Question 1

How can an electron in an atom lose energy to go from a higher energy level to a lower energy level?

Accepted Answer

A) It loses kinetic energy. 
B) It releases a photon equal in energy to its own energy drop. 
C) It absorbs a photon equal in energy to its own energy drop. 
D) It loses gravitational potential energy. 
E) It exchanges gravitational potential energy for kinetic energy. 
A) It loses kinetic energy. 
B) It releases a photon equal in energy to its own energy drop. 
C) It absorbs a photon equal in energy to its own energy drop. 
D) It loses gravitational potential energy. 
E) It exchanges gravitational potential energy for kinetic energy.

Question 2

If we say that a material is opaque to ultraviolet light,we mean that it

Accepted Answer

A) absorbs ultraviolet light. 
B) emits ultraviolet light. 
C) transmits ultraviolet light. 
D) reflects ultraviolet light. 
A) absorbs ultraviolet light. 
B) emits ultraviolet light. 
C) transmits ultraviolet light. 
D) reflects ultraviolet light.

Question 3

If one object has a large redshift and another object has a small redshift,what can we conclude about these two objects?

Accepted Answer

A) The one with the large redshift is moving toward us faster than the one with the small redshift. 
B) The one with the large redshift is moving away from us,and the one with the small redshift is moving toward us. 
C) The one with the large redshift is moving away from us faster than the one with the small redshift. 
D) The one with the large redshift is hotter and therefore is putting out more radiation. 
E) The one with the large redshift is redder than the other one. 
A) The one with the large redshift is moving toward us faster than the one with the small redshift. 
B) The one with the large redshift is moving away from us,and the one with the small redshift is moving toward us. 
C) The one with the large redshift is moving away from us faster than the one with the small redshift. 
D) The one with the large redshift is hotter and therefore is putting out more radiation. 
E) The one with the large redshift is redder than the other one.

Question 4

At extremely high temperatures (e.g. ,millions of degrees),which of the following best describes the phase of matter?

Accepted Answer

A) a gas of rapidly moving molecules 
B) a plasma consisting of positively charged ions and free electrons 
C) a gas consisting of individual,neutral atoms,but no molecules 
D) a plasma consisting of rapidly moving,neutral atoms 
E) none of the above (At these extremely high temperatures,matter cannot exist. ) 
A) a gas of rapidly moving molecules 
B) a plasma consisting of positively charged ions and free electrons 
C) a gas consisting of individual,neutral atoms,but no molecules 
D) a plasma consisting of rapidly moving,neutral atoms 
E) none of the above (At these extremely high temperatures,matter cannot exist. )

Question 5

When considering light as made up of individual "pieces," each characterized by a particular amount of energy,the pieces are called

Accepted Answer

A) photons. 
B) wavicles. 
C) gamma rays. 
D) frequencies. 
A) photons. 
B) wavicles. 
C) gamma rays. 
D) frequencies.

Question 6

Suppose you built a scale-model atom in which the nucleus was the size of a tennis ball.About how far would the cloud of electrons extend?

Accepted Answer

A) several centimeters 
B) a few meters 
C) a few tens of meters 
D) several kilometers 
E) to the Sun 
A) several centimeters 
B) a few meters 
C) a few tens of meters 
D) several kilometers 
E) to the Sun

Question 7

From shortest to longest wavelength,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,ultraviolet,visible light,infrared,radio 
E) gamma rays,X-rays,visible light,ultraviolet,infrared,radio 
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,ultraviolet,visible light,infrared,radio 
E) gamma rays,X-rays,visible light,ultraviolet,infrared,radio

Question 8

Which of the following transitions within an atom is not possible?

Accepted Answer

A) An electron begins in an excited state and then gains enough energy to jump to the ground state. 
B) An electron begins in the ground state and then gains enough energy to jump to an excited state. 
C) An electron begins in the ground state and then gains enough energy to become ionized. 
D) An electron begins in an excited state and then gains enough energy to become ionized. 
A) An electron begins in an excited state and then gains enough energy to jump to the ground state. 
B) An electron begins in the ground state and then gains enough energy to jump to an excited state. 
C) An electron begins in the ground state and then gains enough energy to become ionized. 
D) An electron begins in an excited state and then gains enough energy to become ionized.

Question 9

Compared to the volume of its nucleus,the volume of an atom is about

Accepted Answer

A) the same. 
B) a thousand times greater. 
C) a million times greater. 
D) a billion times greater. 
E) a trillion times greater. 
A) the same. 
B) a thousand times greater. 
C) a million times greater. 
D) a billion times greater. 
E) a trillion times greater.

Question 10

The atomic nuclei of the same element always have the same number of protons.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

An isotope of fluorine has 9 protons and 10 neutrons.What are the atomic number and atomic weight of this fluorine? If we added a proton to this fluorine nucleus,would the result still be fluorine? What if we added a neutron instead? Explain.

Accepted Answer

The atomic number of fluorine is equal t

Question 12

Electrons orbit an atomic nucleus like planets orbit the Sun.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

An atom which has 4 protons and 6 neutrons will be electrically neutral if it contains

Accepted Answer

A) 4 electrons. 
B) 6 electrons. 
C) 10 electrons. 
D) at least one electron. 
A) 4 electrons. 
B) 6 electrons. 
C) 10 electrons. 
D) at least one electron.

Question 14

Consider an atom of gold in which the nucleus contains 79 protons and 118 neutrons.If it is doubly ionized,what is the charge of the gold ion and how many electrons remain in the ion?

