Question 1

If solar flares pose a danger to orbiting spacecraft and astronauts, how much warning is there for the danger?

Accepted Answer

A)  The danger is primarily from emission of neutrinos, which move at just below the speed of light; hence the warning is only a few seconds after a feature is observed. 
B)  There is no warning; the radiation arrives at the same time as the feature is observed because they all travel at the speed of light. 
C)  The primary danger is from high energy particles that travel at the speed of the solar wind 500km/s, so there is ample warning of 3- 5 days. 
D)  The danger is from high energy particles moving thousands of km per second, so the warning is a few hours. 
A)  The danger is primarily from emission of neutrinos, which move at just below the speed of light; hence the warning is only a few seconds after a feature is observed. 
B)  There is no warning; the radiation arrives at the same time as the feature is observed because they all travel at the speed of light. 
C)  The primary danger is from high energy particles that travel at the speed of the solar wind 500km/s, so there is ample warning of 3- 5 days. 
D)  The danger is from high energy particles moving thousands of km per second, so the warning is a few hours.

Question 2

X- rays have shorter wavelength than visible light; therefore, X- rays___________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  cannot be detected because of their wavelength 
B)  have lower energy than light waves 
C)  pass through materials because their photons are smaller than light photons 
D)  are higher energy than light waves 
A)  cannot be detected because of their wavelength 
B)  have lower energy than light waves 
C)  pass through materials because their photons are smaller than light photons 
D)  are higher energy than light waves

Question 3

Which one of these types of telescopes uses gamma rays for observation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Swift 
B)  Spect- R 
C)  Planck 
D)  Chandra 
A)  Swift 
B)  Spect- R 
C)  Planck 
D)  Chandra

Question 4

How do astronomers save their eyes when looking at the Sun through a telescope?

Accepted Answer

A)  They use heavy filters to block out light, particularly at specific wavelengths. 
B)  They use a special water cooled camera system to avoid superheating the camera. 
C)  They project the telescope image onto a large screen or record the image with a camera. 
D)  They look at the image very quickly. 
A)  They use heavy filters to block out light, particularly at specific wavelengths. 
B)  They use a special water cooled camera system to avoid superheating the camera. 
C)  They project the telescope image onto a large screen or record the image with a camera. 
D)  They look at the image very quickly.

Question 5

Sunspots appear dark because they are ___________than the surrounding solar surface.

Accepted Answer

A)  much closer to the Sun's core 
B)  more energized 
C)  less ionized 
D)  cooler 
A)  much closer to the Sun's core 
B)  more energized 
C)  less ionized 
D)  cooler

Question 6

The Sun's energy results from the conversion of ___________nuclei into helium nuclei.

Accepted Answer

A)  iron 
B)  oxygen 
C)  phosphorus 
D)  hydrogen 
A)  iron 
B)  oxygen 
C)  phosphorus 
D)  hydrogen

Question 7

The amount of energy released during a nuclear reaction was determined by___________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  Sir Isaac Newton 
B)  Albert Einstein 
C)  Galileo 
D)  Niels Bohr 
E)  George Hale 
A)  Sir Isaac Newton 
B)  Albert Einstein 
C)  Galileo 
D)  Niels Bohr 
E)  George Hale

Question 8

The corona is about ___________degrees Kelvin.

Accepted Answer

A)  150 
B)  273,000 
C)  10,000 
D)  1 million 
A)  150 
B)  273,000 
C)  10,000 
D)  1 million

Question 9

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

Accepted Answer

A)  sunspots 
B)  corona 
C)  chromosphere 
D)  photosphere 
A)  sunspots 
B)  corona 
C)  chromosphere 
D)  photosphere

Question 10

A microwave oven is a good example of a familiar device that relies on absorption of electromagnetic waves at fixed frequencies by specific elements or compounds. In this case, water absorbs strongly in the microwave band used by the device, heating water molecules in food. What might a microwave oven imply about measuring microwaves emitted by the Sun on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  Microwave radiation will be heavily absorbed in the earth's atmosphere, particular if humidity is high. 
B)  It is irrelevant; the Sun does not emit microwaves. 
C)  Microwaves will never make it to Earth because they will get absorbed by hydrogen between Earth and the Sun. 
D)  Microwaves must be the major reason for global warming. 
A)  Microwave radiation will be heavily absorbed in the earth's atmosphere, particular if humidity is high. 
B)  It is irrelevant; the Sun does not emit microwaves. 
C)  Microwaves will never make it to Earth because they will get absorbed by hydrogen between Earth and the Sun. 
D)  Microwaves must be the major reason for global warming.

Question 11

The intensity of the light emitted and its wavelength tell us about the___________ that is generating the light.

