Question 1

Define atomic mass number

Accepted Answer

Atomic mass number i

Question 2

Which of the following wavelength regions cannot be studied with telescopes on the ground?

Accepted Answer

A)  radio waves 
B)  ultraviolet 
C)  X-rays 
D)  both B and C 
E)  both A and C 
A)  radio waves 
B)  ultraviolet 
C)  X-rays 
D)  both B and C 
E)  both A and C

Question 3

Suppose an astronomer proposed to build a major observatory on the campus of your school. Would it make a good observing site? Explain why or why not.

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary somewhat with location

Question 4

Suppose you watch a leaf bobbing up and down as ripples pass it by in a pond. You notice that it does two full up and down bobs each second. Which statement is true of the ripples on the pond?

Accepted Answer

A)  They have a frequency of 2 hertz. 
B)  They have a frequency of 4 hertz. 
C)  We can calculate the wavelength of the ripples from their frequency. 
D)  They have a wavelength of two cycles per second. 
A)  They have a frequency of 2 hertz. 
B)  They have a frequency of 4 hertz. 
C)  We can calculate the wavelength of the ripples from their frequency. 
D)  They have a wavelength of two cycles per second.

Question 5

What do astronomers mean by light pollution?

Accepted Answer

A)  Light pollution is light from human sources that makes it difficult to see the stars at night. 
B)  Light pollution is a type of air pollution created by lightweight gases such as hydrogen and helium. 
C)  Light pollution means contamination of light caused by chemicals in the Earth's atmosphere. 
D)  Light pollution is a term used to describe the appearance of the sky in regions that are crowded with stars. 
A)  Light pollution is light from human sources that makes it difficult to see the stars at night. 
B)  Light pollution is a type of air pollution created by lightweight gases such as hydrogen and helium. 
C)  Light pollution means contamination of light caused by chemicals in the Earth's atmosphere. 
D)  Light pollution is a term used to describe the appearance of the sky in regions that are crowded with stars.

Question 6

Which of the following statements is true of green grass?

Accepted Answer

A)  It absorbs red light and reflects green light. 
B)  It absorbs red light and emits green light. 
C)  It transmits all colors of light except green. 
D)  It means the lawn is healthy. 
A)  It absorbs red light and reflects green light. 
B)  It absorbs red light and emits green light. 
C)  It transmits all colors of light except green. 
D)  It means the lawn is healthy.

Question 7

An isotope of fluorine has 9 protons and 10 neutrons. What are the atomic number and atomic mass number of this fluorine? If we added a proton to this fluorine nucleus, would the result still be fluorine? What if we added a neutron instead? Explain.

Accepted Answer

The atomic number of fluorine is equal t

Question 8

Suppose you know the frequency of a photon and the speed of light. What else can you determine about the photon?

Accepted Answer

A)  Its wavelength and energy 
B)  Its temperature 
C)  Its acceleration 
D)  The chemical composition of the object that emitted it 
A)  Its wavelength and energy 
B)  Its temperature 
C)  Its acceleration 
D)  The chemical composition of the object that emitted it

Question 9

How do we estimate the surface temperature of a star?

Accepted Answer

A)  By estimating its luminosity 
B)  By obtaining its spectrum and classifying the spectral type 
C)  By measuring the Doppler shifts of absorption lines in its chromosphere 
D)  By estimating its parallax 
A)  By estimating its luminosity 
B)  By obtaining its spectrum and classifying the spectral type 
C)  By measuring the Doppler shifts of absorption lines in its chromosphere 
D)  By estimating its parallax

Question 10

If we say that a material is opaque to ultraviolet light, we mean that it ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  absorbs ultraviolet light 
B)  reflects ultraviolet light. 
C)  transmits ultraviolet light 
D)  reflects ultraviolet light 
A)  absorbs ultraviolet light 
B)  reflects ultraviolet light. 
C)  transmits ultraviolet light 
D)  reflects ultraviolet light

Question 11

Division of the EM Spectrum: The electromagnetic spectrum is divided into several parts that go by different names: radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet light, X-rays and Gamma-rays. However, we know that all are examples of the same phenomena, namely electromagnetic radiation. Why do you think these names were introduced in the first place? Research at your library or on reputable internet sites. Does retaining these names serve any useful purpose today?

Accepted Answer

The names for the divisions of the elect

Question 12

Electrons orbit an atomic nucleus like planets orbit the Sun.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Emission lines from different ionization states of the same element appear in the same place in the spectrum.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

How does the light-collecting area of an 8-meter telescope compare to that of a 2-meter telescope?

Accepted Answer

A)  The 8-meter telescope has 16 times the light-collecting area of the 2-meter telescope. 
B)  The 8-meter telescope has 4 times the light-collecting area of the 2-meter telescope. 
C)  The 8-meter telescope has 8 times the light-collecting area of the 2-meter telescope. 
D)  The answer cannot be determined from the information given in the question. 
A)  The 8-meter telescope has 16 times the light-collecting area of the 2-meter telescope. 
B)  The 8-meter telescope has 4 times the light-collecting area of the 2-meter telescope. 
C)  The 8-meter telescope has 8 times the light-collecting area of the 2-meter telescope. 
D)  The answer cannot be determined from the information given in the question.

