Question 1

Gamma rays have a very small

Accepted Answer

A) energy. 
B) frequency. 
C) mass. 
D) wavelength. 
A) energy. 
B) frequency. 
C) mass. 
D) wavelength. D

Question 2

Which of the following statements about thermal radiation is always true?

Accepted Answer

A) A hot object emits photons with a longer wavelength than a cool object. 
B) A hot object emits photons with a higher average energy than a cool object. 
C) A hot object emits more radio waves than a cool object. 
D) A hot object emits more X-rays than a cool object. 
A) A hot object emits photons with a longer wavelength than a cool object. 
B) A hot object emits photons with a higher average energy than a cool object. 
C) A hot object emits more radio waves than a cool object. 
D) A hot object emits more X-rays than a cool object. B

Question 3

Suppose you watch a leaf bobbing up and down as ripples pass it by in a pond.You notice that it does two full up and down bobs each second.Which statement is true of the ripples on the pond?

Accepted Answer

A) They have a frequency of 4 hertz. 
B) They have a frequency of 2 hertz. 
C) We can calculate the wavelength of the ripples from their frequency. 
D) They have a wavelength of two cycles per second. 
A) They have a frequency of 4 hertz. 
B) They have a frequency of 2 hertz. 
C) We can calculate the wavelength of the ripples from their frequency. 
D) They have a wavelength of two cycles per second. B

Question 4

The energy levels for electrons vary from one element to another.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

The planet Neptune is blue in color.How would you expect the spectrum of visible light from Neptune to be different from the visible-light spectrum of the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A) The two spectra would have similar shapes,except Neptune's spectrum would be missing a big chunk of the red light that is present in the Sun's spectrum. 
B) The two spectra would have similar shapes,except Neptune's spectrum would be missing a big chunk of the blue light that is present in the Sun's spectrum. 
C) Neptune's spectrum would peak at a much longer wavelength than the Sun's spectrum. 
D) There is no way to predict the answer to this question,since planets and stars are made of such different things. 
A) The two spectra would have similar shapes,except Neptune's spectrum would be missing a big chunk of the red light that is present in the Sun's spectrum. 
B) The two spectra would have similar shapes,except Neptune's spectrum would be missing a big chunk of the blue light that is present in the Sun's spectrum. 
C) Neptune's spectrum would peak at a much longer wavelength than the Sun's spectrum. 
D) There is no way to predict the answer to this question,since planets and stars are made of such different things.

Question 6

Suppose you are listening to a radio station that broadcasts at a frequency of 97 Mhz (megahertz).Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A) The radio waves from the radio station are causing electrons in your radio's antenna to move up and down 97 million times each second. 
B) The radio waves from the radio station have a wavelength of 97 million meters. 
C) The "radio waves" received by your radio are not light waves like those we talk about in astronomy,but rather are a special type of sound wave. 
D) The radio station broadcasts its signal with a power of 97 million watts. 
A) The radio waves from the radio station are causing electrons in your radio's antenna to move up and down 97 million times each second. 
B) The radio waves from the radio station have a wavelength of 97 million meters. 
C) The "radio waves" received by your radio are not light waves like those we talk about in astronomy,but rather are a special type of sound wave. 
D) The radio station broadcasts its signal with a power of 97 million watts.

Question 7

From lowest energy to highest energy,which of the following correctly orders the different categories of electromagnetic radiation?

Accepted Answer

A) infrared,visible light,ultraviolet,X-rays,gamma rays,radio 
B) radio,infrared,visible light,ultraviolet,X-rays,gamma rays 
C) visible light,infrared,X-rays,ultraviolet,gamma rays,radio 
D) gamma rays,X-rays,visible light,ultraviolet,infrared,radio 
E) radio,X-rays,visible light,ultraviolet,infrared,gamma rays 
A) infrared,visible light,ultraviolet,X-rays,gamma rays,radio 
B) radio,infrared,visible light,ultraviolet,X-rays,gamma rays 
C) visible light,infrared,X-rays,ultraviolet,gamma rays,radio 
D) gamma rays,X-rays,visible light,ultraviolet,infrared,radio 
E) radio,X-rays,visible light,ultraviolet,infrared,gamma rays

Question 8

Spectra from neutral atoms compared with spectra from ionized atoms of the same element

Accepted Answer

A) are the same. 
B) are slightly redshifted. 
C) are slightly blueshifted. 
D) have different sets of spectral lines. 
E) have the same sets of spectral lines but different widths for those lines. 
A) are the same. 
B) are slightly redshifted. 
C) are slightly blueshifted. 
D) have different sets of spectral lines. 
E) have the same sets of spectral lines but different widths for those lines.

