Question 1

LIGO and VIRGO are facilities that detect

Accepted Answer

A)  neutrinos 
B)  gravitational waves. 
C)  green photons. 
D)  short wavelengths of light. 
E)  long wavelengths of light. 
A)  neutrinos 
B)  gravitational waves. 
C)  green photons. 
D)  short wavelengths of light. 
E)  long wavelengths of light. B

Question 2

Which of the following is the biggest disadvantage of putting a telescope in space?

Accepted Answer

A)  Astronomers don't have as much control in choosing what to observe. 
B)  Astronomers have to wait until the telescopes come back to Earth to get their images. 
C)  Space telescopes can only observe in certain parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. 
D)  Space telescopes don't last long before they fall back to Earth. 
E)  Space telescopes are much more expensive than similar ground-based telescopes. 
A)  Astronomers don't have as much control in choosing what to observe. 
B)  Astronomers have to wait until the telescopes come back to Earth to get their images. 
C)  Space telescopes can only observe in certain parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. 
D)  Space telescopes don't last long before they fall back to Earth. 
E)  Space telescopes are much more expensive than similar ground-based telescopes. E

Question 3

A diffraction grating is

Accepted Answer

A)  a filter for imaging. 
B)  a device that uses interference to spread light out into different wavelengths. 
C)  a complicated series of prisms. 
D)  a device that counteracts the effects of chromatic aberration. 
E)  the pattern of light resulting from the spectrum of a star. 
A)  a filter for imaging. 
B)  a device that uses interference to spread light out into different wavelengths. 
C)  a complicated series of prisms. 
D)  a device that counteracts the effects of chromatic aberration. 
E)  the pattern of light resulting from the spectrum of a star. B

Question 4

Landers, rovers, and/or atmospheric probes have visited which object(s) listed below in an effort to gain new information about our Solar System?

Accepted Answer

A)  Jupiter 
B)  Titan, Saturn's moon 
C)  Mars 
D)  Eros, an asteroid 
E)  all of these 
A)  Jupiter 
B)  Titan, Saturn's moon 
C)  Mars 
D)  Eros, an asteroid 
E)  all of these

Question 5

A large region of ________ wavelengths are not affected in any way by Earth's atmosphere, and so astronomers can effectively observe at these wavelengths even at sea level.

Accepted Answer

A)  X-ray 
B)  ultraviolet 
C)  gamma-ray 
D)  infrared 
E)  radio 
A)  X-ray 
B)  ultraviolet 
C)  gamma-ray 
D)  infrared 
E)  radio

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

A)  two times larger 
B)  four times larger 
C)  four times smaller 
D)  two times smaller 
E)  It depends on the type of telescope. 
A)  two times larger 
B)  four times larger 
C)  four times smaller 
D)  two times smaller 
E)  It depends on the type of telescope.

Question 7

Which property of light is responsible for chromatic aberration?

Accepted Answer

A)  reflection 
B)  interference 
C)  dispersion 
D)  diffraction 
E)  magnification 
A)  reflection 
B)  interference 
C)  dispersion 
D)  diffraction 
E)  magnification

Question 8

An object sits infinitely far away from a parabolic mirror.At what distance from the mirror will its image be created?

Accepted Answer

A)  It will be imaged at half the focal length. 
B)  It will be imaged at the focal length. 
C)  It will be imaged at twice the focal length. 
D)  No image will be created (the beams would be reflected parallel to each other). 
E)  The image is created on the other side of the mirror. 
A)  It will be imaged at half the focal length. 
B)  It will be imaged at the focal length. 
C)  It will be imaged at twice the focal length. 
D)  No image will be created (the beams would be reflected parallel to each other). 
E)  The image is created on the other side of the mirror.

Question 9

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

These are possible answers: (1)radio tel

Question 10

What geographic properties should be considered when choosing a location on Earth for a ground-based research telescope, in order to get the best possible resolution and view of the sky? Name and discuss the reasoning behind at least two such properties.

Accepted Answer

Mountaintops away from cities and in dry

Question 11

Label the eyepiece, primary mirror, secondary mirror, focus, and focal length of the telescope shown in the figure below.

Accepted Answer

This telescope is a reflecting telescope

Question 12

Why does combining the light from smaller telescopes give observation results comparable to those of a single large telescope with a diameter equal to the separation of the two smaller telescopes?

Accepted Answer

An interferometric array will have the s

Question 13

When you look at the side of a CD where the data are stored, why do you observe a rainbow?

