Question 1

A neutrino produced in the nuclear furnace in the core of the Sun can penetrate easily through the

Accepted Answer

A)  gas of the Sun's interior and through the solid Earth. 
B)  Sun's gaseous interior, but it will be stopped at the surface of the solid Earth. 
C)  Sun's interior, but it will be deflected away from Earth by its magnetic field. 
D)  gaseous interior of the Sun and the solid Earth, but it will be easily stopped by chemicals containing chlorine. 
A)  gas of the Sun's interior and through the solid Earth. 
B)  Sun's gaseous interior, but it will be stopped at the surface of the solid Earth. 
C)  Sun's interior, but it will be deflected away from Earth by its magnetic field. 
D)  gaseous interior of the Sun and the solid Earth, but it will be easily stopped by chemicals containing chlorine.

Question 2

It is difficult to do infrared astronomy at sea level primarily because of what component in Earth's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  water vapor 
B)  carbon dioxide 
C)  ozone 
D)  chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) 
A)  water vapor 
B)  carbon dioxide 
C)  ozone 
D)  chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Question 3

Which type of telescope uses a lens as the main optical element?

Accepted Answer

A)  radio telescope 
B)  Newtonian telescope 
C)  Cassegrain telescope 
D)  refracting telescope 
A)  radio telescope 
B)  Newtonian telescope 
C)  Cassegrain telescope 
D)  refracting telescope

Question 4

Gravitational radiation causes

Accepted Answer

A)  the rest masses of objects to oscillate. 
B)  periodic ripples in the distances between objects. 
C)  gamma rays. 
D)  pulsar magnetic fields. 
A)  the rest masses of objects to oscillate. 
B)  periodic ripples in the distances between objects. 
C)  gamma rays. 
D)  pulsar magnetic fields.

Question 5

Astronomy from space vehicles is particularly useful because the telescope

Accepted Answer

A)  is in a gravity-free state; the mirror is not distorted by gravitational stress and can therefore produce sharper images. 
B)  moves smoothly and without vibration in a constant orbit and can therefore produce sharp photographs. 
C)  is above Earth's absorbing and distorting atmosphere and can measure radiation over a very wide wavelength range. 
D)  is in a clean, dust-free environment and scattered light is much reduced. 
A)  is in a gravity-free state; the mirror is not distorted by gravitational stress and can therefore produce sharper images. 
B)  moves smoothly and without vibration in a constant orbit and can therefore produce sharp photographs. 
C)  is above Earth's absorbing and distorting atmosphere and can measure radiation over a very wide wavelength range. 
D)  is in a clean, dust-free environment and scattered light is much reduced.

Question 6

A particular photon of ultraviolet (UV) light has a wavelength of 200 nm and a photon of infrared (IR) light has a wavelength of 2000 nm. What is the energy of the UV photon compared to that of the IR photon?

Accepted Answer

A)  The UV photon has 1/10 of the energy of the IR photon. 
B)  The UV photon has 10 times more energy than the IR photon. 
C)  The UV photon has 1/100 of the energy of the IR photon. 
D)  The UV photon has 100 times more energy than the IR photon. 
A)  The UV photon has 1/10 of the energy of the IR photon. 
B)  The UV photon has 10 times more energy than the IR photon. 
C)  The UV photon has 1/100 of the energy of the IR photon. 
D)  The UV photon has 100 times more energy than the IR photon.

Question 7

Chromatic aberration occurs in a refracting telescope when

Accepted Answer

A)  the different colors of light do not focus at the same point. 
B)  some wavelengths are scattered out of the telescope by imperfections in the glass in the lenses or are reflected back by the front surface of the lens. 
C)  the lenses bend under their own weight, distorting the final image. 
D)  light from some wavelengths is absorbed by the lenses, distorting the colors of objects. 
A)  the different colors of light do not focus at the same point. 
B)  some wavelengths are scattered out of the telescope by imperfections in the glass in the lenses or are reflected back by the front surface of the lens. 
C)  the lenses bend under their own weight, distorting the final image. 
D)  light from some wavelengths is absorbed by the lenses, distorting the colors of objects.

