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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 9: Hands on Heaven's Clock.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Tobias Mayer was a ____________.
(a) German mapmaker.
(b) English astronomer.
(c) American theologian.
(d) French scientist.

2. Why was it remarkable for Harrison to build his first pendulum clock?
(a) He wasn't a watchmakers apprentice.
(b) He was an adamant believer in the astronomical solution to longitude.
(c) His design was stolen midway through building the clock.
(d) He came from a very poor family with no means to build a clock.

3. How was John Harrison educated?
(a) He had no formal education.
(b) He learned alongside Newton.
(c) He went to Oxford.
(d) He attended elementary school in his town.

4. Huygen's clocks went on a number of voyages. On the third voyage to the Cape Verde Islands, what did his clock do?
(a) Sent the ship 50 miles off course.
(b) Kept good track of the ship's longitude.
(c) Stopped working midway through the voyage because of the temperature change.
(d) Made the ship arrive three weeks ahead of schedule.

5. When did Harrison learn of the Longitude Prize?
(a) 1727.
(b) 1735.
(c) 1712.
(d) 1700.

Short Answer Questions

1. When was the magnetic compass invented?

2. What did Humphrey Ditton propose to use to solve the longitude problem?

3. What was one benefit of the Whiston-Ditton proposal?

4. What was the powder of sympathy method to determine longitude called?

5. Harrison was an avid ___________.

(see the answer key)

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