Question 9

No object produces a perfect thermal radiation spectrum,but many objects produce close approximations.Which of the following would not produce a close approximation to a thermal radiation spectrum?

Accepted Answer

A) a hot,thin (low-density,nearly transparent)gas 
B) a filament in a standard (incandescent)light bulb 
C) a star 
D) you 
A) a hot,thin (low-density,nearly transparent)gas 
B) a filament in a standard (incandescent)light bulb 
C) a star 
D) you

Question 10

You observe a distant galaxy.You find that a spectral line of hydrogen that is shifted from its normal location in the visible part of the spectrum into the infrared part of the spectrum.What can you conclude?

Accepted Answer

A) The galaxy is moving away from you. 
B) The galaxy is moving towards you. 
C) The galaxy has very weak gravity. 
D) The galaxy is made purely of hydrogen. 
A) The galaxy is moving away from you. 
B) The galaxy is moving towards you. 
C) The galaxy has very weak gravity. 
D) The galaxy is made purely of hydrogen.

Question 11

Process of Science: A beam of sunlight passing through a prism breaks up into a rainbow of colors.Some people thought the colors came from the prism itself.Describe a testable hypothesis of this explanation and explain how Newton showed it could not be true.

Accepted Answer

If the prism created the rainbow colors,

Question 12

The loss of an electron from a neutral helium atom results in

Accepted Answer

A) neutral hydrogen. 
B) ionized hydrogen. 
C) ionized helium. 
D) neutral deuterium. 
E) ionized deuterium. 
A) neutral hydrogen. 
B) ionized hydrogen. 
C) ionized helium. 
D) neutral deuterium. 
E) ionized deuterium.

Question 13

Each of the following describes an "Atom 1" and an "Atom 2." In which case are the two atoms isotopes of each other?

Accepted Answer

A) Atom 1: nucleus with 6 protons and 8 neutrons,surrounded by 6 electrons Atom 2: nucleus with 7 protons and 8 neutrons,surrounded by 7 electrons 
B) Atom 1: nucleus with 8 protons and 8 neutrons,surrounded by 8 electrons Atom 2: nucleus with 8 protons and 8 neutrons,surrounded by 7 electrons 
C) Atom 1: nucleus with 92 protons and 143 neutrons,surrounded by 92 electrons Atom 2: nucleus with 92 protons and 146 neutrons,surrounded by 92 electrons 
D) Atom 1: nucleus with 1 proton and 0 neutrons,surrounded by 1 electron Atom 2: nucleus with 2 protons and 2 neutrons,surrounded by 2 electrons 
E) Atom 1: nucleus with 4 protons and 5 neutrons,surrounded by 4 electrons Atom 2: nucleus with 5 protons and 5 neutrons,surrounded by 4 electrons 
A) Atom 1: nucleus with 6 protons and 8 neutrons,surrounded by 6 electrons Atom 2: nucleus with 7 protons and 8 neutrons,surrounded by 7 electrons 
B) Atom 1: nucleus with 8 protons and 8 neutrons,surrounded by 8 electrons Atom 2: nucleus with 8 protons and 8 neutrons,surrounded by 7 electrons 
C) Atom 1: nucleus with 92 protons and 143 neutrons,surrounded by 92 electrons Atom 2: nucleus with 92 protons and 146 neutrons,surrounded by 92 electrons 
D) Atom 1: nucleus with 1 proton and 0 neutrons,surrounded by 1 electron Atom 2: nucleus with 2 protons and 2 neutrons,surrounded by 2 electrons 
E) Atom 1: nucleus with 4 protons and 5 neutrons,surrounded by 4 electrons Atom 2: nucleus with 5 protons and 5 neutrons,surrounded by 4 electrons

Question 14

Briefly explain how we can use spectral lines to determine an object's rotation rate.

