1. Name:_____________________________________________________________
Period:____________ Date:________________
Unit 2: Astronomy Proof of Rotation & Time
1. Base your answer to the following question on diagram below, which represents the Sun’s apparent
paths and the solar noon positions for an observer at 42 ° N latitude on December 21, September 23,
and June 21.
Which diagram best shows the location of Polaris relative to the observer?
1) 2)
3)
4)
2. Units of time are based on Earth's motion relative to other celestial objects. The year is best defined as
Earth's motion relative to the
1) asteroids 2) Sun 3) Moon 4) planets
3. The best evidence that Earth rotates is provided by the
1) location of mid-oceanic ridge volcanoes and the distribution of index fossils
2) movement of Foucault pendulums and the Coriolis effect on air movement
3) pattern of changing seasons and the depth of meteor impacts
4) rate of uranium-238 decay and changes in atmospheric composition
Page 1

2. 4. The Coriolis effect is a result of Earth's
1) tilted axis 2) orbital shape 3) revolution 4) rotation
5. The diagrams below represent photographs of a large sailboat taken through a telescope over time as
the boat sailed away from shore out to sea. Each diagram shows the magnification of the lenses and the
time of day.
Which statement best explains the apparent sinking of this sailboat?
1) The sailboat is moving around the curved surface of Earth.
2) The sailboat appears smaller as it moves farther away.
3) The change in density of the atmosphere is causing refraction of light rays.
4) The tide is causing an increase in the depth of the ocean.
6. When observed from a location in New York State for one night, the North Star (Polaris) appears to
1) rise in the east and set in the west
2) rise in the west and set in the east
3) move southward along an arc-shaped path
4) remain stationary in the sky
7. The diagram below represents an activity in which an eye dropper was used to place a drop of water on
a spinning globe. Instead of flowing due south toward the target point, the drop followed a curved path
and missed the target.
The actual path results from
1) the tilt of the globe's axis 2) the Coriolis effect
3) the globe's revolution 4) dynamic equilibrium
8. On March 21, at which location in New York State would sunrise occur first?
1) Riverhead 2) Syracuse 3) Buffalo 4) Massena
9. The Coriolis effect causes winds in Iowa to generally curve
1) to the right of the direction of travel 2) to the left of the direction of travel
3) upward away from Earth's surface 4) downward toward Earth's surface
Page 2

3. 10. The diagram below shows Earth as viewed from above the North Pole (NP). Points A and B are
locations on Earth's surface.
At location A, the time is 12 noon. What is the time at location B?
1) 6 a.m. 2) 6 p.m. 3) 3 p.m. 4) 12 midnight
11. hich diagram most accurately shows the cross-sectional shape of the Earth?
W
1) 2)
3)
4)
12. The diagrams below represent photographs of Venus at four different positions in its orbit, as taken
from Earth.
At which position is Venus closest to Earth?
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
13. Which object best represents a true scale model of the shape of the Earth?
1) a Ping-Pong ball 2) a football
3) an egg 4) a pear
Page 3

4. 14. Base your answer to the following question on the diagram below, which represents the Moon orbiting
Earth as viewed from space above the North Pole. The Moon is shown at eight different positions in its
orbit.
Which device when placed on the Moon would provide evidence of Moon rotation?
1) Foucault pendulum 2) seismograph
3) thermometer 4) wind vane
15. The diagram below shows the latitude and longitude lines on Earth. Points A and B are locations on
Earth's surface.
If it is 4 a.m. at location A, what time is it at location B?
1) 10 a.m. 2) 2 a.m. 3) 6 a.m. 4) 8 a.m.
16. The Foucault pendulum provides evidence of Earth's
1) revolution around the Sun in a geocentric solar system
2) revolution around the Sun in a heliocentric solar system
3) rotation on its axis in a geocentric solar system
4) rotation on its axis in a heliocentric solar system
Page 4

5. 17. Base your answer to the following question on the map below, which shows locations A and B on
Earth's surface at the same distance from the ocean, at the same elevation above sea level, and at the
same latitude.
There is a four-hour solar time difference between locations A and B. What is the difference in
longitude between locations A and B?
1) 15° 2) 23.5° 3) 45° 4) 60°
18. The diagram below shows the latitude-longitude grid on an Earth model. Points A and B are locations
on the surface.
On Earth, the solar time difference between point A and point B would be
1) 1 hour 2) 5 hours 3) 12 hours 4) 24 hours
19. What causes the Coriolis effect?
1) Earth’s tilt on its axis
2) the spin of Earth on its axis
3) the orbital motion of the Moon around Earth
4) the orbital motion of Earth around the Sun
Page 5

6. Base your answer to questions 20 and 21 on the diagram below. Diagram 1 shows Earth's location in
its orbit on the first day of each of the four seasons, labeled A through D. Diagram 2 shows a north
polar view of Earth on March 21. Point E represents a location on Earth's surface. Longitude lines are
shown at 15º intervals.
20. State the hour of the day at point E.
21. Describe one piece of evidence shown in the diagram which indicates that the Northern Hemisphere is
experiencing winter at position D.
Page 6

7. 22. Which diagram correctly shows how surface winds are deflected (curved) in the Northern and Southern
Hemispheres due to Earth's rotation?
1) 2) 3) 4)
23. The diagram below represents a swinging Foucault pendulum.
This pendulum will show an apparent change in the direction of its swing due to Earth’s
1) curved surface 2) tilted axis 3) rotation 4) revolution
Page 7

8. 24. Base your answer to the following question on the diagram below, which shows Earth and the Moon in
relation to the Sun. Positions A, B, C, and D show the Moon at specific locations in its orbit. Point X is a
location on Earth's surface.
What is the time of day at point X?
1) 6 a.m. 2) noon 3) 6 p.m. 4) midnight
25. Letters A, B, C, D, and X on the map below represent locations on Earth. The map shows the
latitude-longitude grid.
Solar time is based on the position of the Sun. If the solar time is 1 p.m. at location X, at which location
is the solar time 5 p.m.?
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
Page 8