Question 1

The light-gathering power of a telescope varies with the ________ of the diameter of the lensor mirror.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The light-gathering power of a telescope varies...

Question 2

Which method of astronomical measurement is the precise measurement of brightness?

Accepted Answer

A) spectroscopy 
B) photography 
C) astrometry 
D) photometry 
E) interferometry 
A) spectroscopy 
B) photography 
C) astrometry 
D) photometry 
E) interferometry

Question 3

Based on their optical design, would an airline rather you bring your 8" Newtonian orCassegrain to the next eclipse? Why?

Accepted Answer

Considering the restrictions o

Question 4

Which design is subject to chromatic aberration?

Accepted Answer

A) refractor 
B) prime focus reflector 
C) Newtonian reflector 
D) Cassegrain reflector 
E) Gregorian reflector 
A) refractor 
B) prime focus reflector 
C) Newtonian reflector 
D) Cassegrain reflector 
E) Gregorian reflector

Question 5

If the ________ is good, the atmosphere is stable, and image quality is sharp.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If the ________ is good, the atmosphere...

Question 6

What is "seeing"?

Accepted Answer

A) a measure of the quality of the telescope's optics 
B) a measure of the transparency of the scope's objective lens 
C) a measurement of the sharpness of vision of the astronomer's eyes 
D) a measurement of the image quality due to air stability 
E) a measurement of clarity and absence of clouds 
A) a measure of the quality of the telescope's optics 
B) a measure of the transparency of the scope's objective lens 
C) a measurement of the sharpness of vision of the astronomer's eyes 
D) a measurement of the image quality due to air stability 
E) a measurement of clarity and absence of clouds

Question 7

Radio telescopes have poorer angular resolution than optical telescopes because radio waveshave a much longer wavelength than optical waves.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Why do stars appear to twinkle?

Accepted Answer

In space, the light of the stars appears

Question 9

The amount of diffraction a telescope creates depends upon:

Accepted Answer

A) whether the telescope is a refractor or a reflector. 
B) the wavelength and the diameter of the telescope objective. 
C) the magnification of the eyepiece. 
D) the types of glass used in the achromat. 
E) the transparency of the atmosphere. 
A) whether the telescope is a refractor or a reflector. 
B) the wavelength and the diameter of the telescope objective. 
C) the magnification of the eyepiece. 
D) the types of glass used in the achromat. 
E) the transparency of the atmosphere.

Question 10

What is the resolving power of the telescope?

Accepted Answer

A) the ability to make distant objects appear closer 
B) the ability to collect a lot of light 
C) the ability to detect very faint objects 
D) the ability to distinguish adjacent objects in the sky 
E) the ability to separate light into its component colors 
A) the ability to make distant objects appear closer 
B) the ability to collect a lot of light 
C) the ability to detect very faint objects 
D) the ability to distinguish adjacent objects in the sky 
E) the ability to separate light into its component colors

Question 11

A major advantage of a Newtonian reflector over a refractor is:

Accepted Answer

A) its compact size. 
B) the elimination of chromatic aberration. 
C) there are only two lenses to grind. 
D) the central hole in the mirror is smaller. 
E) the elimination of the secondary mirror. 
A) its compact size. 
B) the elimination of chromatic aberration. 
C) there are only two lenses to grind. 
D) the central hole in the mirror is smaller. 
E) the elimination of the secondary mirror.

Question 12

The Arecibo radio telescope is laid out like which optical telescope design?

Accepted Answer

A) prime focus reflector 
B) Newtonian reflector 
C) Cassegrain reflector 
D) Coude reflector 
E) grazing incidence reflector 
A) prime focus reflector 
B) Newtonian reflector 
C) Cassegrain reflector 
D) Coude reflector 
E) grazing incidence reflector

Question 13

Which design has a convex primary mirror and flat secondary mirror, with the eyepiecelocated on the top side of the telescope tube?

Accepted Answer

A) refractor 
B) Newtonian reflector 
C) Cassegrain reflector 
D) prime focus reflector 
E) interferometer 
A) refractor 
B) Newtonian reflector 
C) Cassegrain reflector 
D) prime focus reflector 
E) interferometer

Question 14

Which of the following is a problem inherent in all large radio telescopes?

Accepted Answer

A) They are badly affected by poor seeing and atmospheric turbulence. 
B) The lightest breeze shakes them, making the observations blurry. 
C) Their waves are blocked by water vapor, so they must be located in deserts. 
D) Radio waves have long wavelengths, so radio telescopes have poor resolution. 
E) The dust clouds in the Milky Way block almost all wavelengths except light. 
A) They are badly affected by poor seeing and atmospheric turbulence. 
B) The lightest breeze shakes them, making the observations blurry. 
C) Their waves are blocked by water vapor, so they must be located in deserts. 
D) Radio waves have long wavelengths, so radio telescopes have poor resolution. 
E) The dust clouds in the Milky Way block almost all wavelengths except light.

