Question 1

X-rays from astronomical objects can only be detected from telescopes in space.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

A radio telescope and an optical telescope of the same size have the same angular resolution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Which of the following is not a reason why telescopes tend to be built on mountaintops that are relatively far from cities and are in regions with dry climates?

Accepted Answer

A) The thin air on mountaintops makes the glass in telescope mirrors less susceptible to warping. 
B) Being on a high mountain top means being relatively high in the atmosphere,which tends to limit turbulence. 
C) Dry regions mean less rain and clouds,and mountaintops in dry regions may even allow some infrared observations. 
D) Mountaintops far from cities are generally subject to less light pollution than locations nearer to cities. 
A) The thin air on mountaintops makes the glass in telescope mirrors less susceptible to warping. 
B) Being on a high mountain top means being relatively high in the atmosphere,which tends to limit turbulence. 
C) Dry regions mean less rain and clouds,and mountaintops in dry regions may even allow some infrared observations. 
D) Mountaintops far from cities are generally subject to less light pollution than locations nearer to cities.

Question 4

Which of the following is not a major reason why astronomers would like an observatory on the far side of the Moon?

Accepted Answer

A) Telescopes on the Moon could see objects in all parts of the sky equally well,whereas telescopes on Earth can see only portions of the sky that depend on their latitude. 
B) Radio astronomy would be advantageous on the Moon because human radio transmissions are less likely to cause interference,especially on the far side of the Moon. 
C) It would be possible to put telescopes for ultraviolet and X-ray astronomy on the surface,unlike the case on the surface of the Earth. 
D) Telescopes on the Moon could observe stars even when it is daytime on the Moon. 
A) Telescopes on the Moon could see objects in all parts of the sky equally well,whereas telescopes on Earth can see only portions of the sky that depend on their latitude. 
B) Radio astronomy would be advantageous on the Moon because human radio transmissions are less likely to cause interference,especially on the far side of the Moon. 
C) It would be possible to put telescopes for ultraviolet and X-ray astronomy on the surface,unlike the case on the surface of the Earth. 
D) Telescopes on the Moon could observe stars even when it is daytime on the Moon.

Question 5

Given that the Moon has an angular diameter of about 0.5° and an average distance of about 380,000 km from Earth,calculate its actual diameter.(Hint: Recall the angular separation formula α = $ \frac{\mathrm{s}}{2 \pi \mathrm{d}} $ × 360°. )

Accepted Answer

We are given α = 0.5° and d = 380,000.Th

Question 6

Process of Science: If any single test of a scientific hypothesis contradicts it,the hypothesis must be revised.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The lens in your eye forms an upside-down image of the world.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Process of Science: Explain how technology advances help address astronomical questions.

Accepted Answer

New technologies allow us to study objec

Question 9

Which of the following could not be measured by an observation that uses only imaging?

Accepted Answer

A) the rate at which a variable star brightens and dims 
B) the general shape of an interstellar cloud of gas 
C) the color of a planet 
D) the brightness of a star in our sky 
E) the number of bright stars in a nearby star cluster 
A) the rate at which a variable star brightens and dims 
B) the general shape of an interstellar cloud of gas 
C) the color of a planet 
D) the brightness of a star in our sky 
E) the number of bright stars in a nearby star cluster

Question 10

Professional astronomical telescopes generally have a much greater magnification than the telescopes you can buy in stores.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Which of the following statements best describes the two principle advantages of telescopes over eyes?

Accepted Answer

A) Telescopes can collect far more light with far better angular resolution. 
B) Telescopes can collect far more light with far greater magnification. 
C) Telescopes collect more light and are unaffected by twinkling. 
D) Telescopes have much more magnification and better angular resolution. 
A) Telescopes can collect far more light with far better angular resolution. 
B) Telescopes can collect far more light with far greater magnification. 
C) Telescopes collect more light and are unaffected by twinkling. 
D) Telescopes have much more magnification and better angular resolution.

Question 12

Suppose you have two small photographs of the Moon.Although both look the same at small size,when you blow them up to poster size one of them still looks sharp while the other one becomes fuzzy (grainy)looking.Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A) The one that still looks sharp at large size has better (smaller)angular resolution than the one that looks fuzzy. 
B) The one that looks fuzzy at large size has better angular resolution (smaller)than the one that looks sharp. 
C) Both photographs have the same angular resolution,because they were both printed at the same sizes in each case. 
D) Both photographs have the same angular resolution,because they are both photographs of the same object. 
A) The one that still looks sharp at large size has better (smaller)angular resolution than the one that looks fuzzy. 
B) The one that looks fuzzy at large size has better angular resolution (smaller)than the one that looks sharp. 
C) Both photographs have the same angular resolution,because they were both printed at the same sizes in each case. 
D) Both photographs have the same angular resolution,because they are both photographs of the same object.

Question 13

A larger telescope will always have a higher spectral resolution than a smaller telescope when observing at the same wavelength.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Telescopes operating at this wavelength must be cooled to observe faint astronomical objects.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 15

Which of the following best describes the development of astronomical telescopes over the past 60 years?

