Question 1

One of the reasons why the Hubble Space Telescope has better spatial resolution than a 4-m ground-based telescope is that it has a larger mirror.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 2

Moving charges produce magnetic fields.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

As a beam of light travels from one medium to another,the change in direction of the beam of light depends on:

Accepted Answer

A)  the wavelength of the light 
B)  the index of refraction of the medium through which it is traveling 
C)  the index of refraction of the medium into which it is moving 
D)  all of the above 
A)  the wavelength of the light 
B)  the index of refraction of the medium through which it is traveling 
C)  the index of refraction of the medium into which it is moving 
D)  all of the above D

Question 4

Compare the light-gathering power of the human eye to that of a 10-inch telescope.

Accepted Answer

Light-gathering power is proportional to

Question 5

Chromatic aberration is a problem that limits the image quality of reflecting telescopes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

How does the speed of light traveling through a medium (such as air or glass)compare to the speed of light in a vacuum?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is the same as the speed of light in a vacuum. 
B)  It is always less than the speed of light in a vacuum. 
C)  It is always greater than the speed of light in a vacuum. 
D)  Sometimes it is greater than the speed of light in a vacuum,and sometimes it is less,depending on the medium. 
A)  It is the same as the speed of light in a vacuum. 
B)  It is always less than the speed of light in a vacuum. 
C)  It is always greater than the speed of light in a vacuum. 
D)  Sometimes it is greater than the speed of light in a vacuum,and sometimes it is less,depending on the medium.

Question 7

Which formula denotes how the speed of light is related to its wavelength and frequency?

Accepted Answer

A)  c = $\lambda$f 
B)  c = $\lambda$/f 
C)  c = f/$\lambda$ 
D)  c = 1/$\lambda$f 
A)  c = $\lambda$f 
B)  c = $\lambda$/f 
C)  c = f/$\lambda$ 
D)  c = 1/$\lambda$f

Question 8

A radio photon travels more slowly than a gamma ray photon.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

The fact that the speed of light is constant (as it travels through a vacuum)means that:

Accepted Answer

A)  photons with longer wavelengths have lower frequencies 
B)  radio wave photons have shorter wavelengths than gamma ray photons 
C)  X-rays can be transmitted through the atmosphere around the world 
D)  All of the above are true 
A)  photons with longer wavelengths have lower frequencies 
B)  radio wave photons have shorter wavelengths than gamma ray photons 
C)  X-rays can be transmitted through the atmosphere around the world 
D)  All of the above are true

Question 10

As wavelength increases,the energy of a photon __________ and its frequency __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  increases; decreases 
B)  increases; increases 
C)  decreases; decreases 
D)  decreases; increases 
A)  increases; decreases 
B)  increases; increases 
C)  decreases; decreases 
D)  decreases; increases

Question 11

Light with a wavelength of 600 nm has a frequency of:

Accepted Answer

A)  5.0 × 106 Hz 
B)  5.0 × 1014 Hz 
C)  5.0 × 1011 Hz 
D)  2.0 × 1015 Hz 
A)  5.0 × 106 Hz 
B)  5.0 × 1014 Hz 
C)  5.0 × 1011 Hz 
D)  2.0 × 1015 Hz

Question 12

The diffraction limit of a 4-m telescope is __________ than that of a 2-m telescope.

Accepted Answer

A)  2 times larger 
B)  4 times larger 
C)  2 times smaller 
D)  4 times smaller 
A)  2 times larger 
B)  4 times larger 
C)  2 times smaller 
D)  4 times smaller

Question 13

The 305-m Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico has a resolution that is closest to that of:

Accepted Answer

A)  the Hubble Space Telescope (0.1 arcsec) 
B)  a human eye (1 arcmin) 
C)  the Chandra X-ray Telescope (0.5 arcsec) 
D)  a 1-m optical telescope (1 arcsec) 
A)  the Hubble Space Telescope (0.1 arcsec) 
B)  a human eye (1 arcmin) 
C)  the Chandra X-ray Telescope (0.5 arcsec) 
D)  a 1-m optical telescope (1 arcsec)

Question 14

One reason to prefer a reflecting over a refracting telescope is its:

Accepted Answer

A)  lack of chromatic aberration. 
B)  shorter length for the same aperture size. 
C)  lighter weight for larger apertures. 
D)  All of the above are valid reasons. 
A)  lack of chromatic aberration. 
B)  shorter length for the same aperture size. 
C)  lighter weight for larger apertures. 
D)  All of the above are valid reasons.

Question 15

Discuss two tools that modern astronomers use to explore the cosmos that are different from traditional optical telescopes,and give an example of how and why each is used.

Accepted Answer

Here are some possible answers: (1)Radio

Question 16

A spaceship approaches Earth at 0.9 times the speed of light and shines a powerful searchlight onto Earth.How fast will the photons from this searchlight be moving when they hit Earth?

Accepted Answer

At the spe

Question 17

The image below shows the Very Large Array in New Mexico.What is the benefit of using multiple telescopes in such an array?

