Question 1

To determine the sum of the masses of a visual binary star system,we need to measure for the system the

Accepted Answer

A)  temperatures and periods of the stars. 
B)  distance from us and the semimajor axis of the orbit of one star relative to the other. 
C)  period and the semimajor axis. 
D)  temperatures and the distance from us. 
A)  temperatures and periods of the stars. 
B)  distance from us and the semimajor axis of the orbit of one star relative to the other. 
C)  period and the semimajor axis. 
D)  temperatures and the distance from us.

Question 2

Why are the spectral classes in the order they are?

Accepted Answer

In a popular classification scheme that

Question 3

Which important stellar parameter can be determined by the study of binary stars?

Accepted Answer

A)  The age of the stars 
B)  Stellar masses 
C)  Surface temperatures of the stars 
D)  The distance of the stars from Earth 
A)  The age of the stars 
B)  Stellar masses 
C)  Surface temperatures of the stars 
D)  The distance of the stars from Earth

Question 4

How do you find the distance of a nearby star?

Accepted Answer

Through the inverse squared relationship

Question 5

Parallax of a nearby star is used to estimate its

Accepted Answer

A)  distance from Earth. 
B)  apparent magnitude. 
C)  physical size or diameter. 
D)  surface temperature. 
A)  distance from Earth. 
B)  apparent magnitude. 
C)  physical size or diameter. 
D)  surface temperature.

Question 6

Which of these stars would be moving away from us?

Accepted Answer

A)  A red star 
B)  A yellow-white star 
C)  A blue star 
D)  This cannot be determined from the information given. 
A)  A red star 
B)  A yellow-white star 
C)  A blue star 
D)  This cannot be determined from the information given.

Question 7

The chemical makeup of a star's surface is usually determined by

Accepted Answer

A)  spectroscopy of the light emitted by the star. 
B)  examining the chemicals present in a meteorite. 
C)  theoretical methods,considering evolution of the star. 
D)  taking a sample of the star's surface with a probe. 
A)  spectroscopy of the light emitted by the star. 
B)  examining the chemicals present in a meteorite. 
C)  theoretical methods,considering evolution of the star. 
D)  taking a sample of the star's surface with a probe.

Question 8

We can tell that some stars are relatively close to us in the sky because

Accepted Answer

A)  they appear to move periodically back and forth against the background stars because of Earth's movement around the Sun. 
B)  they appear to be extremely bright. 
C)  they are occasionally occulted or eclipsed by our Moon. 
D)  the light from these stars shows only a very small redshift caused by the universal expansion of the universe. 
A)  they appear to move periodically back and forth against the background stars because of Earth's movement around the Sun. 
B)  they appear to be extremely bright. 
C)  they are occasionally occulted or eclipsed by our Moon. 
D)  the light from these stars shows only a very small redshift caused by the universal expansion of the universe.

Question 9

The most common type of star is a blue supergiant.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

How do two unequal mass stars move around each other in a binary system?

Accepted Answer

A)  In a common elliptical orbit,always remaining diametrically opposite to each other through one of the foci of the ellipse 
B)  In straight lines,back and forth past each other 
C)  In elliptical orbits,about a common "center of mass" 
D)  The low-mass star moves in a circular orbit around the stationary high-mass star. 
A)  In a common elliptical orbit,always remaining diametrically opposite to each other through one of the foci of the ellipse 
B)  In straight lines,back and forth past each other 
C)  In elliptical orbits,about a common "center of mass" 
D)  The low-mass star moves in a circular orbit around the stationary high-mass star.

Question 11

A parallax of 1 arcsecond would be how many arcminutes?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.017 
B)  0.60 
C)  0.06 
D)  3600 
A)  0.017 
B)  0.60 
C)  0.06 
D)  3600

Question 12

Two stars in our sky have the same apparent brightness.If neither of them is hidden behind gas or dust clouds,then we know that they

Accepted Answer

A)  may be at different distances,in which case the nearest one must have the greater luminosity. 
B)  may be at different distances,in which case the farther one must have the greater luminosity. 
C)  must have the same temperature. 
D)  must be at the same distance away from us. 
A)  may be at different distances,in which case the nearest one must have the greater luminosity. 
B)  may be at different distances,in which case the farther one must have the greater luminosity. 
C)  must have the same temperature. 
D)  must be at the same distance away from us.

Question 13

The star Alderamin has an apparent magnitude of 2.4 and an absolute magnitude of 1.4.From this information (assuming that the starlight has not been dimmed by interstellar clouds),we can say for certain that Alderamin is

Accepted Answer

A)  less than 10 AU away. 
B)  more than 10 parsecs away. 
C)  less than 10 light-years away. 
D)  less than 10 parsecs away. 
A)  less than 10 AU away. 
B)  more than 10 parsecs away. 
C)  less than 10 light-years away. 
D)  less than 10 parsecs away.

Question 14

What is the difference between an optical double star and a visual binary star?