Question 8

Which of these techniques has resulted in the BEST angular resolution of the image?

Accepted Answer

A)  adaptive optics as used with Keck II on Mauna Kea 
B)  Hubble Space Telescope, an orbiting telescope 
C)  active optics, as used with the New Technology Telescope in Chile 
D)  interferometry, as used with the four telescopes of the Very Large Telescope (VLT) at the Paranel Observatory in Chile 
A)  adaptive optics as used with Keck II on Mauna Kea 
B)  Hubble Space Telescope, an orbiting telescope 
C)  active optics, as used with the New Technology Telescope in Chile 
D)  interferometry, as used with the four telescopes of the Very Large Telescope (VLT) at the Paranel Observatory in Chile

Question 9

In the 1860s, Maxwell derived a set of mathematical equations that described electromagnetic waves that could have different wavelengths. These waves, which include visible light, have since been shown to

Accepted Answer

A)  have no wavelength limit, either short or long. 
B)  have no upper wavelength limit, but waves cannot exist with wavelengths smaller than an atom. 
C)  have no short wavelength limit, but waves cannot exist with wavelengths longer than about the diameter of Earth. 
D)  exist only over a wavelength range from infrared to ultraviolet radiation. 
A)  have no wavelength limit, either short or long. 
B)  have no upper wavelength limit, but waves cannot exist with wavelengths smaller than an atom. 
C)  have no short wavelength limit, but waves cannot exist with wavelengths longer than about the diameter of Earth. 
D)  exist only over a wavelength range from infrared to ultraviolet radiation.

Question 10

Who developed the first reflecting astronomical telescope?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ptolemy 
B)  Isaac Newton 
C)  Galileo 
D)  Copernicus 
A)  Ptolemy 
B)  Isaac Newton 
C)  Galileo 
D)  Copernicus

Question 11

Spherical aberration can be corrected or avoided in a reflecting telescope by

Accepted Answer

A)  grinding the mirror to a more accurate spherical curve. 
B)  grinding the mirror to a parabolic shape. 
C)  using light of only one color. 
D)  grinding the mirror to an elliptical shape. 
A)  grinding the mirror to a more accurate spherical curve. 
B)  grinding the mirror to a parabolic shape. 
C)  using light of only one color. 
D)  grinding the mirror to an elliptical shape.

Question 12

At what distance from the objective lens in a refracting telescope is the primary image formed-that is, at what distance would a person place photographic film if one wanted to take a photograph?

Accepted Answer

A)  its focal length 
B)  its diameter 
C)  twice its focal length 
D)  immediately behind the lens to collect the most light 
A)  its focal length 
B)  its diameter 
C)  twice its focal length 
D)  immediately behind the lens to collect the most light

Question 13

Astrophysicists MOST often detect high-energy cosmic rays by

Accepted Answer

A)  positioning particle detectors in space. 
B)  observing showers of lower energy particles and photons generated when the primary cosmic ray interacts with matter in Earth's atmosphere. 
C)  observing their interactions with large tanks of material deep underground. 
D)  reflecting them at grazing incidence off custom-designed mirrors. 
A)  positioning particle detectors in space. 
B)  observing showers of lower energy particles and photons generated when the primary cosmic ray interacts with matter in Earth's atmosphere. 
C)  observing their interactions with large tanks of material deep underground. 
D)  reflecting them at grazing incidence off custom-designed mirrors.

Question 14

Which of these types of electromagnetic radiation has the longest wavelength?

Accepted Answer

A)  radio wave 
B)  ultraviolet light 
C)  infrared 
D)  microwave 
A)  radio wave 
B)  ultraviolet light 
C)  infrared 
D)  microwave

Question 15

Suppose an astronomical satellite observes the Orion Nebula at a wavelength of 1250 nm. In what wavelength range is this satellite observing?

