Astronomy quiz question: sun-zodiac timing

Astronomy 210 Quiz 1, spring semester 2012
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

If the sun is in front of a certain zodiac constellation today, it will take approximately __________ to be in front of the next zodiac constellation.
(A) an hour.
(B) 12 hours.
(C) 24 hours.
(D) one month.
(E) one year.
(F) 26,000 years.

Correct answer: (D).

With one year for Earth to complete one revolution around the sun, and 12 zodiac constellations approximately evenly spaced along the ecliptic, then the sun will take about one month to traverse each zodiac constellation.

Section 30674
Exam code: quiz01n3Wb
(A) : 1 student
(B) : students
(C) : 0 students
(D) : 32 students
(E) : 0 students
(F) : 1 student
(No response: 1 student)

Success level: 92% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.22


Section 30676
Exam code: quiz01sH0p
(A) : 1 student
(B) : 0 students
(C) : 2 students
(D) : 38 students
(E) : 4 students
(F) : 2 students

Success level: 80% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.31

Astronomy quiz question: moon phase timing

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

Approximately how many different moon phases can be observed in a 24 hour period?
(A) Only one.
(B) Two.
(C) Four.
(D) Eight (all of them).

Correct answer: (A)

It takes approximately four weeks for the moon to go through all eight phases, or two phases per week, or a different phase every few days. This means that only one of the distinct eight phases of the moon will be observed in the same day.

Section 30676
(A) : 41 students
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 2 students
(D) : 3 students
(No response : 1 student)

"Success level": 83% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.25