Accepted Answer

A) The gold ion has a charge of +2 and 77 electrons. 
B) The gold ion has a charge of +2 and 79 electrons. 
C) The gold ion has a charge of -2 and 77 electrons. 
D) The gold ion has a charge of +2 and 2 electrons. 
E) The gold ion has a charge of +79 and no electrons. 
A) The gold ion has a charge of +2 and 77 electrons. 
B) The gold ion has a charge of +2 and 79 electrons. 
C) The gold ion has a charge of -2 and 77 electrons. 
D) The gold ion has a charge of +2 and 2 electrons. 
E) The gold ion has a charge of +79 and no electrons.

Question 15

From laboratory measurements,we know that a particular spectral line formed by hydrogen appears at a wavelength of 486.1 nanometers (nm).The spectrum of a particular star shows the same hydrogen line appearing at a wavelength of 485.9 nm.What can we conclude?

Accepted Answer

A) The star is moving toward us. 
B) The star is moving away from us. 
C) The star is getting hotter. 
D) The star is getting colder. 
E) The "star" actually is a planet. 
A) The star is moving toward us. 
B) The star is moving away from us. 
C) The star is getting hotter. 
D) The star is getting colder. 
E) The "star" actually is a planet.

Question 16

An atom of the element iron has an atomic number of 26 and an atomic weight of 56.If it is neutral,how many protons,neutrons,and electrons does it have?

Accepted Answer

A) 26 protons,30 neutrons,26 electrons 
B) 26 protons,30 neutrons,30 electrons 
C) 26 protons,56 neutrons,26 electrons 
D) 13 protons,43 neutrons,13 electrons 
E) 13 protons,56 neutrons,13 electrons 
A) 26 protons,30 neutrons,26 electrons 
B) 26 protons,30 neutrons,30 electrons 
C) 26 protons,56 neutrons,26 electrons 
D) 13 protons,43 neutrons,13 electrons 
E) 13 protons,56 neutrons,13 electrons

Question 17

According to the laws of thermal radiation,hotter objects emit photons with

Accepted Answer

A) a lower average frequency. 
B) a shorter average wavelength. 
C) a lower average energy. 
D) a higher average speed. 
A) a lower average frequency. 
B) a shorter average wavelength. 
C) a lower average energy. 
D) a higher average speed.

Question 18

How much electrical charge does an atom with 6 protons,6 neutrons,and 5 electrons have?

Accepted Answer

A) a total charge of +17 
B) a negative charge of -5 
C) a positive charge of +7 
D) a positive charge of +1 
E) none of the above 
A) a total charge of +17 
B) a negative charge of -5 
C) a positive charge of +7 
D) a positive charge of +1 
E) none of the above

Question 19

When an electron in an atom goes from a higher energy state to a lower energy state,the atom

Accepted Answer

A) emits a photon of a specific frequency. 
B) absorbs a photon of a specific frequency. 
C) absorbs several photons of a specific frequency. 
D) can emit a photon of any frequency. 
E) can absorb a photon of any frequency. 
A) emits a photon of a specific frequency. 
B) absorbs a photon of a specific frequency. 
C) absorbs several photons of a specific frequency. 
D) can emit a photon of any frequency. 
E) can absorb a photon of any frequency.

Question 20

If we observe one edge of a star to be redshifted and the opposite edge to be blueshifted,what can we conclude about the star?

Accepted Answer

A) We must actually be observing planets orbiting the star in opposite directions,not the star planet itself. 
B) The star is rotating. 
C) The star is in the process of falling apart. 
D) The star is in the process of formation. 
A) We must actually be observing planets orbiting the star in opposite directions,not the star planet itself. 
B) The star is rotating. 
C) The star is in the process of falling apart. 
D) The star is in the process of formation.

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

How can an electron in an atom lose energy to go from a higher energy level to a lower energy level?

If we say that a material is opaque to ultraviolet light,we mean that it

If one object has a large redshift and another object has a small redshift,what can we conclude about these two objects?

At extremely high temperatures (e.g. ,millions of degrees),which of the following best describes the phase of matter?

When considering light as made up of individual "pieces," each characterized by a particular amount of energy,the pieces are called

Suppose you built a scale-model atom in which the nucleus was the size of a tennis ball.About how far would the cloud of electrons extend?

From shortest to longest wavelength,which of the following correctly orders the different categories of electromagnetic radiation?

Which of the following transitions within an atom is not possible?

Compared to the volume of its nucleus,the volume of an atom is about

The atomic nuclei of the same element always have the same number of protons.

An isotope of fluorine has 9 protons and 10 neutrons.What are the atomic number and atomic weight of this fluorine? If we added a proton to this fluorine nucleus,would the result still be fluorine? What if we added a neutron instead? Explain.

Electrons orbit an atomic nucleus like planets orbit the Sun.

An atom which has 4 protons and 6 neutrons will be electrically neutral if it contains

Consider an atom of gold in which the nucleus contains 79 protons and 118 neutrons.If it is doubly ionized,what is the charge of the gold ion and how many electrons remain in the ion?

From laboratory measurements,we know that a particular spectral line formed by hydrogen appears at a wavelength of 486.1 nanometers (nm).The spectrum of a particular star shows the same hydrogen line appearing at a wavelength of 485.9 nm.What can we conclude?

An atom of the element iron has an atomic number of 26 and an atomic weight of 56.If it is neutral,how many protons,neutrons,and electrons does it have?

According to the laws of thermal radiation,hotter objects emit photons with

How much electrical charge does an atom with 6 protons,6 neutrons,and 5 electrons have?

When an electron in an atom goes from a higher energy state to a lower energy state,the atom

If we observe one edge of a star to be redshifted and the opposite edge to be blueshifted,what can we conclude about the star?

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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