Homework Set 1 -- Due Sept 11

1) Look at the star trails in the picture above. Note their direction. Where on Earth are you?

a) Near the North Pole (and the bear is a Polar Bear)

b) In the Western United States (and the bear is a Grizzly Bear)

c) In China (and the bear is an Asiatic Black Bear)

d) In southern Bolivia (and the bear is a Spectacled Bear)

e) In India (and the bear is a Sloth Bear)

2) In the summer of 2005, I was travelling in the city of Gdansk, Poland, which is at a latitude of 55 degrees. (That's about 12 degrees south of the arctic circle.) I came out of a bar at midnight, and, as I looked towards the horizon, I saw the twilight glow from the Sun. Which direction was I looking?

a) North

b) South

c) East

d) West

3) You are watching a (bad) movie set in mythological times (say, 4500 B.C.). The great warrior, Claude, the Clueless, is defying the gods and sailing from Africa to Greece. He wants to sail due north, so he issues orders to steer his ship in the direction of the star Polaris. Will he be sailing in the right direction?

a) Yes, Polaris is within one degree of true north.

b) Not quite, but he'll be close. Polaris is within 5 degrees of true north.

c) Maybe, but most likely Claude will be pretty far off, maybe as much as 20 degrees.

d) Probably not. In fact, it is likely that Claude's ship will be more than 45 degrees off course.. In other words, he'll be sailing more east (or west) than north.

e) Claude is REALLY clueless. His ship will be more than 90 degrees off course. He'll be sailing south!

4) Ever see the original Muppet Movie? (If not, go rent it!) In the scene with Steve Martin, Kermit and Miss Piggy are dining at a restaurant. In the background, a quarter Moon can be seen on the horizon against a backdrop of stars. Miss Piggy is then called to the phone (and pignapped), leaving Kermit alone. Time passes, and the Moon continues to rise. What time does all this occur???

a) Around dust (6 p.m.)

b) Late evening (around 9 p.m.)

c) Shortly after midnight

d) Early morning (around 3 a.m.)

e) Around dawn (6 a.m.)

5) What causes a solar eclipse?

a) the Earth's shadow falls on the Sun

b) the Moon's shadow falls on the Earth

c) the Sun's shadow falls on the Moon

d) the Earth's shadow falls on the Moon

e) the Earth stops turning