Accepted Answer

A)  X-ray 
B)  ultraviolet 
C)  infrared 
D)  visible light 
A)  X-ray 
B)  ultraviolet 
C)  infrared 
D)  visible light

Question 16

The reason that the primary mirror of an astronomical telescope is often shaped and polished to a parabolic shape is

Accepted Answer

A)  to avoid the chromatic aberration that would be produced by an equivalent spherical mirror. 
B)  that it is lighter and easier to mount in a telescope because it requires less glass than an equivalent spherical mirror. 
C)  that it is easier to produce, even though the resulting mirror will produce more spherical aberration than an equivalent spherical mirror. 
D)  to avoid spherical aberration by bringing parallel rays to a single focus. 
A)  to avoid the chromatic aberration that would be produced by an equivalent spherical mirror. 
B)  that it is lighter and easier to mount in a telescope because it requires less glass than an equivalent spherical mirror. 
C)  that it is easier to produce, even though the resulting mirror will produce more spherical aberration than an equivalent spherical mirror. 
D)  to avoid spherical aberration by bringing parallel rays to a single focus.

Question 17

A particular photon has a wavelength of 450 nm, and a second one has a wavelength of 580 nm. Which of these statements about the energies of these two photons is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  All photons have the same energy, regardless of wavelength. 
B)  The 450-nm photon has the higher energy. 
C)  The 580-nm photon has the higher energy. 
D)  The photon from the higher-intensity light source has the higher energy (regardless of wavelength). 
A)  All photons have the same energy, regardless of wavelength. 
B)  The 450-nm photon has the higher energy. 
C)  The 580-nm photon has the higher energy. 
D)  The photon from the higher-intensity light source has the higher energy (regardless of wavelength).

Question 18

The detector that in many instances has replaced the photographic plate for astronomical photography is the

Accepted Answer

A)  CCD (charge-coupled device). 
B)  photomultiplier or image intensifier tube. 
C)  diffraction grating. 
D)  interferometer. 
A)  CCD (charge-coupled device). 
B)  photomultiplier or image intensifier tube. 
C)  diffraction grating. 
D)  interferometer.

Question 19

What does the word "seeing" mean to an astronomer using a telescope?

Accepted Answer

A)  twinkling and blurring of the image due to turbulence in Earth's atmosphere 
B)  combined effects of aberrations in the components of the telescope, particularly spherical and chromatic aberration 
C)  effect of wind on the telescope that causes it to vibrate, thereby blurring the image 
D)  haze or thin cloud in the atmosphere that reduces the brightness and sharpness of the telescope image 
A)  twinkling and blurring of the image due to turbulence in Earth's atmosphere 
B)  combined effects of aberrations in the components of the telescope, particularly spherical and chromatic aberration 
C)  effect of wind on the telescope that causes it to vibrate, thereby blurring the image 
D)  haze or thin cloud in the atmosphere that reduces the brightness and sharpness of the telescope image

Question 20

Which of these statements seems to be the correct explanation for the low neutrino rates detected by Davis and others?

Accepted Answer

A)  The neutrinos change their nature en route from the Sun to Earth. 
B)  The core of the Sun is actually about 10% cooler than had been originally predicted. 
C)  The Davis result was subject to much uncertainty because it measured only a small-yield side branch of the main nuclear reaction. 
D)  The neutrinos Davis detected were coming not from the Sun but instead from sources within Earth. 
A)  The neutrinos change their nature en route from the Sun to Earth. 
B)  The core of the Sun is actually about 10% cooler than had been originally predicted. 
C)  The Davis result was subject to much uncertainty because it measured only a small-yield side branch of the main nuclear reaction. 
D)  The neutrinos Davis detected were coming not from the Sun but instead from sources within Earth.

A neutrino produced in the nuclear furnace in the core of the Sun can penetrate easily through the

It is difficult to do infrared astronomy at sea level primarily because of what component in Earth's atmosphere?

