What This Document Is
This document provides practice problems and worked solutions for Exam One in Emory University’s Intro Astronomy with Lab (PHYS 116) course. It’s designed as a review tool to help students assess their understanding of key concepts covered in the first portion of the course.
Why This Document Matters
This resource is valuable for students preparing for their first exam in introductory astronomy. It allows students to test their ability to apply concepts related to the Moon’s phases and visibility, planetary motion, and interpreting astronomical observations. It’s most effectively used *after* completing assigned readings, homework, and attending lectures. This practice helps identify areas where further study is needed.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This set of practice problems is not exhaustive. It doesn’t cover *every* topic that could appear on the exam. Students should not rely solely on these examples for preparation. A strong understanding of all course material – including lectures, readings, and homework assignments – is crucial for success.
What This Document Provides
The full document includes:
* Solutions to practice questions about the Moon’s phase and its times of visibility.
* An exercise involving interpreting a diagram of the Sun, Moon, Venus, and stars, including determining the Moon’s phase, predicting its future position, and identifying retrograde motion.
* Analysis of the iconic Earthrise photograph, including determining sunset location and the Earth’s phase.
* Problems related to Mars’ orbit, including calculating its position and visibility at different times.
* A problem involving a newly discovered planet’s orbital period and semimajor axis.
This preview *does not* include the full solutions to all problems, nor does it provide detailed explanations of the underlying astronomical principles. It is intended to give you a sense of the *types* of questions you might encounter on the exam.