Question 1

What does a nanometre measure?

Accepted Answer

A)  frequency 
B)  energy 
C)  mass 
D)  length 
A)  frequency 
B)  energy 
C)  mass 
D)  length

Question 2

The ____________________ is a measure of the clarity of the atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The ____________________ is a measure of the...

Question 3

The primary mirror of space telescope A has a diameter that is twice as large as the primary mirror of space telescope B. How will their resolving powers compare?

Accepted Answer

A)  Telescope A will have twice as much resolving power as telescope B. 
B)  Telescope A will have half as much resolving power as telescope B. 
C)  They will have the same resolving power. 
D)  It depends on which wavelengths of light each telescope observes. 
A)  Telescope A will have twice as much resolving power as telescope B. 
B)  Telescope A will have half as much resolving power as telescope B. 
C)  They will have the same resolving power. 
D)  It depends on which wavelengths of light each telescope observes.

Question 4

All radio telescopes are refracting telescopes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

What is Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI)?

Accepted Answer

A)  a method to observe the largest possible areas of the sky in radio waves 
B)  a method to observe the largest wavelength optical light 
C)  linking optical telescopes in different hemispheres to observe the whole sky 
D)  linking radio telescopes together electronically to provide very high resolution 
A)  a method to observe the largest possible areas of the sky in radio waves 
B)  a method to observe the largest wavelength optical light 
C)  linking optical telescopes in different hemispheres to observe the whole sky 
D)  linking radio telescopes together electronically to provide very high resolution

Question 6

Which of the following types of electromagnetic radiation is absorbed by ozone in the Earth's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  infrared radiation 
B)  ultraviolet radiation 
C)  X-ray radiation 
D)  visible light 
A)  infrared radiation 
B)  ultraviolet radiation 
C)  X-ray radiation 
D)  visible light

Question 7

An astronomy graduate student takes a long-exposure picture with a CCD camera but forgets to turn on sidereal tracking. What will the picture look like?

Accepted Answer

A)  The picture will be blank. 
B)  The picture will be blurry. 
C)  The picture will have long, thin star trails. 
D)  The picture will have many false colours. 
A)  The picture will be blank. 
B)  The picture will be blurry. 
C)  The picture will have long, thin star trails. 
D)  The picture will have many false colours.

Question 8

What is the most important reason for putting an optical telescope in space?

Accepted Answer

A)  An optical telescope in space observes radiation that does not pass through the Earth's atmosphere. 
B)  A telescope in space is closer to the objects it observes. 
C)  Telescopes in space are not subject to the blurring effects of the Earth's atmosphere. 
D)  An optical telescope in space can be made much larger than one on the ground. 
A)  An optical telescope in space observes radiation that does not pass through the Earth's atmosphere. 
B)  A telescope in space is closer to the objects it observes. 
C)  Telescopes in space are not subject to the blurring effects of the Earth's atmosphere. 
D)  An optical telescope in space can be made much larger than one on the ground.

Question 9

The most important characteristic of a telescope is its magnifying power.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

The angular resolution of a telescope is never less than its diffraction limit.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

The Earth's atmosphere is opaque to radio waves.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Which of the following statements best explains why stars twinkle?

Accepted Answer

A)  variations in the diffraction limit of the atmosphere 
B)  bending of light rays by turbulent layers in the atmosphere 
C)  differential bending of visible wavelengths in the middle atmosphere 
D)  bending of ultraviolet rays as they reflect back into space 
A)  variations in the diffraction limit of the atmosphere 
B)  bending of light rays by turbulent layers in the atmosphere 
C)  differential bending of visible wavelengths in the middle atmosphere 
D)  bending of ultraviolet rays as they reflect back into space

Question 13

Which of the following has a few million microscopic light detectors in an array typically measuring about the size of a postage stamp?

Accepted Answer

A)  photographic plate 
B)  spectrograph 
C)  charge-coupled device 
D)  grating 
A)  photographic plate 
B)  spectrograph 
C)  charge-coupled device 
D)  grating

Question 14

Far-infrared telescopes have to be cooled, but visible-light telescopes do not. Why not?

Accepted Answer

A)  Far-infrared radiation is absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere. 
B)  Visible-light telescopes detect light from cool objects. 
C)  Far-infrared telescopes can only work in space. 
D)  Telescopes are not hot enough to emit visible light. 
A)  Far-infrared radiation is absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere. 
B)  Visible-light telescopes detect light from cool objects. 
C)  Far-infrared telescopes can only work in space. 
D)  Telescopes are not hot enough to emit visible light.

Question 15

Which of the following telescope types must be used above the Earth's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  an optical telescope 
B)  a refracting telescope 
C)  an X-ray telescope 
D)  a radio telescope 
A)  an optical telescope 
B)  a refracting telescope 
C)  an X-ray telescope 
D)  a radio telescope

Question 16

Optical space telescopes typically have longer lifetimes than space telescopes that observe far-infrared radiation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

A new generation of ground-based telescopes are currently being built to overcome the limitations of the older large telescopes. How are these different from previous telescopes?

Accepted Answer

A)  They can eliminate light pollution. 
B)  They can detect X-rays. 
C)  They use computers to control the shape of the mirror. 
D)  They can see through clouds. 
A)  They can eliminate light pollution. 
B)  They can detect X-rays. 
C)  They use computers to control the shape of the mirror. 
D)  They can see through clouds.