Question 15

Very accurate measurements of stellar brightnesses and sudden changes are made with a(n)________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Very accurate measurements of stellar brightnesses and...

Question 16

The James Webb Space Telescope is optimized to observe ________ radiation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The James Webb Space Telescope is optimized...

Question 17

Because of ________, images in small telescopes are more blurred than with larger objectives.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Because of ________, images in small telescopes...

Question 18

Which of the following is currently supplying high resolution X-ray images from space?

Accepted Answer

A) ROSAT 
B) Chandra 
C) Einstein 
D) HEAO-2 
E) COBE 
A) ROSAT 
B) Chandra 
C) Einstein 
D) HEAO-2 
E) COBE

Question 19

Why are most large telescopes reflectors, not refractors?

Accepted Answer

A) Large lenses deform under their own weight, but mirrors can be supported. 
B) Large mirrors need only one optical surface, achromats four surfaces to grind. 
C) Reflectors do not suffer from chromatic aberration like refractors do. 
D) Large, very clear lenses are harder to cast than more tolerant mirror blanks. 
E) All of the above are correct. 
A) Large lenses deform under their own weight, but mirrors can be supported. 
B) Large mirrors need only one optical surface, achromats four surfaces to grind. 
C) Reflectors do not suffer from chromatic aberration like refractors do. 
D) Large, very clear lenses are harder to cast than more tolerant mirror blanks. 
E) All of the above are correct.

Question 20

The process occurring when photons bounce off a polished surface is called:

Accepted Answer

A) diffraction. 
B) refraction. 
C) reflection. 
D) dispersion. 
E) interference. 
A) diffraction. 
B) refraction. 
C) reflection. 
D) dispersion. 
E) interference.

Exam 5: Telescopes: The Tools of Astronomy

The light-gathering power of a telescope varies with the ________ of the diameter of the lensor mirror.

Which method of astronomical measurement is the precise measurement of brightness?

Based on their optical design, would an airline rather you bring your 8" Newtonian orCassegrain to the next eclipse? Why?

Which design is subject to chromatic aberration?

If the ________ is good, the atmosphere is stable, and image quality is sharp.

What is "seeing"?

Radio telescopes have poorer angular resolution than optical telescopes because radio waveshave a much longer wavelength than optical waves.

Why do stars appear to twinkle?

The amount of diffraction a telescope creates depends upon:

What is the resolving power of the telescope?

A major advantage of a Newtonian reflector over a refractor is:

The Arecibo radio telescope is laid out like which optical telescope design?

Which design has a convex primary mirror and flat secondary mirror, with the eyepiecelocated on the top side of the telescope tube?

Which of the following is a problem inherent in all large radio telescopes?

Very accurate measurements of stellar brightnesses and sudden changes are made with a(n)________.

The James Webb Space Telescope is optimized to observe ________ radiation.

Because of ________, images in small telescopes are more blurred than with larger objectives.

Which of the following is currently supplying high resolution X-ray images from space?

Why are most large telescopes reflectors, not refractors?

The process occurring when photons bounce off a polished surface is called:

Charting the Heavens: The Foundations of Astronomy

The Copernican Revolution: The Birth of Modern Science

Radiation: Information From the Cosmos

Spectroscopy: the Inner Workings of Atoms

The Solar System: Comparative Planetology and Formation Models

Earth: Our Home in Space

The Moon and Mercury: Scorched and Battered Worlds

Venus: Earths Sister Planet

Mars: a Near Miss for Life

Jupiter: Giant of the Solar System

Saturn: Spectacular Rings and Mysterious Moons

Uranus and Neptune: The Outer Worlds of the Solar System

Solar System Debris: Keys to Our Origin

Exoplanets: Planetary Systems Beyond Our Own

The Sun: Our Parent Star

The Stars: Giants, Dwarfs, and the Main Sequence

The Interstellar Medium: Gas and Dust Among the Stars

Star Formation: a Traumatic Birth

Stellar Evolution: The Life and Death of a Star

Stellar Explosions: Novae, Supernovae, and the Formation of the Elements

Neutron Stars and Black Holes: Strange States of Matter

The Milky Way Galaxy: a Spiral in Space

Galaxies: Building Blocks of the Universe

Galaxies and Dark Matter: The Large-Scale Structure of the Cosmos

Cosmology: The Big Bang and the Fate of the Universe

The Early Universe: Toward the Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe: Are We Alone

Filters