Accepted Answer

Lines are wider for faster-rot

Question 15

An electron-volt is

Accepted Answer

A) the charge of one electron. 
B) the energy of one electron. 
C) the energy jump between the first and second energy levels of hydrogen. 
D) an amount of energy much smaller than a joule. 
E) an amount of energy much larger than a joule. 
A) the charge of one electron. 
B) the energy of one electron. 
C) the energy jump between the first and second energy levels of hydrogen. 
D) an amount of energy much smaller than a joule. 
E) an amount of energy much larger than a joule.

Question 16

An atom in an excited state contains more of what type of energy than the same atom in the ground state?

Accepted Answer

A) mass-energy 
B) kinetic energy 
C) thermal energy 
D) gravitational potential energy 
E) electric potential energy 
A) mass-energy 
B) kinetic energy 
C) thermal energy 
D) gravitational potential energy 
E) electric potential energy

Question 17

X-rays,because they have more energy,travel through space faster than visible light.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Briefly explain why spectral lines are useful in determining the temperature of their source.

Accepted Answer

Different ionization states of the same

Question 19

How are wavelength,frequency,and energy related for photons of light?

Accepted Answer

A) Longer wavelength means lower frequency and lower energy. 
B) Longer wavelength means higher frequency and lower energy. 
C) Longer wavelength means higher frequency and higher energy. 
D) Longer wavelength means lower frequency and higher energy. 
E) There is no simple relationship because different photons travel at different speeds. 
A) Longer wavelength means lower frequency and lower energy. 
B) Longer wavelength means higher frequency and lower energy. 
C) Longer wavelength means higher frequency and higher energy. 
D) Longer wavelength means lower frequency and higher energy. 
E) There is no simple relationship because different photons travel at different speeds.

Question 20

Vaporization is the process in which

Accepted Answer

A) molecules go from the solid phase to the liquid phase. 
B) molecules go from the liquid phase to the gas phase. 
C) molecules go from the solid phase to the gas phase. 
D) electrons are stripped from atoms. 
E) electrons are captured by ions. 
A) molecules go from the solid phase to the liquid phase. 
B) molecules go from the liquid phase to the gas phase. 
C) molecules go from the solid phase to the gas phase. 
D) electrons are stripped from atoms. 
E) electrons are captured by ions.

Exam 5: Light and Matter: Reading Messages from the Cosmos

Gamma rays have a very small

Which of the following statements about thermal radiation is always true?

Suppose you watch a leaf bobbing up and down as ripples pass it by in a pond.You notice that it does two full up and down bobs each second.Which statement is true of the ripples on the pond?

The energy levels for electrons vary from one element to another.

The planet Neptune is blue in color.How would you expect the spectrum of visible light from Neptune to be different from the visible-light spectrum of the Sun?

Suppose you are listening to a radio station that broadcasts at a frequency of 97 Mhz (megahertz).Which of the following statements is true?

From lowest energy to highest energy,which of the following correctly orders the different categories of electromagnetic radiation?

Spectra from neutral atoms compared with spectra from ionized atoms of the same element

No object produces a perfect thermal radiation spectrum,but many objects produce close approximations.Which of the following would not produce a close approximation to a thermal radiation spectrum?

You observe a distant galaxy.You find that a spectral line of hydrogen that is shifted from its normal location in the visible part of the spectrum into the infrared part of the spectrum.What can you conclude?

Process of Science: A beam of sunlight passing through a prism breaks up into a rainbow of colors.Some people thought the colors came from the prism itself.Describe a testable hypothesis of this explanation and explain how Newton showed it could not be true.

The loss of an electron from a neutral helium atom results in

Each of the following describes an "Atom 1" and an "Atom 2." In which case are the two atoms isotopes of each other?

Briefly explain how we can use spectral lines to determine an object's rotation rate.

An electron-volt is

An atom in an excited state contains more of what type of energy than the same atom in the ground state?

X-rays,because they have more energy,travel through space faster than visible light.

Briefly explain why spectral lines are useful in determining the temperature of their source.

How are wavelength,frequency,and energy related for photons of light?

Vaporization is the process in which

A Modern View of the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Telescopes: Portals of Discovery

Our Planetary System

Formation of the Solar System

Planetary Geology: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds

Planetary Atmospheres: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet Systems

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Other Planetary Systems: The New Science of Distant Worlds

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Birth

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundations of Modern Cosmology

Galaxy Evolution

The Birth of the Universe

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

Life in the Universe

Celestial Timekeeping and Navigation

Space and Time

Spacetime and Gravity

Building Blocks of the Universe

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