Question 15

Which of the following conditions lead you to see an absorption line spectrum from a cloud of gas in interstellar space?

Accepted Answer

A)  The cloud is cool and lies between you and a hot star. 
B)  The cloud is extremely hot. 
C)  The cloud is visible primarily because it reflects light from nearby stars. 
D)  The cloud is cool and very dense, so that you cannot see any objects that lie behind it. 
A)  The cloud is cool and lies between you and a hot star. 
B)  The cloud is extremely hot. 
C)  The cloud is visible primarily because it reflects light from nearby stars. 
D)  The cloud is cool and very dense, so that you cannot see any objects that lie behind it.

Question 16

Which of the following is not an advantage of the Hubble Space Telescope over ground-based telescopes?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is closer to the stars. 
B)  Stars do not twinkle when observed from space. 
C)  It can observe infrared and ultraviolet light, as well as visible light. 
D)  It never has to close because of cloudy skies. 
A)  It is closer to the stars. 
B)  Stars do not twinkle when observed from space. 
C)  It can observe infrared and ultraviolet light, as well as visible light. 
D)  It never has to close because of cloudy skies.

Question 17

Atomic number refers to ________.

Accepted Answer

the number

Question 18

Grass is green because it absorbs green light, reflecting all other colors.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

You and I are emitting primarily

Accepted Answer

A)  infrared radiation. 
B)  visual radiation. 
C)  radio radiation. 
D)  X-ray radiation. 
A)  infrared radiation. 
B)  visual radiation. 
C)  radio radiation. 
D)  X-ray radiation.

Question 20

You are currently emitting electromagnetic waves.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Define atomic mass number

Which of the following wavelength regions cannot be studied with telescopes on the ground?

Suppose an astronomer proposed to build a major observatory on the campus of your school. Would it make a good observing site? Explain why or why not.

Suppose you watch a leaf bobbing up and down as ripples pass it by in a pond. You notice that it does two full up and down bobs each second. Which statement is true of the ripples on the pond?

What do astronomers mean by light pollution?

Which of the following statements is true of green grass?

An isotope of fluorine has 9 protons and 10 neutrons. What are the atomic number and atomic mass number of this fluorine? If we added a proton to this fluorine nucleus, would the result still be fluorine? What if we added a neutron instead? Explain.

Suppose you know the frequency of a photon and the speed of light. What else can you determine about the photon?

How do we estimate the surface temperature of a star?

If we say that a material is opaque to ultraviolet light, we mean that it ________.

Electrons orbit an atomic nucleus like planets orbit the Sun.

Emission lines from different ionization states of the same element appear in the same place in the spectrum.

How does the light-collecting area of an 8-meter telescope compare to that of a 2-meter telescope?

Which of the following conditions lead you to see an absorption line spectrum from a cloud of gas in interstellar space?

Which of the following is not an advantage of the Hubble Space Telescope over ground-based telescopes?

Atomic number refers to ________.

Grass is green because it absorbs green light, reflecting all other colors.

You and I are emitting primarily

You are currently emitting electromagnetic waves.

Our Place in the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

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

Formation of Planetary Systems: Our Solar System and Beyond

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet Systems

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

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology

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

The Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe

Filters

Exam 5: Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Define atomic mass number

Which of the following wavelength regions cannot be studied with telescopes on the ground?

Suppose an astronomer proposed to build a major observatory on the campus of your school. Would it make a good observing site? Explain why or why not.

Suppose you watch a leaf bobbing up and down as ripples pass it by in a pond. You notice that it does two full up and down bobs each second. Which statement is true of the ripples on the pond?

What do astronomers mean by light pollution?

Which of the following statements is true of green grass?

An isotope of fluorine has 9 protons and 10 neutrons. What are the atomic number and atomic mass number of this fluorine? If we added a proton to this fluorine nucleus, would the result still be fluorine? What if we added a neutron instead? Explain.

Suppose you know the frequency of a photon and the speed of light. What else can you determine about the photon?

How do we estimate the surface temperature of a star?

If we say that a material is opaque to ultraviolet light, we mean that it ________.

Electrons orbit an atomic nucleus like planets orbit the Sun.

Emission lines from different ionization states of the same element appear in the same place in the spectrum.

How does the light-collecting area of an 8-meter telescope compare to that of a 2-meter telescope?

Which of the following conditions lead you to see an absorption line spectrum from a cloud of gas in interstellar space?

Which of the following is not an advantage of the Hubble Space Telescope over ground-based telescopes?

Atomic number refers to ________.

Grass is green because it absorbs green light, reflecting all other colors.

You and I are emitting primarily

You are currently emitting electromagnetic waves.

Our Place in the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

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

Formation of Planetary Systems: Our Solar System and Beyond

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet Systems

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

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology

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

The Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe

Filters