Question 1

Why do gamma ray telescopes have poor angular resolution?

Accepted Answer

Because scientists h

Question 2

What is TRUE of radio telescopes?

Accepted Answer

A)  They have poorer angular resolution than a refractor. 
B)  They have better angular resolution than a reflector. 
C)  They are the smallest, most compact telescopes. 
D)  They can only be used above the atmosphere. 
E)  They are most sensitive to the opacity of the ozone layer. 
A)  They have poorer angular resolution than a refractor. 
B)  They have better angular resolution than a reflector. 
C)  They are the smallest, most compact telescopes. 
D)  They can only be used above the atmosphere. 
E)  They are most sensitive to the opacity of the ozone layer.

Question 3

The colors of a neon light arise because it is a(n) ________ spectrum.

Accepted Answer

emission (

Question 4

This design combines the radiation from two different telescopes to greatly enhance resolution via computer synthesis.

Accepted Answer

A)  Cassegrain reflector 
B)  Newtonian reflector 
C)  Prime focus reflector 
D)  Refractor 
E)  Interferometer 
A)  Cassegrain reflector 
B)  Newtonian reflector 
C)  Prime focus reflector 
D)  Refractor 
E)  Interferometer

Question 5

The red hydrogen alpha line carries more energy per photon than the blue-green hydrogen beta line does.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

The temperature scale that places zero at the point where all atomic and molecular motion ceases is

Accepted Answer

A)  Fahrenheit. 
B)  Celsius. 
C)  Kelvin. 
D)  centigrade. 
E)  Ransom. 
A)  Fahrenheit. 
B)  Celsius. 
C)  Kelvin. 
D)  centigrade. 
E)  Ransom.

Question 7

Why is spectroscopy important to astronomers?

Accepted Answer

Virtually all the information we receive

Question 8

What is spectroscopy?

Accepted Answer

A)  An analysis of the way in which atoms absorb and emit light 
B)  A study of the geometry of rainbows 
C)  An observational technique to measure the brightness of light at different colors 
D)  The use of CCDs to capture light more efficiently than with photographic film 
E)  A method to freeze atmospheric turbulence for better resolution 
A)  An analysis of the way in which atoms absorb and emit light 
B)  A study of the geometry of rainbows 
C)  An observational technique to measure the brightness of light at different colors 
D)  The use of CCDs to capture light more efficiently than with photographic film 
E)  A method to freeze atmospheric turbulence for better resolution

Question 9

The Orion Nebula, M-42, is a hot, thin cloud of glowing gas, so its spectrum is

Accepted Answer

A)  a continuum, strongest in the color red. 
B)  a few bright lines against a dark background. 
C)  a few dark lines in the continuum. 
D)  a continuum, but with both bright and dark lines mixed in. 
E)  not in the visible portion of the spectrum. 
A)  a continuum, strongest in the color red. 
B)  a few bright lines against a dark background. 
C)  a few dark lines in the continuum. 
D)  a continuum, but with both bright and dark lines mixed in. 
E)  not in the visible portion of the spectrum.

Question 10

How can a star's blackbody spectrum be used to determine the temperature of a star?

Accepted Answer

Careful analysis of the blackbody curve

Question 11

A wave's velocity is the product of the

Accepted Answer

A)  frequency times the period of the wave. 
B)  period times the energy of the wave. 
C)  amplitude times the frequency of the wave. 
D)  frequency times the wavelength of the wave. 
E)  amplitude times the wavelength of the wave. 
A)  frequency times the period of the wave. 
B)  period times the energy of the wave. 
C)  amplitude times the frequency of the wave. 
D)  frequency times the wavelength of the wave. 
E)  amplitude times the wavelength of the wave.

Question 12

Why do stars appear to twinkle?

Accepted Answer

In space, the light of the stars appears

Question 13

What are some advantages of radio telescopes over optical scopes?

Accepted Answer

Radio telescopes can be used day or nigh

Question 14

The longer the wavelength of the photon, the ________ the energy it carries.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The longer the wavelength of the photon,...

Question 15

The Doppler Effect is a phenomenon that allows one to measure an object's

Accepted Answer

A)  temperature. 
B)  radius. 
C)  line-of-sight speed. 
D)  chemical composition. 
A)  temperature. 
B)  radius. 
C)  line-of-sight speed. 
D)  chemical composition.

Question 16

What is the resolution of a telescope?