Which type of telescope uses a lens as the main optical element?

Gravitational radiation causes

Astronomy from space vehicles is particularly useful because the telescope

A particular photon of ultraviolet (UV) light has a wavelength of 200 nm and a photon of infrared (IR) light has a wavelength of 2000 nm. What is the energy of the UV photon compared to that of the IR photon?

Chromatic aberration occurs in a refracting telescope when

Which of these techniques has resulted in the BEST angular resolution of the image?

In the 1860s, Maxwell derived a set of mathematical equations that described electromagnetic waves that could have different wavelengths. These waves, which include visible light, have since been shown to

Who developed the first reflecting astronomical telescope?

Spherical aberration can be corrected or avoided in a reflecting telescope by

At what distance from the objective lens in a refracting telescope is the primary image formed-that is, at what distance would a person place photographic film if one wanted to take a photograph?

Astrophysicists MOST often detect high-energy cosmic rays by

Which of these types of electromagnetic radiation has the longest wavelength?

Suppose an astronomical satellite observes the Orion Nebula at a wavelength of 1250 nm. In what wavelength range is this satellite observing?

The reason that the primary mirror of an astronomical telescope is often shaped and polished to a parabolic shape is

A particular photon has a wavelength of 450 nm, and a second one has a wavelength of 580 nm. Which of these statements about the energies of these two photons is true?

The detector that in many instances has replaced the photographic plate for astronomical photography is the

What does the word "seeing" mean to an astronomer using a telescope?

Which of these statements seems to be the correct explanation for the low neutrino rates detected by Davis and others?

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Motion of the Planets

Atomic Physics and Spectra

Exoplanets and the Formation of Planetary Systems

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Moon

The Other Terrestrial Planets

The Outer Planets

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Death of Stars

Black Holes: Matters of Gravity

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Quasars and Other Active Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters

Exam 3: Light and Telescopes

A neutrino produced in the nuclear furnace in the core of the Sun can penetrate easily through the

It is difficult to do infrared astronomy at sea level primarily because of what component in Earth's atmosphere?

Which type of telescope uses a lens as the main optical element?

Gravitational radiation causes

Astronomy from space vehicles is particularly useful because the telescope

A particular photon of ultraviolet (UV) light has a wavelength of 200 nm and a photon of infrared (IR) light has a wavelength of 2000 nm. What is the energy of the UV photon compared to that of the IR photon?

Chromatic aberration occurs in a refracting telescope when

Which of these techniques has resulted in the BEST angular resolution of the image?

In the 1860s, Maxwell derived a set of mathematical equations that described electromagnetic waves that could have different wavelengths. These waves, which include visible light, have since been shown to

Who developed the first reflecting astronomical telescope?

Spherical aberration can be corrected or avoided in a reflecting telescope by

At what distance from the objective lens in a refracting telescope is the primary image formed-that is, at what distance would a person place photographic film if one wanted to take a photograph?

Astrophysicists MOST often detect high-energy cosmic rays by

Which of these types of electromagnetic radiation has the longest wavelength?

Suppose an astronomical satellite observes the Orion Nebula at a wavelength of 1250 nm. In what wavelength range is this satellite observing?

The reason that the primary mirror of an astronomical telescope is often shaped and polished to a parabolic shape is

A particular photon has a wavelength of 450 nm, and a second one has a wavelength of 580 nm. Which of these statements about the energies of these two photons is true?

The detector that in many instances has replaced the photographic plate for astronomical photography is the

What does the word "seeing" mean to an astronomer using a telescope?

Which of these statements seems to be the correct explanation for the low neutrino rates detected by Davis and others?

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Motion of the Planets

Atomic Physics and Spectra

Exoplanets and the Formation of Planetary Systems

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Moon

The Other Terrestrial Planets

The Outer Planets

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Death of Stars

Black Holes: Matters of Gravity

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Quasars and Other Active Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters