Question 1

Radio telescopes have to be so large because radio-wave energy coming from space is _________ and the wavelengths of this energy are _________.

Accepted Answer

A) weak; long 
B) strong; long 
C) strong; short 
D) weak; short 
A) weak; long 
B) strong; long 
C) strong; short 
D) weak; short

Question 2

Modern radio telescopes consist of a dish that _________ incident _________ energy to a focus where instruments collect and analyze the energy.

Accepted Answer

A) refracts; visible-wave 
B) refracts; radio-wave 
C) reflects; radio-wave 
D) reflects; ultraviolet-wave 
A) refracts; visible-wave 
B) refracts; radio-wave 
C) reflects; radio-wave 
D) reflects; ultraviolet-wave

Question 3

The world's greatest astronomical observatories are all located on isolated mountaintops to diminish the effects of

Accepted Answer

A) Earth's ocean and light pollution. 
B) the atmosphere and light pollution. 
C) the atmosphere and Earth's ocean. 
D) the atmosphere and the lithosphere. 
A) Earth's ocean and light pollution. 
B) the atmosphere and light pollution. 
C) the atmosphere and Earth's ocean. 
D) the atmosphere and the lithosphere.

Question 4

Astronomers have determined that _________ stars have a surface temperature of 18,000°C (32,400°F), _________ stars have a surface temperature of 5,800°C (10,500°F), and _________ stars have a surface temperature of 2,500°C (4,500°F).

Accepted Answer

A) blue; yellow; red 
B) yellow; blue; red 
C) red; yellow; blue 
D) yellow; red; blue 
A) blue; yellow; red 
B) yellow; blue; red 
C) red; yellow; blue 
D) yellow; red; blue

Question 5

What is a simple, everyday example of the Doppler effect?

Accepted Answer

When you listen to the sound of a train

Question 6

Astronomers use a spectrometer to analyze

Accepted Answer

A) a star's color. 
B) a star's temperature. 
C) the magnetism from stars. 
D) a star's electromagnetic radiation and to distinguish various star types. 
A) a star's color. 
B) a star's temperature. 
C) the magnetism from stars. 
D) a star's electromagnetic radiation and to distinguish various star types.

Question 7

Identify the different phases of Earth's moon on the figure below, using the word bank provided.

Accepted Answer

A = New Moon, B = Waning Cresc

Question 8

Kepler's third law of planetary motion states that the square of a planet's orbital period is directly proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of the orbit. Put simply, planets _________ from the Sun have _________ orbital periods, and we can calculate a planet's orbital period if we know the dimensions of its orbit.

Accepted Answer

A) closer to; longer 
B) farther from; shorter 
C) closer to; no 
D) farther from; longer 
A) closer to; longer 
B) farther from; shorter 
C) closer to; no 
D) farther from; longer

Question 9

Why do planets sometimes exhibit retrograde motion?

Accepted Answer

When observed from Earth, planets occasi

Question 10

Toward the blue end of the spectrum, _________ objects emit _________ wavelengths of light.

Accepted Answer

A) cooler; shorter 
B) hotter; shorter 
C) cooler; longer 
D) hotter; longer 
A) cooler; shorter 
B) hotter; shorter 
C) cooler; longer 
D) hotter; longer

Question 11

Why do cell phones and weather radar systems transmit signals in the radio and microwave regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, rather than the infrared or ultraviolet regions?

Accepted Answer

Electromagnetic radiation from space can

Question 12

Which unit do astronomers use for measuring distance between objects in our galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A) parsec 
B) astronomical unit 
C) Doppler shift 
D) light-year 
A) parsec 
B) astronomical unit 
C) Doppler shift 
D) light-year

Question 13

An imaginary surface in space that surrounds Earth is referred to by astronomers as the

Accepted Answer

A) astro circle. 
B) ecliptic plane. 
C) celestial equator. 
D) celestial sphere. 
A) astro circle. 
B) ecliptic plane. 
C) celestial equator. 
D) celestial sphere.

Question 14

Identify the perihelion, the ellipse focus, the ellipse center, and the aphelion in the diagram below.

Accepted Answer

A) A = aphelion; B = perihelion; C = ellipse focus; D = ellipse center 
B) A = perihelion; B = aphelion; C = ellipse focus; D = ellipse center 
C) A = perihelion; B = aphelion; C = ellipse center; D = ellipse focus 
D) A = aphelion; B = perihelion; C= ellipse center; D = ellipse focus 
A) A = aphelion; B = perihelion; C = ellipse focus; D = ellipse center 
B) A = perihelion; B = aphelion; C = ellipse focus; D = ellipse center 
C) A = perihelion; B = aphelion; C = ellipse center; D = ellipse focus 
D) A = aphelion; B = perihelion; C= ellipse center; D = ellipse focus

Question 15

What advantages do space telescopes have over earthbound telescopes?

Accepted Answer

A) Space telescopes do not have any advantages over earthbound telescopes. 
B) A space telescope that orbits above Earth's energy-absorbing atmosphere is able to detect the entire electromagnetic spectrum. 
C) Earthbound telescopes can ONLY detect short and long wavelengths that can pass through the radio windows to the ground. 
D) Space telescopes last longer and are easier to repair because they are less impacted by Earth's gravity. 
A) Space telescopes do not have any advantages over earthbound telescopes. 
B) A space telescope that orbits above Earth's energy-absorbing atmosphere is able to detect the entire electromagnetic spectrum. 
C) Earthbound telescopes can ONLY detect short and long wavelengths that can pass through the radio windows to the ground. 
D) Space telescopes last longer and are easier to repair because they are less impacted by Earth's gravity.