Accepted Answer

The closely spaced tracks of t

Question 14

Remote-sensing instruments have been used to

Accepted Answer

A)  map surfaces hidden beneath thick atmospheres. 
B)  measure the composition of atmospheres. 
C)  identify geological features. 
D)  watch weather patterns develop. 
E)  All of these are correct. 
A)  map surfaces hidden beneath thick atmospheres. 
B)  measure the composition of atmospheres. 
C)  identify geological features. 
D)  watch weather patterns develop. 
E)  All of these are correct.

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

A)  0.01 arcsec 
B)  0.005 arcsec 
C)  0.4 arcsec 
D)  0.06 arcsec 
E)  0.2 arcsec 
A)  0.01 arcsec 
B)  0.005 arcsec 
C)  0.4 arcsec 
D)  0.06 arcsec 
E)  0.2 arcsec

Question 16

Which of the following cannot be directly detected using a telescope?

Accepted Answer

A)  X-rays 
B)  visible light 
C)  infrared light 
D)  neutrinos 
E)  ultraviolet light 
A)  X-rays 
B)  visible light 
C)  infrared light 
D)  neutrinos 
E)  ultraviolet light

Question 17

What are some advantages and disadvantages of using landers to explore the solar system?

Accepted Answer

Advantages are many.Landers allow us to

Question 18

Why are large telescopes often placed on top of mountains?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mountaintops are among the few places with enough open space. 
B)  to be physically closer to objects in space 
C)  to get above most of the atmosphere 
D)  Astronomers prefer remote locations in order to avoid distractions. 
E)  to avoid the noise of major roadways 
A)  Mountaintops are among the few places with enough open space. 
B)  to be physically closer to objects in space 
C)  to get above most of the atmosphere 
D)  Astronomers prefer remote locations in order to avoid distractions. 
E)  to avoid the noise of major roadways

Question 19

Which of the following is the best location for an infrared telescope on the on Earth's surface?

Accepted Answer

A)  at sea level, on land 
B)  at sea level, in the ocean 
C)  below sea level, on land 
D)  5,000 ft above sea level 
E)  10,000 ft above sea level 
A)  at sea level, on land 
B)  at sea level, in the ocean 
C)  below sea level, on land 
D)  5,000 ft above sea level 
E)  10,000 ft above sea level

Question 20

A small backyard refracting telescope might have an aperture of 50 mm, a focal length of
600 mm, and three eyepieces with a focal lengths of 20 mm, 12 mm, and 4 mm, respectively.
What magnification(s) is (or are) possible with this equipment?

Accepted Answer

The equation for magnification is M =f<s

Exam 6: The Tools of the Astronomer

LIGO and VIRGO are facilities that detect

Which of the following is the biggest disadvantage of putting a telescope in space?

A diffraction grating is

Landers, rovers, and/or atmospheric probes have visited which object(s) listed below in an effort to gain new information about our Solar System?

A large region of ________ wavelengths are not affected in any way by Earth's atmosphere, and so astronomers can effectively observe at these wavelengths even at sea level.

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

Which property of light is responsible for chromatic aberration?

An object sits infinitely far away from a parabolic mirror.At what distance from the mirror will its image be created?

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.

What geographic properties should be considered when choosing a location on Earth for a ground-based research telescope, in order to get the best possible resolution and view of the sky? Name and discuss the reasoning behind at least two such properties.

Label the eyepiece, primary mirror, secondary mirror, focus, and focal length of the telescope shown in the figure below.

Why does combining the light from smaller telescopes give observation results comparable to those of a single large telescope with a diameter equal to the separation of the two smaller telescopes?

When you look at the side of a CD where the data are stored, why do you observe a rainbow?

Remote-sensing instruments have been used to

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

Which of the following cannot be directly detected using a telescope?

What are some advantages and disadvantages of using landers to explore the solar system?

Why are large telescopes often placed on top of mountains?

Which of the following is the best location for an infrared telescope on the on Earth's surface?

A small backyard refracting telescope might have an aperture of 50 mm, a focal length of 600 mm, and three eyepieces with a focal lengths of 20 mm, 12 mm, and 4 mm, respectively. What magnification(s) is (or are) possible with this equipment?

Thinking Like an Astronomer

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth and the Moon

Motion of Astronomical Bodies

Gravity and Orbits

Light

The Formation of Planetary Systems

The Terrestrial Planets and Earths Moon

Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets

Worlds of Gas and Liquidthe Giant Planets

Planetary Moons and Rings

Dwarf Planets and Small Solar System Bodies

Taking the Measure of Stars

Our Starthe Sun

The Interstellar Medium and Star Formation

Evolution of Low-Mass Stars

Evolution of High-Mass Stars

Relativity and Black Holes

Galaxies

The Milky Waya Normal Spiral Galaxy

The Expanding Universe

Cosmology

Large-Scale Structure in the Universe

Life

Filters