Question 1

A hot,transparent gas produces a continuous spectrum.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 2

The hot,dense gas existing in the Sun emits energy

Accepted Answer

A)  at all wavelengths uniformly. 
B)  at all wavelengths,with a peak at one particular wavelength (color). 
C)  only at certain wavelengths and no others. 
D)  mostly at the longest and shortest wavelengths,less in between. 
A)  at all wavelengths uniformly. 
B)  at all wavelengths,with a peak at one particular wavelength (color). 
C)  only at certain wavelengths and no others. 
D)  mostly at the longest and shortest wavelengths,less in between. B

Question 3

When light passes through a prism of glass,the

Accepted Answer

A)  different colors are caused by multiple reflections in the prism and interference between the resulting beams. 
B)  prism absorbs colors from different parts of the broad beam coming out of the prism,leaving the complementary colors that we see. 
C)  prism adds colors to different parts of the broadly scattered beam coming out of it. 
D)  different colors or wavelengths of light are separated in angle by the prism. 
A)  different colors are caused by multiple reflections in the prism and interference between the resulting beams. 
B)  prism absorbs colors from different parts of the broad beam coming out of the prism,leaving the complementary colors that we see. 
C)  prism adds colors to different parts of the broadly scattered beam coming out of it. 
D)  different colors or wavelengths of light are separated in angle by the prism. D

Question 4

Which has the greatest energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Infrared light 
B)  Visible light 
C)  Ultraviolet light 
D)  They all have the same energy. 
A)  Infrared light 
B)  Visible light 
C)  Ultraviolet light 
D)  They all have the same energy.

Question 5

Who first proved that light is a wave?

Accepted Answer

A)  James Clerk Maxwell 
B)  Albert Einstein 
C)  Isaac Newton 
D)  Thomas Young 
A)  James Clerk Maxwell 
B)  Albert Einstein 
C)  Isaac Newton 
D)  Thomas Young

Question 6

The early workers in spectroscopy (Fraunhofer with the solar spectrum;Bunsen and Kirchhoff with laboratory spectra)discovered what very significant fact about the spectra produced by hot gases,such as elements heated in a flame?

Accepted Answer

A)  The higher the temperature,the greater the proportion of red in the emitted spectral lines. 
B)  They produce their own characteristic pattern of spectral lines,which remain fixed as the temperature increases. 
C)  They emit spectral lines that move continuously toward the blue end of the spectrum as the gas temperature increases. 
D)  They produce the same set of spectral lines and are hence indistinguishable. 
A)  The higher the temperature,the greater the proportion of red in the emitted spectral lines. 
B)  They produce their own characteristic pattern of spectral lines,which remain fixed as the temperature increases. 
C)  They emit spectral lines that move continuously toward the blue end of the spectrum as the gas temperature increases. 
D)  They produce the same set of spectral lines and are hence indistinguishable.

Question 7

White light passes through a prism and separates into a spectrum of colors.All of these colors are recombined into a single beam by means of a lens.What color is this beam?

Accepted Answer

A)  White 
B)  Black (there will be no light left) 
C)  It will be in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum. 
D)  It will be in the infrared region of the spectrum. 
A)  White 
B)  Black (there will be no light left) 
C)  It will be in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum. 
D)  It will be in the infrared region of the spectrum.

Question 8

A blackbody curve graphs brightness of a star over time.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

How much energy a star emits is determined by both temperature and surface area.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

What would you see if you passed the light from firework displays through a prism?

Accepted Answer

A)  A full,continuous rainbow of colors 
B)  Only one color,the color of the firework display 
C)  A pattern of thin,dark lines against a rainbow background 
D)  A pattern of thin,bright lines against a dark background 
A)  A full,continuous rainbow of colors 
B)  Only one color,the color of the firework display 
C)  A pattern of thin,dark lines against a rainbow background 
D)  A pattern of thin,bright lines against a dark background

Question 11

Why are CCD cameras used more often than photographic plates in current astronomical research?

Accepted Answer

CCD cameras are much more effective at c

Question 12

How does Wien's law help us determine the temperature of celestial objects?

Accepted Answer

The higher an object's temperature,the m

Question 13

Infrared light allows astronomers to view warm stars in clouds of dust and gas that are not viewable in visible light.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

A metal rod is heated in a flame.It is at its hottest when the color of the rod glows

Accepted Answer

A)  red. 
B)  orange. 
C)  yellow. 
D)  red-orange. 
A)  red. 
B)  orange. 
C)  yellow. 
D)  red-orange.

Question 15

Why is the sky blue?

Accepted Answer

The light is scattered by a process in w

Question 16

Which of the following sentences CORRECTLY describes an advantage of a large refracting telescope over a large reflecting telescope?

Accepted Answer

A)  A refracting telescope is not subject to as many aberrations as a reflecting telescope. 
B)  A refracting telescope has no obstruction that blocks part of the light entering the telescope. 
C)  The lens in a refracting telescope can be made larger than the mirror in a reflecting telescope. 
D)  A refracting telescope does not sag like a reflecting mirror does. 
A)  A refracting telescope is not subject to as many aberrations as a reflecting telescope. 
B)  A refracting telescope has no obstruction that blocks part of the light entering the telescope. 
C)  The lens in a refracting telescope can be made larger than the mirror in a reflecting telescope. 
D)  A refracting telescope does not sag like a reflecting mirror does.

