GCSE (9-1) Astronomy Distance Learning

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New Pupil Toolkit for GCSE (9-1) Astronomy

GCSE (9-1) Astronomy

Pupil Worksheet

Week 9 Topic 6.6

Spec. refs 6.15, 6.16, 6.17, 6.18

Assume that the declination of Polaris is +90°.

1. An observer sees a star crossing her meridian. What is the astronomical name for such an event?

Choose from:

eclipse occultation transit

Your answer: ...... (1)

2. Which of the following could you use to determine the altitude of the Pole Star?

x A altimeter

x B clinometer

x C planisphere

x D polarimeter (1)

3. An astronomy student determines that the altitude of Polaris is 55°.

What is the latitude of the student’s location?

Your answer: ...... (2)

New Pupil Toolkit for GCSE (9-1) Astronomy © Mickledore Publishing 2017

New Pupil Toolkit for GCSE (9-1) Astronomy

4. Deduce whether or not the following stars would be circumpolar from the corresponding locations:

(a) Thuban (declination +64°) from Edinburgh (latitude 56° N)

Your answer: ......

(b) Vega (declination +39°) from Istanbul (latitude 41° N)

Your answer: ......

(d)  Vel (declination -55°) from Wellington, NZ (latitude 41° S)

Your answer: ...... (4)

5. By how many degrees does the Earth rotate in 8 hours?

Choose from:

80° 120° 240°

Your answer: ...... (1)

6. How long does it take for the Earth to rotate through an angle of 60°?

Your answer: ...... hours (1)

7. Which of the following shows the correct relationship for a star to be circumpolar?

x A latitude of observer < polar distance of star

x B latitude of observer < declination of star

x C polar distance of star < latitude of observer

x D polar distance of star < declination of star (1)

New Pupil Toolkit for GCSE (9-1) Astronomy © Mickledore Publishing 2017

New Pupil Toolkit for GCSE (9-1) Astronomy

Question 8 - 11. The diagram shows the paths taken by two stars V and W around the Pole Star during one complete rotation of the Earth. The local meridian of an observer is also shown. local meridian

star V

star W

8. In which compass direction is the observer looking?

Your answer: ...... (1)

9. Which of the following statements is correct?

x A Both V and W are circumpolar from this latitude.

x B Neither V and W are circumpolar from this latitude.

x C Only star V is circumpolar from this latitude.

x D Only star W is circumpolar from this latitude. (1)

10. At 22:00 GMT, star V is located at position X.

On the diagram, draw the position of star V at 04:00 GMT on the same night. Use the letter Y. (1) 11. Star W crosses the observer’s meridian twice in one day.

What is the astronomical name given to the event when star W crosses the observer’s local meridian at its lowest altitude?

Choose from:

culmination lower transit northern transit upper transit

New Pupil Toolkit for GCSE (9-1) Astronomy

Solutions

1. transit (1 mark)

2. B (1)

3. 55° (1) north (1)

4 (a) circumpolar (1)

(b) not circumpolar (1)

(d) circumpolar (1)

5. 120° (1)

6. 4 hours (1)

7. C (1)

8. north (1)

9. D (1)

10. Y correctly shown at ’12 o’clock’ (1)

local meridian

Y (1)

star V

X star W

11. lower transit (1)

Your score: / 15