either in March (vernal) or September (autumnal). The time between any type of equinox ("how soon after this date") is six months.

Section 30674
(A) : 5 students
(B) : 5 students
(C) : 25 students
(D) : 1 student
(E) : 6 students

"Success level": 62% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.69

Section 30676
(A) : 3 students
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 34 students
(D) : 0 students
(E) : 10 students

"Success level": 71% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.42

Astronomy quiz question: equinox months

Astronomy 210 Quiz 3, Spring Semester 2010
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

An observer in San Luis Obispo, CA will notice that there are 12 hours between sunrise and sunset in:
(A) March.
(B) June.
(C) September.
(D) December.
(E) (More than one of the above choices.)

Correct answer: (E)

The vernal and autumnal equinoxes (12 hours daylight/12 hours night) occur in March and in September. Note that an unexpected number of students selected June (summer solstice, 14 hours daylight/10 hours night).

Section 30676
(A) : 4 students
(B) : 25 students
(C) : 2 students
(D) : 1 student
(E) : 43 students
(Blank: 1 student)

"Success level": 61% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.71