Science Bowl Sample Questions ›› Astronomy

Science Bowl Sample Questions : Astronomy

Astronomy is about finding out what's going on beyond Earth. Science bowl astronomy sample questions covers questions related to origins, evolution, and physical and chemical properties of celestial objects.

Following are some science bowl astronomy sample questions:

1. A solar eclipse can only occur at a:
   1. full moon
   2. new moon
   3. ½ gibbous moon
   4. ¼ gibbous moon

   Answer: B

2. Which of the following constellations cannot be seen in the summer sky of the northern hemisphere?
   1. Libra
   2. Orion
   3. Ursa Major
   4. Cygnus

   Answer: B

3. What percent of stars in the sky that appear to be single stars are actually binary stars:
   1. about 90%
   2. about 50%
   3. about 20 %
   4. about .5%

   Answer: B

4. The apparent speed of the Sun along the ecliptic:
   1. is constant
   2. varies during the solar year
   3. varies only during winter
   4. varies only during summer

   Answer: A

5. In the Australian winter night sky, which of the following is true regarding the constellation Orion:
   1. it is seen in the western sky
   2. it is seen in the southern sky
   3. it is seen in the northern sky
   4. it can never be seen

   Answer: C

6. The 29 ½ days it takes the Moon to complete an orbit around the Earth is called a:
   1. synodic month
   2. sidereal month
   3. orbital month
   4. solar month

   Answer: A

7. Which of the following is NOT true about meteorites:
   1. most of the meteorites that have been found have a high iron content
   2. iron meteorites often contain 10 – 20% nickel
   3. most of the iron meteorites are octahedrites
   4. on rare occasions, acid-etched iron meteorites display a pattern called the Widmanstatten pattern

   Answer: D

8. According to Kepler’s Third Law, plotting the squares of the periods of the planet against the cubes of the semi- major axes of their orbits will result in what sort of graph:
   1. a parabolic line
   2. a straight line
   3. an irregular jagged line
   4. a hyperbolic line

   Answer: B

9. The time between two successive meridian transits of the Sun as observed from a stationary spot on the Earth’s surface is called:
   1. the stellar day
   2. an apparent solar day
   3. lunar day
   4. an apparent solar month

   Answer: B

10. The hydrogen envelope that surrounds the comet’s nucleus derives its hydrogen most directly from:
    1. gases escaping from the melting comet’s ice
    2. hydrogen captured from interstellar space
    3. breakdown of water by ultraviolet light
    4. hydrogen in the solar winds

    Answer: C