Accepted Answer

A)  exact object 
B)  type of process 
C)  distance away the object is 
D)  part of the solar system 
A)  exact object 
B)  type of process 
C)  distance away the object is 
D)  part of the solar system

Question 12

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

Accepted Answer

A)  granules 
B)  spicules 
C)  photosphere 
D)  sunspots 
A)  granules 
B)  spicules 
C)  photosphere 
D)  sunspots

Question 13

The most explosive events to occur on the Sun are ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)  solar winds 
B)  filaments 
C)  solar flares 
D)  umbras 
E)  sunspots 
A)  solar winds 
B)  filaments 
C)  solar flares 
D)  umbras 
E)  sunspots

Question 14

The frequency of sunspots and related solar activity is___________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  an 11 year cycle 
B)  a 7 year cycle 
C)  a 22 year cycle 
D)  not a regular cycle 
A)  an 11 year cycle 
B)  a 7 year cycle 
C)  a 22 year cycle 
D)  not a regular cycle

Question 15

Describe the concept of "red shift" and how this observation relates to theories that the universe is expanding.

Accepted Answer

The red shift is the Doppler shift of li

Question 16

Light can be described as a stream of fast- moving particles called ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)  auroras 
B)  flares 
C)  photons 
D)  neutrons 
A)  auroras 
B)  flares 
C)  photons 
D)  neutrons

Question 17

The Sun produces energy by converting___________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  oxygen nuclei to carbon dioxide 
B)  carbon monoxide to oxygen nuclei 
C)  oxygen nuclei to nitrogen nuclei 
D)  helium nuclei to hydrogen nuclei 
E)  hydrogen nuclei to helium nuclei 
A)  oxygen nuclei to carbon dioxide 
B)  carbon monoxide to oxygen nuclei 
C)  oxygen nuclei to nitrogen nuclei 
D)  helium nuclei to hydrogen nuclei 
E)  hydrogen nuclei to helium nuclei

Question 18

The problems encountered with lenses caused this scientist to build reflecting telescopes of his own design.

Accepted Answer

A)  Sir Isaac Newton 
B)  George Hale 
C)  Niels Bohr 
D)  Galileo 
E)  Albert Einstein 
A)  Sir Isaac Newton 
B)  George Hale 
C)  Niels Bohr 
D)  Galileo 
E)  Albert Einstein

Question 19

The Sun is considered an___________star.

Accepted Answer

A)  small 
B)  large 
C)  average 
D)  dwarf 
A)  small 
B)  large 
C)  average 
D)  dwarf

Question 20

Which of the following is not an advantage that radio telescopes have over optical telescopes?

Accepted Answer

A)  They can operate 24 hours a day. 
B)  They are less affected by the conditions of the atmosphere. 
C)  They are generally less expensive. 
D)  They have better resolution. 
E)  They can "see" through interstellar dust clouds. 
A)  They can operate 24 hours a day. 
B)  They are less affected by the conditions of the atmosphere. 
C)  They are generally less expensive. 
D)  They have better resolution. 
E)  They can "see" through interstellar dust clouds.

Exam 23: Light, Telescopes, and the Sun

If solar flares pose a danger to orbiting spacecraft and astronauts, how much warning is there for the danger?

X- rays have shorter wavelength than visible light; therefore, X- rays___________ .

Which one of these types of telescopes uses gamma rays for observation?

How do astronomers save their eyes when looking at the Sun through a telescope?

Sunspots appear dark because they are ___________than the surrounding solar surface.

The Sun's energy results from the conversion of ___________nuclei into helium nuclei.

The amount of energy released during a nuclear reaction was determined by___________ .

The corona is about ___________degrees Kelvin.

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

The intensity of the light emitted and its wavelength tell us about the___________ that is generating the light.

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

The most explosive events to occur on the Sun are ___________.

The frequency of sunspots and related solar activity is___________ .

Describe the concept of "red shift" and how this observation relates to theories that the universe is expanding.

Light can be described as a stream of fast- moving particles called ___________.

The Sun produces energy by converting___________ .

The problems encountered with lenses caused this scientist to build reflecting telescopes of his own design.

The Sun is considered an___________star.

Which of the following is not an advantage that radio telescopes have over optical telescopes?

Introduction to Earth Science

Matter and Minerals

Rocks: Materials of the Solid Earth

Plate Tectonics: a Scientific Revolution Unfolds

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Volcanoes and Other Igneous Activity

Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

Weathering, Soil, and Mass Movement

Running Water and Groundwater

Glaciers, Deserts, and Wind

Geologic Time

Earths Evolution Through Geologic Time

The Ocean Floor

Ocean Water and Ocean Life

The Dynamic Ocean

The Atmosphere: Composition, Structure, and Temperature

Moisture, Clouds, and Precipitation

Air Pressure and Wind

Weather Patterns and Severe Storms

World Climates and Global Climate Change

Origins of Modern Astronomy

Touring Our Solar System

Beyond Our Solar System

Filters