Astronomy Practice Exam

What technique uses trigonometry to determine a fixed point’s position from two known points?

1. Optical illusion

2. Parallax method

3. Triangulation

4. Graphical projection

The correct answer is: Triangulation

The technique that uses trigonometry to determine a fixed point’s position from two known points is triangulation. This method involves measuring the angles from each of the two known points to the fixed point, which allows for the calculation of the fixed point's location using the principles of trigonometry. By forming a triangle with the known points and the fixed point, it is possible to apply the law of sines or cosines to solve for the unknown distances. In astronomy, triangulation is commonly employed to determine the distances of nearby stars by observing them from two different locations on Earth. By measuring the angle between the two observed positions of the star relative to the baseline (the distance between the two observation points), astronomers can calculate the distance to the star effectively. Other options do not pertain to this specific method: - Optical illusion relates to visual perception rather than geometric calculation. - The parallax method involves measuring the apparent shift in position of an object against a distant background due to displacement between two observation points, which is specifically used for measuring astronomical distances but is not as general as triangulation. - Graphical projection typically involves representing three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional plane but does not specifically relate to the geometric positioning of points in the way triang