Ancient Astronomy & Solar System Models Quiz

Question 1

The ability to predict seasons & celestial events were very important to the ancients because

Accepted Answer

it allowed for crops to be planted and to keep track of time

Question 2

The 1000 year-old Mayan observatory was much more sophisticated than Stonehenge because it was

Accepted Answer

able to predict the position of Venus and more celestial events.

Question 3

Retrograde motion was adequately explained by the geocentric theory and by Ptolemy's model.

Accepted Answer

FALSE

Question 4

How did the heliocentric model of the Universe explain retrograde motion of the planets?

Accepted Answer

orbital speeds led to the illusion of retrograde motion, planetary motion was apparent and not real

Question 5

Then Sun & the Moon's movement across the heavens were ______ according to the Ancient Greeks.

Accepted Answer

predictable

Question 6

Why were planetary motions unpredictable?

Accepted Answer

planets "wandered" or moved in backward loops unexpectedly

Question 7

What is thought to be one of the main purposes of building Stonehenge?

Accepted Answer

to predict celestial events and seasons

Question 8

Why did Copernicus wait to publish his book on heliocentricity?

Accepted Answer

he was fearful of the repercussions

Question 9

Ptolemy used epicycles and deferents in his heliocentric model to explain planetary motion.

Accepted Answer

FALSE

Question 10

Heliocentric theory has the ____ revolving around the Sun, with only the ____ orbiting Earth.

Accepted Answer

planets, Moon

Question 11

Why was the supernova of 1054 A.D. so important to astronomy?

Accepted Answer

the event was one of the first to be recorded world-wide

Question 12

The Ancient Greeks considered the _____ a perfect shape and had to represent the heavens.

Accepted Answer

circle

Question 13

Why was the Ptolemaic model of the universe accepted for so long?

Accepted Answer

religious & cultural reasons liked to put Earth at the center, it basically explained most of the movements of the planets

Question 14

What was the main reason why the heliocentric model made more sense than the geocentric model?

Accepted Answer

it was simpler, it did not require over 80 "circles within circles"

Question 15

The "backward loops" that most planets would appear to do once a year is called

Accepted Answer

retrograde motion.

Question 16

The geocentric model of the universe was basically accepted for over one thousand years.

Accepted Answer

TRUE

Question 17

The Maya used a very sophisticated observatory called _______ to study the heavens.

Accepted Answer

The Caracol

Question 18

Terms like "azimuth" "zenith" and major star names like "Betelgeuse" originated from

Accepted Answer

Muslim cultures during the Middle Ages.

Question 19

Aristarchus (of ancient Greece) correctly predicted the _______ theory of the Universe.

Accepted Answer

sun-centered, heliocentric

Question 20

Why did the Ancient Greeks consider the stars to be "fixed" and non-moving?

Accepted Answer

stars did not change positions over time like planets

Questions 20