Question 17

The Compton Gamma Ray Observatory was designed to capture intense energy bursts from black holes and the merging of neutron stars.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

The gas in interstellar space between the stars is very tenuous ("thin").Near a hot star,this gas is heated to a high temperature.Any such hot,tenuous gas emits light

Accepted Answer

A)  at all wavelengths,peaking at a certain wavelength or color. 
B)  at no wavelength,because hot thin gases do not emit light. 
C)  only at specific wavelengths ("spectral lines"),and these spectral lines do not change in wavelength as the temperature changes. 
D)  only of specific colors ("spectral lines")whose wavelengths change as the temperature changes. 
A)  at all wavelengths,peaking at a certain wavelength or color. 
B)  at no wavelength,because hot thin gases do not emit light. 
C)  only at specific wavelengths ("spectral lines"),and these spectral lines do not change in wavelength as the temperature changes. 
D)  only of specific colors ("spectral lines")whose wavelengths change as the temperature changes.

Question 19

Many fortunate amateur astronomers have telescopes with primary mirrors 20 cm in diameter.The recently built Keck telescopes on Hawaii have mirrors 10 m in diameter.How much more light is collected by one of the Keck telescopes compared with the amateur's telescope?

Accepted Answer

A)  2500 times more 
B)  50 times more 
C)  About 7 times more 
D)  2 times less 
A)  2500 times more 
B)  50 times more 
C)  About 7 times more 
D)  2 times less

Question 20

What advantages do space-based telescopes have over Earth-based observatories?

Accepted Answer

Space-based telescopes are above the atm

A hot,transparent gas produces a continuous spectrum.

The hot,dense gas existing in the Sun emits energy

When light passes through a prism of glass,the

Which has the greatest energy?

Who first proved that light is a wave?

The early workers in spectroscopy (Fraunhofer with the solar spectrum;Bunsen and Kirchhoff with laboratory spectra)discovered what very significant fact about the spectra produced by hot gases,such as elements heated in a flame?

White light passes through a prism and separates into a spectrum of colors.All of these colors are recombined into a single beam by means of a lens.What color is this beam?

A blackbody curve graphs brightness of a star over time.

How much energy a star emits is determined by both temperature and surface area.

What would you see if you passed the light from firework displays through a prism?

Why are CCD cameras used more often than photographic plates in current astronomical research?

How does Wien's law help us determine the temperature of celestial objects?

Infrared light allows astronomers to view warm stars in clouds of dust and gas that are not viewable in visible light.

A metal rod is heated in a flame.It is at its hottest when the color of the rod glows

Why is the sky blue?

Which of the following sentences CORRECTLY describes an advantage of a large refracting telescope over a large reflecting telescope?

The Compton Gamma Ray Observatory was designed to capture intense energy bursts from black holes and the merging of neutron stars.

The gas in interstellar space between the stars is very tenuous ("thin").Near a hot star,this gas is heated to a high temperature.Any such hot,tenuous gas emits light

Many fortunate amateur astronomers have telescopes with primary mirrors 20 cm in diameter.The recently built Keck telescopes on Hawaii have mirrors 10 m in diameter.How much more light is collected by one of the Keck telescopes compared with the amateur's telescope?

What advantages do space-based telescopes have over Earth-based observatories?

Predicting the Motions of the Stars, Sun, and Moon

Analyzing Scales and Motions of the Universe

Exploring Our Evolving Solar System

Uncovering Earths Systems

Exploring Terrestrial Surface Processes and Atmospheres

Observing the Dynamic Giant Planets

Looking for Life Beyond Earth

Probing the Dynamic Sun

Observing Properties of Distant Stars

Inferring Patterns in Star Life Cycles

Predicting the Violent End of the Largest Stars

Exploring Our Galaxy

Investigating Other Galaxies

Observing the Evolution of the Universe

Filters

Exam 2: Decoding the Hidden Messages in Starlight

A hot,transparent gas produces a continuous spectrum.

The hot,dense gas existing in the Sun emits energy

When light passes through a prism of glass,the

Which has the greatest energy?

Who first proved that light is a wave?

The early workers in spectroscopy (Fraunhofer with the solar spectrum;Bunsen and Kirchhoff with laboratory spectra)discovered what very significant fact about the spectra produced by hot gases,such as elements heated in a flame?

White light passes through a prism and separates into a spectrum of colors.All of these colors are recombined into a single beam by means of a lens.What color is this beam?

A blackbody curve graphs brightness of a star over time.

How much energy a star emits is determined by both temperature and surface area.

What would you see if you passed the light from firework displays through a prism?

Why are CCD cameras used more often than photographic plates in current astronomical research?

How does Wien's law help us determine the temperature of celestial objects?

Infrared light allows astronomers to view warm stars in clouds of dust and gas that are not viewable in visible light.

A metal rod is heated in a flame.It is at its hottest when the color of the rod glows

Why is the sky blue?

Which of the following sentences CORRECTLY describes an advantage of a large refracting telescope over a large reflecting telescope?

The Compton Gamma Ray Observatory was designed to capture intense energy bursts from black holes and the merging of neutron stars.

The gas in interstellar space between the stars is very tenuous ("thin").Near a hot star,this gas is heated to a high temperature.Any such hot,tenuous gas emits light

Many fortunate amateur astronomers have telescopes with primary mirrors 20 cm in diameter.The recently built Keck telescopes on Hawaii have mirrors 10 m in diameter.How much more light is collected by one of the Keck telescopes compared with the amateur's telescope?

What advantages do space-based telescopes have over Earth-based observatories?

Predicting the Motions of the Stars, Sun, and Moon

Analyzing Scales and Motions of the Universe

Exploring Our Evolving Solar System

Uncovering Earths Systems

Exploring Terrestrial Surface Processes and Atmospheres

Observing the Dynamic Giant Planets

Looking for Life Beyond Earth

Probing the Dynamic Sun

Observing Properties of Distant Stars

Inferring Patterns in Star Life Cycles

Predicting the Violent End of the Largest Stars

Exploring Our Galaxy

Investigating Other Galaxies

Observing the Evolution of the Universe

Filters