Question 1

The Atacama Large Millimeter Array achieves exceptional resolution by usingexceptionally:

Accepted Answer

A) large radio antennas in a fixed array. 
B) large radio antennas in a mobile array. 
C) many radio antennas in a fixed array. 
D) many radio antennas in a mobile array. 
E) many portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. 
A) large radio antennas in a fixed array. 
B) large radio antennas in a mobile array. 
C) many radio antennas in a fixed array. 
D) many radio antennas in a mobile array. 
E) many portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Question 2

Radio telescopes have poorer angular resolution than optical telescopes because:

Accepted Answer

A) the reflecting surfaces in radio telescopes have holes in them. 
B) radio telescopes often use multiple telescopes to make observations. 
C) radio is distorted more by Earth's atmosphere than visible light is. 
D) the wavelength of radio waves is longer than that of visible light. 
E) Radio telescopes actually have better resolution than optical telescopes. 
A) the reflecting surfaces in radio telescopes have holes in them. 
B) radio telescopes often use multiple telescopes to make observations. 
C) radio is distorted more by Earth's atmosphere than visible light is. 
D) the wavelength of radio waves is longer than that of visible light. 
E) Radio telescopes actually have better resolution than optical telescopes.

Question 3

What are two advantages of large telescopes over smaller ones?

Accepted Answer

A) Large telescopes have a larger field of view and sharper focus. 
B) Large telescopes are not subject to atmospheric turbulence and opacity like smaller ones. 
C) Large telescopes are easier to mount and control than small ones. 
D) Large telescopes have more light grasp and better resolution. 
E) Large telescopes give higher magnification and are easier to build. 
A) Large telescopes have a larger field of view and sharper focus. 
B) Large telescopes are not subject to atmospheric turbulence and opacity like smaller ones. 
C) Large telescopes are easier to mount and control than small ones. 
D) Large telescopes have more light grasp and better resolution. 
E) Large telescopes give higher magnification and are easier to build.

Question 4

You are going to construct a new optical observatory, and money is no object. Other thanputting it into space, what factors will affect your decision for its location on Earth?

Accepted Answer

Closer to the equator will give you a vi

Question 5

What are some advantages of radio telescopes over optical scopes?

Accepted Answer

Radio telescopes can be used day or nigh

Question 6

Optical telescopes are usually used only at night, but radio telescopes can be used day ornight.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Why must radio dishes be built so large?

Accepted Answer

Radio waves carry little energ

Question 8

Green light has a shorter wavelength than orange light. In a 5-inch telescope, green light will:

Accepted Answer

A) provide better angular resolution than orange light. 
B) come to the same exact focus as orange light. 
C) provide worse angular resolution than orange light. 
D) allow dimmer stars to be observed. 
E) reduce the effects of atmospheric turbulence. 
A) provide better angular resolution than orange light. 
B) come to the same exact focus as orange light. 
C) provide worse angular resolution than orange light. 
D) allow dimmer stars to be observed. 
E) reduce the effects of atmospheric turbulence.

Question 9

The twinkling of starlight and the focusing of images by lenses are due to ________ of light.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The twinkling of starlight and the focusing...

Question 10

It is much easier to build large reflectors than large refractors.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Compared to optical telescopes, radio telescopes are built large because:

Accepted Answer

A) they're less expensive to make than optical telescopes. 
B) radio photons don't carry much energy. 
C) atmospheric turbulence is more of a problem. 
D) radio sources are harder to find. 
E) radio waves are absorbed by the atmosphere. 
A) they're less expensive to make than optical telescopes. 
B) radio photons don't carry much energy. 
C) atmospheric turbulence is more of a problem. 
D) radio sources are harder to find. 
E) radio waves are absorbed by the atmosphere.

Question 12

The convex secondary mirror in this design focuses light down through a hole cut in theconcave primary mirror.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 13

Which of the following greatly improves the angular resolution of radio maps?

Accepted Answer

A) Schmidt corrector plates 
B) more sensitive spectrometers 
C) switching from photographic plates to CCD imaging 
D) use of interferometers 
E) chilling the infrared detectors 
A) Schmidt corrector plates 
B) more sensitive spectrometers 
C) switching from photographic plates to CCD imaging 
D) use of interferometers 
E) chilling the infrared detectors

Question 14

You could more easily resolve a close double star with a blue filter than with a red one.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

The Fermi Space Telescope observes ________ radiation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Fermi Space Telescope observes ________ radiation....

Question 16

This design involves only one optical surface, a concave mirror.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 17

One reason for building telescopes on mountain tops is that they improve seeing by reducingthe amount of air above the observer.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

The amount of diffraction, and thus the resolution of the scope, depends upon:

Accepted Answer

A) the wavelength used and the size of the main telescope objective lens or mirror. 
B) the design of the telescope. 
C) whether the telescope is a reflector or refractor. 
D) the brightness of the object. 
E) the size and sensitivity of the CCD chip used for imaging. 
A) the wavelength used and the size of the main telescope objective lens or mirror. 
B) the design of the telescope. 
C) whether the telescope is a reflector or refractor. 
D) the brightness of the object. 
E) the size and sensitivity of the CCD chip used for imaging.

Question 19

Refractor telescopes suffer from this separation of light into its component colors.

Accepted Answer

A) limited diffraction 
B) spherical aberration 
C) chromatic aberration 
D) bad seeing 
E) refraction 
A) limited diffraction 
B) spherical aberration 
C) chromatic aberration 
D) bad seeing 
E) refraction

Question 20

Due to our ozone layer, ultraviolet astronomy must be done from space.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 5: Telescopes: The Tools of Astronomy

The Atacama Large Millimeter Array achieves exceptional resolution by usingexceptionally:

Radio telescopes have poorer angular resolution than optical telescopes because:

What are two advantages of large telescopes over smaller ones?

You are going to construct a new optical observatory, and money is no object. Other thanputting it into space, what factors will affect your decision for its location on Earth?

What are some advantages of radio telescopes over optical scopes?

Optical telescopes are usually used only at night, but radio telescopes can be used day ornight.

Why must radio dishes be built so large?

Green light has a shorter wavelength than orange light. In a 5-inch telescope, green light will:

The twinkling of starlight and the focusing of images by lenses are due to ________ of light.

It is much easier to build large reflectors than large refractors.

Compared to optical telescopes, radio telescopes are built large because:

The convex secondary mirror in this design focuses light down through a hole cut in theconcave primary mirror.

Which of the following greatly improves the angular resolution of radio maps?

You could more easily resolve a close double star with a blue filter than with a red one.

The Fermi Space Telescope observes ________ radiation.

This design involves only one optical surface, a concave mirror.

One reason for building telescopes on mountain tops is that they improve seeing by reducingthe amount of air above the observer.

The amount of diffraction, and thus the resolution of the scope, depends upon:

Refractor telescopes suffer from this separation of light into its component colors.

Due to our ozone layer, ultraviolet astronomy must be done from space.

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

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