Question 1

What is an artificial star?

Accepted Answer

A)   a point of light in Earth's atmosphere created by a laser for the purpose of monitoring atmospheric fluctuations
B)   a satellite orbiting Earth
C)   a meteor
D)   a possible source of dark matter in the universe
E)   the unseen member of a binary star systemF) A) and B)
G) B) and E)

Question 2

Suppose you look at a spectrum of visible light by looking through a prism or diffraction grating. How can you decide whether it is an emission line spectrum or an absorption line spectrum?

Accepted Answer

A)   An emission line spectrum consists of bright lines on a dark background, while an absorption line spectrum consists of dark lines on a rainbow background.
B)   An emission line spectrum consists of a long bright line, while an absorption line spectrum consists of a long dark line.
C)   The only way to decide is to make a graph of the intensity of the light at every wavelength, and then analyze the graph carefully.
D)   The emission line spectrum is produced by electrons jumping up in energy level, while the absorption line spectrum is produced by electrons jumping down in energy level.E) A) and B)
F) C) and D)

Question 3

Which of the following properties cannot be determined from a spectrum of a star?

Accepted Answer

A)   Speed perpendicular to my line of sight
B)   Surface temperature
C)   Chemical composition
D)   Speed towards me or away from meE) A) and B)
F) None of the above

Question 4

The spectra of most galaxies show redshifts. This means that their spectral lines ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   have wavelengths that are longer than normal
B)   always are in the red part of the visible spectrum
C)   have wavelengths that are shorter than normal
D)   have a higher intensity in the red part of the spectrumE) None of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 5

Draw and label a simple diagram of the following:
a. a refracting telescope
b. a reflecting telescope

Accepted Answer

Diagrams should look...

Question 6

Imagine a planet like Earth orbiting the Sun, but in an orbit with an average distance of 2 AU. What is its orbital period?

Accepted Answer

A)   Impossible to determine
B)   8 years
C)   4 years
D)   2.8 yearsE) A) and B)
F) C) and D)

Question 7

Everything looks red through a red filter because

Accepted Answer

A)   the filter emits red light and absorbs other colors.
B)   the filter absorbs red light and emits other colors.
C)   the filter transmits red light and absorbs other colors.
D)   the filter reflects red light and transmits other colors.E) None of the above
F) A) and D)

Question 8

Without telescopes or other aid, we can look up and see the Moon in the night sky because it

Accepted Answer

A)   emits visible light.
B)   emits thermal radiation.
C)   reflects infrared light.
D)   reflects visible light.
E)   glows through radioactive decay.F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the fundamental difference between two different chemical elements (such as oxygen and carbon) ?

Accepted Answer

A)   They have different numbers of protons in their nucleus.
B)   They have different atomic mass numbers.
C)   They have different numbers of electrons.
D)   They have different names.E) A) and B)
F) C) and D)

Question 10

The following questions refer to the diagram below. The levels represent energy levels in a hydrogen atom. Each level is labeled with its energy (above the ground state of Level 1) in units of electron/volts (eV). The labeled transitions represent an electron moving between energy levels.

-Which transition, as shown, is not possible?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The following questions refer to the diagram...

Question 11

What is the purpose of interferometry?

Accepted Answer

A)   It allows two or more small telescopes to achieve the angular resolution of a much larger telescope.
B)   It allows two or more small telescopes to achieve a larger light-collecting area than they would have independently.
C)   It is designed to prevent light pollution from interfering with astronomical observations.
D)   It reduces the twinkling of stars caused by atmospheric turbulence.E) All of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 12

The following questions refer to the diagram below. The levels represent energy levels in a hydrogen atom. Each level is labeled with its energy (above the ground state of Level 1) in units of electron/volts (eV). The labeled transitions represent an electron moving between energy levels.

-Which transition represents the electron that emits a photon with the highest energy?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The following questions refer to the diagram...

Question 13

In what wavelength range was interferometry first routinely used?

Accepted Answer

A)   radio
B)   infrared
C)   optical
D)   ultraviolet
E)   X-rayF) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 14

Suppose that Star X and Star Y both have redshifts, but Star X has a larger redshift than Star Y. What can you conclude?

Accepted Answer

A)   Star X is moving away from us faster than Star Y.
B)   Star Y is moving away from us faster than Star X.
C)   Star X is hotter than Star Y.
D)   Star X is moving away from us and Star Y is moving toward us.
E)   Star X is coming toward us faster than Star Y.F) A) and C)
G) A) and B)

Question 15

A radio telescope and an optical telescope of the same size have the same angular resolution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

What is the purpose of adaptive optics?