Question 18

How does the energy of a photon relate to the other properties of light?

Accepted Answer

A)  Energy is directly proportional to the wavelength of the light. 
B)  Energy is inversely proportional to the wavelength of the light. 
C)  Energy depends only on the speed of the light. 
D)  Energy is inversely proportional to the frequency of the light. 
A)  Energy is directly proportional to the wavelength of the light. 
B)  Energy is inversely proportional to the wavelength of the light. 
C)  Energy depends only on the speed of the light. 
D)  Energy is inversely proportional to the frequency of the light.

Question 19

Which of the following statements about the Earth's atmosphere is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  The atmosphere is transparent to most radio waves. 
B)  The atmosphere is opaque to most radio waves. 
C)  The atmosphere is transparent to X-rays. 
D)  The atmosphere is opaque to most visible wavelengths. 
A)  The atmosphere is transparent to most radio waves. 
B)  The atmosphere is opaque to most radio waves. 
C)  The atmosphere is transparent to X-rays. 
D)  The atmosphere is opaque to most visible wavelengths.

Question 20

Which of the following best explains the concept of atmospheric windows?

Accepted Answer

A)  Holes in Earth's atmosphere allow ultraviolet radiation to reach the North and South poles. 
B)  X-ray radiation from space can see through the atmosphere to observe activities on the ground. 
C)  Only certain wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation from space reach Earth's surface. 
D)  Earth's atmosphere can be "closed" or "open" to electromagnetic radiation, depending on the weather. 
A)  Holes in Earth's atmosphere allow ultraviolet radiation to reach the North and South poles. 
B)  X-ray radiation from space can see through the atmosphere to observe activities on the ground. 
C)  Only certain wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation from space reach Earth's surface. 
D)  Earth's atmosphere can be "closed" or "open" to electromagnetic radiation, depending on the weather.

What does a nanometre measure?

The ____________________ is a measure of the clarity of the atmosphere.

The primary mirror of space telescope A has a diameter that is twice as large as the primary mirror of space telescope B. How will their resolving powers compare?

All radio telescopes are refracting telescopes.

What is Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI)?

Which of the following types of electromagnetic radiation is absorbed by ozone in the Earth's atmosphere?

An astronomy graduate student takes a long-exposure picture with a CCD camera but forgets to turn on sidereal tracking. What will the picture look like?

What is the most important reason for putting an optical telescope in space?

The most important characteristic of a telescope is its magnifying power.

The angular resolution of a telescope is never less than its diffraction limit.

The Earth's atmosphere is opaque to radio waves.

Which of the following statements best explains why stars twinkle?

Which of the following has a few million microscopic light detectors in an array typically measuring about the size of a postage stamp?

Far-infrared telescopes have to be cooled, but visible-light telescopes do not. Why not?

Which of the following telescope types must be used above the Earth's atmosphere?

Optical space telescopes typically have longer lifetimes than space telescopes that observe far-infrared radiation.

A new generation of ground-based telescopes are currently being built to overcome the limitations of the older large telescopes. How are these different from previous telescopes?

How does the energy of a photon relate to the other properties of light?

Which of the following statements about the Earth's atmosphere is true?

Which of the following best explains the concept of atmospheric windows?

The Scale of the Cosmos: Space and Time

Users Guide to the Sky: Patterns and Cycles

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

The Sun: the Closest Star

The Family of Stars

The Structure and Formation of Stars

The Deaths of Stars

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Cosmology in the 21st Century

Planet Formation and Exoplanets

Comparative Planetology of the Terrestrial Planets

The Outer Solar System

Life on Other Worlds

Filters

Exam 4: Astronomical Telescopes and Instruments: Extending Humanitys Vision

What does a nanometre measure?

The ____________________ is a measure of the clarity of the atmosphere.

The primary mirror of space telescope A has a diameter that is twice as large as the primary mirror of space telescope B. How will their resolving powers compare?

All radio telescopes are refracting telescopes.

What is Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI)?

Which of the following types of electromagnetic radiation is absorbed by ozone in the Earth's atmosphere?

An astronomy graduate student takes a long-exposure picture with a CCD camera but forgets to turn on sidereal tracking. What will the picture look like?

What is the most important reason for putting an optical telescope in space?

The most important characteristic of a telescope is its magnifying power.

The angular resolution of a telescope is never less than its diffraction limit.

The Earth's atmosphere is opaque to radio waves.

Which of the following statements best explains why stars twinkle?

Which of the following has a few million microscopic light detectors in an array typically measuring about the size of a postage stamp?

Far-infrared telescopes have to be cooled, but visible-light telescopes do not. Why not?

Which of the following telescope types must be used above the Earth's atmosphere?

Optical space telescopes typically have longer lifetimes than space telescopes that observe far-infrared radiation.

A new generation of ground-based telescopes are currently being built to overcome the limitations of the older large telescopes. How are these different from previous telescopes?

How does the energy of a photon relate to the other properties of light?

Which of the following statements about the Earth's atmosphere is true?

Which of the following best explains the concept of atmospheric windows?

The Scale of the Cosmos: Space and Time

Users Guide to the Sky: Patterns and Cycles

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

The Sun: the Closest Star

The Family of Stars

The Structure and Formation of Stars

The Deaths of Stars

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Cosmology in the 21st Century

Planet Formation and Exoplanets

Comparative Planetology of the Terrestrial Planets

The Outer Solar System

Life on Other Worlds

Filters