Accepted Answer

A) Over the 60-year period,telescopes have gradually gotten bigger and more powerful. 
B) Although there have been advances in cameras and computing power,telescopes themselves have not changed much in the last 60 years. 
C) The world's most powerful telescope remained the same for most of this period,but in the past 20 years many new and more powerful telescopes have been built. 
D) The only major change in telescope power has occurred because of our ability to launch telescopes into space rather than operating them only from the ground. 
A) Over the 60-year period,telescopes have gradually gotten bigger and more powerful. 
B) Although there have been advances in cameras and computing power,telescopes themselves have not changed much in the last 60 years. 
C) The world's most powerful telescope remained the same for most of this period,but in the past 20 years many new and more powerful telescopes have been built. 
D) The only major change in telescope power has occurred because of our ability to launch telescopes into space rather than operating them only from the ground.

Question 16

Draw and label a simple diagram of the following:
a.a refracting telescope
b.a reflecting telescope

Accepted Answer

Diagrams should look

Question 17

What is the angular resolution of the human eye?

Accepted Answer

A) about 1 degree 
B) about 1 arcsecond (1/3600 of a degree) 
C) about 1 arcminute,or 1/60 of a degree 
D) about 1 milliarcsecond 
A) about 1 degree 
B) about 1 arcsecond (1/3600 of a degree) 
C) about 1 arcminute,or 1/60 of a degree 
D) about 1 milliarcsecond

Question 18

What is a CCD?

Accepted Answer

A) It is an electronic detector that can be used in place of photographic film for making images. 
B) It is an abbreviation for the world's largest operating telescope. 
C) It refers to any kind of instrument that can be hooked up to a telescope. 
D) It is a unit used by astronomers to measure angular resolution. 
A) It is an electronic detector that can be used in place of photographic film for making images. 
B) It is an abbreviation for the world's largest operating telescope. 
C) It refers to any kind of instrument that can be hooked up to a telescope. 
D) It is a unit used by astronomers to measure angular resolution.

Question 19

Improvements in technology will eventually allow the entire electromagnetic spectrum to be observed from high mountaintop observatories.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Which of the following is always true about images captured with X-ray telescopes?

Accepted Answer

A) They are always very pretty. 
B) They are always displayed with the highest possible angular resolution. 
C) They are always useful for seeing through things. 
D) They are always displayed in false color. 
E) They are always displayed with north pointing upward in the images. 
A) They are always very pretty. 
B) They are always displayed with the highest possible angular resolution. 
C) They are always useful for seeing through things. 
D) They are always displayed in false color. 
E) They are always displayed with north pointing upward in the images.

Exam 6: Telescopes: Portals of Discovery

X-rays from astronomical objects can only be detected from telescopes in space.

A radio telescope and an optical telescope of the same size have the same angular resolution.

Which of the following is not a reason why telescopes tend to be built on mountaintops that are relatively far from cities and are in regions with dry climates?

Which of the following is not a major reason why astronomers would like an observatory on the far side of the Moon?

Given that the Moon has an angular diameter of about 0.5° and an average distance of about 380,000 km from Earth,calculate its actual diameter.(Hint: Recall the angular separation formula α = s2πd \frac{\mathrm{s}}{2 \pi \mathrm{d}} 2πds​ × 360°. )

Process of Science: If any single test of a scientific hypothesis contradicts it,the hypothesis must be revised.

The lens in your eye forms an upside-down image of the world.

Process of Science: Explain how technology advances help address astronomical questions.

Which of the following could not be measured by an observation that uses only imaging?

Professional astronomical telescopes generally have a much greater magnification than the telescopes you can buy in stores.

Which of the following statements best describes the two principle advantages of telescopes over eyes?

Suppose you have two small photographs of the Moon.Although both look the same at small size,when you blow them up to poster size one of them still looks sharp while the other one becomes fuzzy (grainy)looking.Which of the following statements is true?

A larger telescope will always have a higher spectral resolution than a smaller telescope when observing at the same wavelength.

Telescopes operating at this wavelength must be cooled to observe faint astronomical objects.

Which of the following best describes the development of astronomical telescopes over the past 60 years?

Draw and label a simple diagram of the following: a.a refracting telescope b.a reflecting telescope

What is the angular resolution of the human eye?

What is a CCD?

Improvements in technology will eventually allow the entire electromagnetic spectrum to be observed from high mountaintop observatories.

Which of the following is always true about images captured with X-ray telescopes?

A Modern View of the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light and Matter: Reading Messages from the Cosmos

Our Planetary System

Formation of the Solar System

Planetary Geology: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds

Planetary Atmospheres: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet Systems

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Other Planetary Systems: The New Science of Distant Worlds

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Birth

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundations of Modern Cosmology

Galaxy Evolution

The Birth of the Universe

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

Life in the Universe

Celestial Timekeeping and Navigation

Space and Time

Spacetime and Gravity

Building Blocks of the Universe

Filters

Given that the Moon has an angular diameter of about 0.5° and an average distance of about 380,000 km from Earth,calculate its actual diameter.(Hint: Recall the angular separation formula α = $\frac{\mathrm{s}}{2 \pi \mathrm{d}}$ × 360°. )