Accepted Answer

A)  Its ability to see very faint objects 
B)  Its ability to distinguish two adjacent objects close together in the sky 
C)  Its ability to make distant objects appear much closer to us 
D)  Its ability to separate light into its component colors for analysis 
E)  Its ability to focus more than just visible light for imaging 
A)  Its ability to see very faint objects 
B)  Its ability to distinguish two adjacent objects close together in the sky 
C)  Its ability to make distant objects appear much closer to us 
D)  Its ability to separate light into its component colors for analysis 
E)  Its ability to focus more than just visible light for imaging

Question 17

The wavelength at which a blackbody radiates most depends on its

Accepted Answer

A)  radius. 
B)  mass. 
C)  magnetic fields. 
D)  temperature. 
E)  direction of motion. 
A)  radius. 
B)  mass. 
C)  magnetic fields. 
D)  temperature. 
E)  direction of motion.

Question 18

Stars that appear blue or white in color are ________ than our yellow Sun.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Stars that appear blue or white in...

Question 19

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 20

In astronomy, an interferometer can be used to

Accepted Answer

A)  yield better seeing conditions with optical telescopes. 
B)  decrease the effects of light pollution in getting darker sky backgrounds. 
C)  improve the angular resolution of radio telescopes. 
D)  increase the sensitivity of infrared telescopes to longer wavelengths. 
E)  speed up the processing of CCD images. 
A)  yield better seeing conditions with optical telescopes. 
B)  decrease the effects of light pollution in getting darker sky backgrounds. 
C)  improve the angular resolution of radio telescopes. 
D)  increase the sensitivity of infrared telescopes to longer wavelengths. 
E)  speed up the processing of CCD images.

Why do gamma ray telescopes have poor angular resolution?

What is TRUE of radio telescopes?

The colors of a neon light arise because it is a(n) ________ spectrum.

This design combines the radiation from two different telescopes to greatly enhance resolution via computer synthesis.

The red hydrogen alpha line carries more energy per photon than the blue-green hydrogen beta line does.

The temperature scale that places zero at the point where all atomic and molecular motion ceases is

Why is spectroscopy important to astronomers?

What is spectroscopy?

The Orion Nebula, M-42, is a hot, thin cloud of glowing gas, so its spectrum is

How can a star's blackbody spectrum be used to determine the temperature of a star?

A wave's velocity is the product of the

Why do stars appear to twinkle?

What are some advantages of radio telescopes over optical scopes?

The longer the wavelength of the photon, the ________ the energy it carries.

The Doppler Effect is a phenomenon that allows one to measure an object's

What is the resolution of a telescope?

The wavelength at which a blackbody radiates most depends on its

Stars that appear blue or white in color are ________ than our yellow Sun.

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

In astronomy, an interferometer can be used to

The Night Sky

The Solar System

Earth and Its Moon

The Eight Planets

Small Bodies in the Solar System

Formation of Planetary Systems

The Sun

Measuring the Stars

Star Formation and Evolution

Stellar Explosions

Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Cosmology and the Universe

Filters

Exam 2: Light and Telescopes

Why do gamma ray telescopes have poor angular resolution?

What is TRUE of radio telescopes?

The colors of a neon light arise because it is a(n) ________ spectrum.

This design combines the radiation from two different telescopes to greatly enhance resolution via computer synthesis.

The red hydrogen alpha line carries more energy per photon than the blue-green hydrogen beta line does.

The temperature scale that places zero at the point where all atomic and molecular motion ceases is

Why is spectroscopy important to astronomers?

What is spectroscopy?

The Orion Nebula, M-42, is a hot, thin cloud of glowing gas, so its spectrum is

How can a star's blackbody spectrum be used to determine the temperature of a star?

A wave's velocity is the product of the

Why do stars appear to twinkle?

What are some advantages of radio telescopes over optical scopes?

The longer the wavelength of the photon, the ________ the energy it carries.

The Doppler Effect is a phenomenon that allows one to measure an object's

What is the resolution of a telescope?

The wavelength at which a blackbody radiates most depends on its

Stars that appear blue or white in color are ________ than our yellow Sun.

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

In astronomy, an interferometer can be used to

The Night Sky

The Solar System

Earth and Its Moon

The Eight Planets

Small Bodies in the Solar System

Formation of Planetary Systems

The Sun

Measuring the Stars

Star Formation and Evolution

Stellar Explosions

Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Cosmology and the Universe

Filters