Question 16

Most people can see a total lunar eclipse but not a total solar eclipse because _________ has a large shadow relative to _________.

Accepted Answer

A) the Moon; Earth 
B) the Moon; the Sun 
C) Earth; the Moon 
D) Earth; the Sun 
A) the Moon; Earth 
B) the Moon; the Sun 
C) Earth; the Moon 
D) Earth; the Sun

Question 17

A refracting telescope refracts incoming light, whereas a reflecting telescope _________ light.

Accepted Answer

A) transmits 
B) absorbs 
C) bends 
D) reflects 
A) transmits 
B) absorbs 
C) bends 
D) reflects

Question 18

Sir Isaac Newton, a major contributor to modern science, proposed the three laws of motion and the law of gravity. Which of the following best describes his law of gravity?

Accepted Answer

A) Every object has inertia. 
B) Every object in the Universe attracts every other object. 
C) When force acts on a mass, it causes the mass to change speed or direction. 
D) For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. 
A) Every object has inertia. 
B) Every object in the Universe attracts every other object. 
C) When force acts on a mass, it causes the mass to change speed or direction. 
D) For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Question 19

The _________ window is transparent to visible light and translucent to infrared energy.

Accepted Answer

A) radio 
B) photon 
C) spectral 
D) optical 
A) radio 
B) photon 
C) spectral 
D) optical

Question 20

What are the reason(s) large astronomical observatories prefer reflecting telescopes?

Accepted Answer

Large astronomical observatories prefer

Exam 21: Our Solar System and Beyond

Radio telescopes have to be so large because radio-wave energy coming from space is _________ and the wavelengths of this energy are _________.

Modern radio telescopes consist of a dish that _________ incident _________ energy to a focus where instruments collect and analyze the energy.

The world's greatest astronomical observatories are all located on isolated mountaintops to diminish the effects of

Astronomers have determined that _________ stars have a surface temperature of 18,000°C (32,400°F), _________ stars have a surface temperature of 5,800°C (10,500°F), and _________ stars have a surface temperature of 2,500°C (4,500°F).

What is a simple, everyday example of the Doppler effect?

Astronomers use a spectrometer to analyze

Identify the different phases of Earth's moon on the figure below, using the word bank provided.

Why do planets sometimes exhibit retrograde motion?

Toward the blue end of the spectrum, _________ objects emit _________ wavelengths of light.

Why do cell phones and weather radar systems transmit signals in the radio and microwave regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, rather than the infrared or ultraviolet regions?

Which unit do astronomers use for measuring distance between objects in our galaxy?

An imaginary surface in space that surrounds Earth is referred to by astronomers as the

Identify the perihelion, the ellipse focus, the ellipse center, and the aphelion in the diagram below.

What advantages do space telescopes have over earthbound telescopes?

Most people can see a total lunar eclipse but not a total solar eclipse because _________ has a large shadow relative to _________.

A refracting telescope refracts incoming light, whereas a reflecting telescope _________ light.

Sir Isaac Newton, a major contributor to modern science, proposed the three laws of motion and the law of gravity. Which of the following best describes his law of gravity?

The _________ window is transparent to visible light and translucent to infrared energy.

What are the reason(s) large astronomical observatories prefer reflecting telescopes?

The Earth in Context

The Way the Earth Works: Plate Tectonics

Patterns in Nature: Minerals

Up From the Inferno: Magma and Igneous Rocks

A Surface Veneer: Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks

A Process of Change: Metamorphism and the Rock Cycle

Crags, Cracks, and Crumples: Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

A Violent Pulse: Earthquakes

Deep Time: How Old Is Old

A Biography of Earth

Riches in Rock: Energy and Mineral Resources

Shaping the Earths Surface: Landscapes, the Hydrologic Cycle, and Mass Wasting

Freshwater: Streams, Lakes, and Groundwater

Extreme Realms: Desert and Glacial Landscapes

Ocean Waters: the Blue of the Blue Marble

Marine Geology: the Study of Ocean Basins and Coasts

The Air We Breathe: Introducing Earths Atmosphere

Winds of the World: the Earths Major Weather Systems

Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, and Local Weather Systems

Climate and Climate Change

Our Neighborhood in Space

The Sun, Stars, and Deep Space

Prelude: Welcome to Earth Science

Filters

Radio telescopes have to be so large because radio-wave energy coming from space is _ and the wavelengths of this energy are _.

Modern radio telescopes consist of a dish that _ incident _ energy to a focus where instruments collect and analyze the energy.

Astronomers have determined that _____ stars have a surface temperature of 18,000°C (32,400°F), _ stars have a surface temperature of 5,800°C (10,500°F), and _____ stars have a surface temperature of 2,500°C (4,500°F).

Toward the blue end of the spectrum, _ objects emit _ wavelengths of light.

Most people can see a total lunar eclipse but not a total solar eclipse because _ has a large shadow relative to _.