Accepted Answer

Interferometry allows astronom

Question 18

Photography provides an improvement over naked-eye observations because:

Accepted Answer

A)  it is possible to observe a larger field of view with photographic plates 
B)  the quantum efficiency is higher for photographic plates 
C)  the image resolution is much better for photographic plates 
D)  it is possible to detect fainter objects with the use of photographic plates 
A)  it is possible to observe a larger field of view with photographic plates 
B)  the quantum efficiency is higher for photographic plates 
C)  the image resolution is much better for photographic plates 
D)  it is possible to detect fainter objects with the use of photographic plates

Question 19

The two Keck 10-m telescopes,separated by a distance of 85 m,can operate as an interferometer.What is its resolution when it observes in the infrared at a wavelength of 2 microns?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.01 arcsec 
B)  0.006 arcsec 
C)  0.05 arcsec 
D)  0.2 arcsec 
A)  0.01 arcsec 
B)  0.006 arcsec 
C)  0.05 arcsec 
D)  0.2 arcsec

Question 20

The speed of light was first determined by which scientist?

Accepted Answer

A)  Galileo 
B)  Rømer 
C)  Kepler 
D)  Newton 
E)  Einstein 
A)  Galileo 
B)  Rømer 
C)  Kepler 
D)  Newton 
E)  Einstein

One of the reasons why the Hubble Space Telescope has better spatial resolution than a 4-m ground-based telescope is that it has a larger mirror.

Moving charges produce magnetic fields.

As a beam of light travels from one medium to another,the change in direction of the beam of light depends on:

Compare the light-gathering power of the human eye to that of a 10-inch telescope.

Chromatic aberration is a problem that limits the image quality of reflecting telescopes.

How does the speed of light traveling through a medium (such as air or glass)compare to the speed of light in a vacuum?

Which formula denotes how the speed of light is related to its wavelength and frequency?

A radio photon travels more slowly than a gamma ray photon.

The fact that the speed of light is constant (as it travels through a vacuum)means that:

As wavelength increases,the energy of a photon and its frequency .

Light with a wavelength of 600 nm has a frequency of:

The diffraction limit of a 4-m telescope is __________ than that of a 2-m telescope.

The 305-m Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico has a resolution that is closest to that of:

One reason to prefer a reflecting over a refracting telescope is its:

Discuss two tools that modern astronomers use to explore the cosmos that are different from traditional optical telescopes,and give an example of how and why each is used.

A spaceship approaches Earth at 0.9 times the speed of light and shines a powerful searchlight onto Earth.How fast will the photons from this searchlight be moving when they hit Earth?

The image below shows the Very Large Array in New Mexico.What is the benefit of using multiple telescopes in such an array?

Photography provides an improvement over naked-eye observations because:

The two Keck 10-m telescopes,separated by a distance of 85 m,can operate as an interferometer.What is its resolution when it observes in the infrared at a wavelength of 2 microns?

The speed of light was first determined by which scientist?

Our Place in the Universe

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth

Laws of Motion

The Formation of Stars and Planets

Terrestrial Worlds in the Inner Solar System

Atmospheres of Venus, Earth, and Mars

The Giant Planets

Small Bodies of the Solar System

Measuring the Stars

Our Star: The Sun

Evolution of Low-Mass Stars

Evolution of High-Mass Stars

The Expansion of Space

The Realm of the Galaxies

Our Galaxy: The Milky Way

Modern Cosmology and the Origin of Structure

Life in the Universe

Filters

Exam 4: Light and Telescopes

One of the reasons why the Hubble Space Telescope has better spatial resolution than a 4-m ground-based telescope is that it has a larger mirror.

Moving charges produce magnetic fields.

As a beam of light travels from one medium to another,the change in direction of the beam of light depends on:

Compare the light-gathering power of the human eye to that of a 10-inch telescope.

Chromatic aberration is a problem that limits the image quality of reflecting telescopes.

How does the speed of light traveling through a medium (such as air or glass)compare to the speed of light in a vacuum?

Which formula denotes how the speed of light is related to its wavelength and frequency?

A radio photon travels more slowly than a gamma ray photon.

The fact that the speed of light is constant (as it travels through a vacuum)means that:

As wavelength increases,the energy of a photon __________ and its frequency __________.

Light with a wavelength of 600 nm has a frequency of:

The diffraction limit of a 4-m telescope is __________ than that of a 2-m telescope.

The 305-m Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico has a resolution that is closest to that of:

One reason to prefer a reflecting over a refracting telescope is its:

Discuss two tools that modern astronomers use to explore the cosmos that are different from traditional optical telescopes,and give an example of how and why each is used.

A spaceship approaches Earth at 0.9 times the speed of light and shines a powerful searchlight onto Earth.How fast will the photons from this searchlight be moving when they hit Earth?

The image below shows the Very Large Array in New Mexico.What is the benefit of using multiple telescopes in such an array?

Photography provides an improvement over naked-eye observations because:

The two Keck 10-m telescopes,separated by a distance of 85 m,can operate as an interferometer.What is its resolution when it observes in the infrared at a wavelength of 2 microns?

The speed of light was first determined by which scientist?

Our Place in the Universe

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth

Laws of Motion

The Formation of Stars and Planets

Terrestrial Worlds in the Inner Solar System

Atmospheres of Venus, Earth, and Mars

The Giant Planets

Small Bodies of the Solar System

Measuring the Stars

Our Star: The Sun

Evolution of Low-Mass Stars

Evolution of High-Mass Stars

The Expansion of Space

The Realm of the Galaxies

Our Galaxy: The Milky Way

Modern Cosmology and the Origin of Structure

Life in the Universe

Filters

As wavelength increases,the energy of a photon and its frequency .