Accepted Answer

A)  There is no difference: They are two names for the same thing. 
B)  Optical double stars can be seen as separate stars only through a telescope,whereas visual binaries can be seen with the unaided eye (e.g. ,the star Mizar in the Big Dipper's handle). 
C)  The stars in an optical double star are actually orbiting each other,whereas a visual binary is an illusion: The stars are at vast distances from each other and are not actually orbiting each other. 
D)  An optical double is an illusion: The stars are at vast distances from each other and are not actually orbiting each other,whereas in a visual binary,the stars are actually orbiting each other. 
A)  There is no difference: They are two names for the same thing. 
B)  Optical double stars can be seen as separate stars only through a telescope,whereas visual binaries can be seen with the unaided eye (e.g. ,the star Mizar in the Big Dipper's handle). 
C)  The stars in an optical double star are actually orbiting each other,whereas a visual binary is an illusion: The stars are at vast distances from each other and are not actually orbiting each other. 
D)  An optical double is an illusion: The stars are at vast distances from each other and are not actually orbiting each other,whereas in a visual binary,the stars are actually orbiting each other.

Question 15

The spectral type of a star is most directly related to (and determines uniquely)its

Accepted Answer

A)  size or radius. 
B)  absolute magnitude. 
C)  luminosity. 
D)  surface temperature. 
A)  size or radius. 
B)  absolute magnitude. 
C)  luminosity. 
D)  surface temperature.

Question 16

Stars that emit greater amounts of light in the shorter wavelengths are

Accepted Answer

A)  hotter. 
B)  cooler. 
C)  farther away. 
D)  closer to Earth. 
A)  hotter. 
B)  cooler. 
C)  farther away. 
D)  closer to Earth.

Question 17

The luminosity of a star is

Accepted Answer

A)  another name for its color or surface temperature. 
B)  its brightness as seen by people on Earth. 
C)  its total energy output into all space over all wavelengths. 
D)  its brightness at a hypothetical distance of 10 parsecs (32.6 light-years)from Earth. 
A)  another name for its color or surface temperature. 
B)  its brightness as seen by people on Earth. 
C)  its total energy output into all space over all wavelengths. 
D)  its brightness at a hypothetical distance of 10 parsecs (32.6 light-years)from Earth.

Question 18

Blue stars are relatively hot,with high surface temperatures.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

How do you find the temperature of a star?

Accepted Answer

You can find the temperature o

Question 20

Stars of luminosity class V compared to stars of spectral class B are

Accepted Answer

A)  bigger. 
B)  smaller. 
C)  hotter. 
D)  unable to be determined. 
A)  bigger. 
B)  smaller. 
C)  hotter. 
D)  unable to be determined.

To determine the sum of the masses of a visual binary star system,we need to measure for the system the

Why are the spectral classes in the order they are?

Which important stellar parameter can be determined by the study of binary stars?

How do you find the distance of a nearby star?

Parallax of a nearby star is used to estimate its

Which of these stars would be moving away from us?

The chemical makeup of a star's surface is usually determined by

We can tell that some stars are relatively close to us in the sky because

The most common type of star is a blue supergiant.

How do two unequal mass stars move around each other in a binary system?

A parallax of 1 arcsecond would be how many arcminutes?

Two stars in our sky have the same apparent brightness.If neither of them is hidden behind gas or dust clouds,then we know that they

The star Alderamin has an apparent magnitude of 2.4 and an absolute magnitude of 1.4.From this information (assuming that the starlight has not been dimmed by interstellar clouds),we can say for certain that Alderamin is

What is the difference between an optical double star and a visual binary star?

The spectral type of a star is most directly related to (and determines uniquely)its

Stars that emit greater amounts of light in the shorter wavelengths are

The luminosity of a star is

Blue stars are relatively hot,with high surface temperatures.

How do you find the temperature of a star?

Stars of luminosity class V compared to stars of spectral class B are

Predicting the Motions of the Stars, Sun, and Moon

Decoding the Hidden Messages in Starlight

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

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

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Exam 10: Observing Properties of Distant Stars

To determine the sum of the masses of a visual binary star system,we need to measure for the system the

Why are the spectral classes in the order they are?

Which important stellar parameter can be determined by the study of binary stars?

How do you find the distance of a nearby star?

Parallax of a nearby star is used to estimate its

Which of these stars would be moving away from us?

The chemical makeup of a star's surface is usually determined by

We can tell that some stars are relatively close to us in the sky because

The most common type of star is a blue supergiant.

How do two unequal mass stars move around each other in a binary system?

A parallax of 1 arcsecond would be how many arcminutes?

Two stars in our sky have the same apparent brightness.If neither of them is hidden behind gas or dust clouds,then we know that they

The star Alderamin has an apparent magnitude of 2.4 and an absolute magnitude of 1.4.From this information (assuming that the starlight has not been dimmed by interstellar clouds),we can say for certain that Alderamin is

What is the difference between an optical double star and a visual binary star?

The spectral type of a star is most directly related to (and determines uniquely)its

Stars that emit greater amounts of light in the shorter wavelengths are

The luminosity of a star is

Blue stars are relatively hot,with high surface temperatures.

How do you find the temperature of a star?

Stars of luminosity class V compared to stars of spectral class B are

Predicting the Motions of the Stars, Sun, and Moon

Decoding the Hidden Messages in Starlight

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

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