Accepted Answer

A)   It reduces blurring caused by atmospheric turbulence for telescopes on the ground.
B)   It allows several small telescopes to work together like a single larger telescope.
C)   It is a special technology that allows the Hubble Space Telescope to adapt to study many different types of astronomical objects.
D)   It allows ground-based telescopes to observe ultraviolet light that normally does not penetrate the atmosphere.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 17

Which of the following is always true about images captured with X-ray telescopes?

Accepted Answer

A)   They are always shown with colors that are not the true colors of the objects that were photographed.
B)   They always are made with adaptive optics.
C)   They show us light with extremely long wavelengths compared to the wavelengths of visible light.
D)   They always have very high angular resolution.
E)   They are always very pretty.F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 18

An electron-volt is

Accepted Answer

A)   the charge of one electron.
B)   the energy of one electron.
C)   the energy jump between the first and second energy levels of hydrogen.
D)   an amount of energy much smaller than a joule.
E)   an amount of energy much larger than a joule.F) D) and E)
G) A) and C)

Question 19

Cell phone signals passing through walls is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)   absorption.
B)   reflection or scattering.
C)   emission.
D)   transmission.E) C) and D)
F) A) and B)

Question 20

State the two laws of thermal radiation.

Accepted Answer

1. Hotter objects emit more ra...

Exam 5: Light: the Cosmic Messenger

The spectra of most galaxies show redshifts. This means that their spectral lines ________.

Correct Answer
verified

In what wavelength range was interferometry first routinely used?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following is always true about images captured with X-ray telescopes?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following best describes the fundamental difference between two different chemical elements (such as oxygen and carbon) ?

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following properties cannot be determined from a spectrum of a star?

Correct Answer
verified

Cell phone signals passing through walls is an example of

Correct Answer
verified

What is the purpose of interferometry?

Correct Answer
verified

What is an artificial star?

Correct Answer
verified

Draw and label a simple diagram of the following: a. a refracting telescope b. a reflecting telescope

Correct Answer
verified
Diagrams should look...
View Answer

What is the purpose of adaptive optics?

Correct Answer
verified

State the two laws of thermal radiation.

Correct Answer
verified
1. Hotter objects emit more ra...
View Answer

A radio telescope and an optical telescope of the same size have the same angular resolution.

Correct Answer
verified

Without telescopes or other aid, we can look up and see the Moon in the night sky because it

Correct Answer
verified

Suppose you look at a spectrum of visible light by looking through a prism or diffraction grating. How can you decide whether it is an emission line spectrum or an absorption line spectrum?

Correct Answer
verified

Imagine a planet like Earth orbiting the Sun, but in an orbit with an average distance of 2 AU. What is its orbital period?

Correct Answer
verified

Suppose that Star X and Star Y both have redshifts, but Star X has a larger redshift than Star Y. What can you conclude?

Correct Answer
verified

An electron-volt is

Correct Answer
verified

Everything looks red through a red filter because

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 5: Light: the Cosmic Messenger

The spectra of most galaxies show redshifts. This means that their spectral lines ________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In what wavelength range was interferometry first routinely used?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is always true about images captured with X-ray telescopes?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following best describes the fundamental difference between two different chemical elements (such as oxygen and carbon) ?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following properties cannot be determined from a spectrum of a star?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Cell phone signals passing through walls is an example of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the purpose of interferometry?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is an artificial star?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Draw and label a simple diagram of the following: a. a refracting telescope b. a reflecting telescope

Correct AnswerverifiedDiagrams should look...View AnswerShow Answer

What is the purpose of adaptive optics?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

State the two laws of thermal radiation.

Correct Answerverified1. Hotter objects emit more ra...View AnswerShow Answer

A radio telescope and an optical telescope of the same size have the same angular resolution.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Without telescopes or other aid, we can look up and see the Moon in the night sky because it

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Suppose you look at a spectrum of visible light by looking through a prism or diffraction grating. How can you decide whether it is an emission line spectrum or an absorption line spectrum?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Imagine a planet like Earth orbiting the Sun, but in an orbit with an average distance of 2 AU. What is its orbital period?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Suppose that Star X and Star Y both have redshifts, but Star X has a larger redshift than Star Y. What can you conclude?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

An electron-volt is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Everything looks red through a red filter because

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
verified
Diagrams should look...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
1. Hotter objects emit more ra...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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