Astronomy 1010 Clemson Final Exam with Complete & Verified Solutions

What causes the seasons? - ANSWER The tilt of the Earth's rotation axis to its orbit around the Sun causes parts of the Earth to experience more direct illumination from the Sun and longer days during the summer than the winter. What part of the Earth spins the fastest? - ANSWER the equator If you were standing at Earth's North Pole, where would you see the north celestial pole relative to your zenith? - ANSWER at the zenith If the star Polaris has an altitude of 35°, then we know that - ANSWER our latitude is 35° north. What phase occurs directly after a new moon? - ANSWER waxing crescent A lunar eclipse occurs when the ________ shadow falls on the ________. - ANSWER Earth's; Moon Assume that you and your sister can both throw a baseball at a speed of 60 km/h. If you are in an airplane traveling at 700 km/h and play catch with your sister who is near the front of the plane (you being toward the rear), how fast would the ball be traveling as seen by an observer on the ground when you throw the ball? - ANSWER 760 km