Question 1

The basic makeup of an atom is:

Accepted Answer

A)  small, negatively charged particles orbiting around a central positive charge. 
B)  negative and positive charges mixed uniformly through the volume of the atom. 
C)  miniature planets, possibly with miniature people, gravitationally bound in orbits around a miniature star. 
D)  small, positively charged particles orbiting around a central negative charge. 
A)  small, negatively charged particles orbiting around a central positive charge. 
B)  negative and positive charges mixed uniformly through the volume of the atom. 
C)  miniature planets, possibly with miniature people, gravitationally bound in orbits around a miniature star. 
D)  small, positively charged particles orbiting around a central negative charge.

Question 2

As a light ray leaves a glass surface,traveling from the glass back into air at an angle to the surface,the light ray:

Accepted Answer

A)  bends away from the perpendicular to the surface. 
B)  bends so that it travels exactly along the perpendicular to the surface. 
C)  bends toward the perpendicular to the surface. 
D)  travels in a straight line without bending. 
A)  bends away from the perpendicular to the surface. 
B)  bends so that it travels exactly along the perpendicular to the surface. 
C)  bends toward the perpendicular to the surface. 
D)  travels in a straight line without bending.

Question 3

The MAIN reason that the angular resolution of a 20-m-diameter radio telescope is worse than that of a 0.5-m-diameter optical telescope is that:

Accepted Answer

A)  angular resolution becomes worse as wavelength decreases. 
B)  angular resolution becomes worse as wavelength increases. 
C)  an optical mirror suffers from chromatic aberration. 
D)  angular resolution becomes worse as mirror size increases. 
A)  angular resolution becomes worse as wavelength decreases. 
B)  angular resolution becomes worse as wavelength increases. 
C)  an optical mirror suffers from chromatic aberration. 
D)  angular resolution becomes worse as mirror size increases.

Question 4

The important breakthrough in theoretical physics that was first suggested by Planck to explain the shape of the spectrum of a hot body was the:

Accepted Answer

A)  discovery of the formula F = σT⁴, which can be used to calculate the total energy flux emitted by the hot body over all wavelengths. 
B)  idea that light traveled at a constant speed, whatever the speed of the source. 
C)  idea that light is a form of electromagnetic energy transmitted at a constant speed and that there is a continuous spectrum of electromagnetic waves from gamma rays to radio waves. 
D)  concept that electromagnetic energy was emitted in small packets, or quanta. 
A)  discovery of the formula F = σT⁴, which can be used to calculate the total energy flux emitted by the hot body over all wavelengths. 
B)  idea that light traveled at a constant speed, whatever the speed of the source. 
C)  idea that light is a form of electromagnetic energy transmitted at a constant speed and that there is a continuous spectrum of electromagnetic waves from gamma rays to radio waves. 
D)  concept that electromagnetic energy was emitted in small packets, or quanta.

Question 5

Radio waves travel through space at what speed?

Accepted Answer

A)  much faster than the speed of light 
B)  at the speed of light, 3 × 10⁸ m/s 
C)  much slower than the speed of light 
D)  slightly faster than the speed of light because their wavelength is longer 
A)  much faster than the speed of light 
B)  at the speed of light, 3 × 10⁸ m/s 
C)  much slower than the speed of light 
D)  slightly faster than the speed of light because their wavelength is longer

Question 6

When light in air or a vacuum enters the plane surface of a dense,transparent medium at an angle to the perpendicular to this surface,which way does the light ray bend?

Accepted Answer

A)  The light ray bends away from the perpendicular. 
B)  The light ray does not bend at all because the material is transparent. 
C)  The light ray bends toward the perpendicular. 
D)  The light ray bends so that, whatever the incoming angle, the light always travels along the perpendicular to the surface. 
A)  The light ray bends away from the perpendicular. 
B)  The light ray does not bend at all because the material is transparent. 
C)  The light ray bends toward the perpendicular. 
D)  The light ray bends so that, whatever the incoming angle, the light always travels along the perpendicular to the surface.

Question 7

A department store sells an "astronomical telescope" with an objective lens of 30-cm focal length and a diameter of 5 cm,and an eyepiece lens of focal length 5 mm and diameter 4 mm.What is the magnifying power of this telescope?

Accepted Answer

A)  6 times 
B)  150 times 
C)  60 times 
D)  12.5 times 
A)  6 times 
B)  150 times 
C)  60 times 
D)  12.5 times

Question 8

Charge-coupled devices (CCDs)are used in all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  telescopes. 
B)  picture-taking cell phones. 
C)  digital cameras. 
D)  long-exposure film photography. 
A)  telescopes. 
B)  picture-taking cell phones. 
C)  digital cameras. 
D)  long-exposure film photography.

Question 9

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 10

The Hubble space Telescope is NOT designed to investigate:

Accepted Answer

A)  visible light. 
B)  ultraviolet radiation. 
C)  infrared radiation. 
D)  radio waves. 
A)  visible light. 
B)  ultraviolet radiation. 
C)  infrared radiation. 
D)  radio waves.

Question 11

Chromatic aberration,the inability of a simple lens to focus all colors of light to the same focal point,is reduced in astronomical telescopes by:

Accepted Answer

A)  adding a carefully shaped mirror to the lens to produce a lens-mirror combination. 
B)  combining two lenses of different shape, made from the same kind of glass. 
C)  bending the lens in its mounting. 
D)  combining two lenses of different shape, made from different kinds of glass. 
A)  adding a carefully shaped mirror to the lens to produce a lens-mirror combination. 
B)  combining two lenses of different shape, made from the same kind of glass. 
C)  bending the lens in its mounting. 
D)  combining two lenses of different shape, made from different kinds of glass.

Question 12

Which very significant fact concerning the spectra produced by hot gases,such as elements heated on the solar surface (Fraunhofer,with the solar spectrum)or in a flame (Bunsen and Kirchhoff,with laboratory spectra),was discovered in the 1800s?

Accepted Answer

A)  Each chemical element produces its own characteristic pattern of spectral lines that remains fixed as the temperature increases. 
B)  Chemical elements emit spectral lines that move continuously toward the blue end of the spectrum as the gas temperature increases. 
C)  The higher the temperature, the greater the redshift of the emitted spectral lines. 
D)  All chemical elements produce the same set of spectral emission or absorption lines, but their relative emission intensities differ; hence, elements are distinguishable from one another by their spectra. 
A)  Each chemical element produces its own characteristic pattern of spectral lines that remains fixed as the temperature increases. 
B)  Chemical elements emit spectral lines that move continuously toward the blue end of the spectrum as the gas temperature increases. 
C)  The higher the temperature, the greater the redshift of the emitted spectral lines. 
D)  All chemical elements produce the same set of spectral emission or absorption lines, but their relative emission intensities differ; hence, elements are distinguishable from one another by their spectra.

Question 13

Light enters the smooth,flat surface of a block of glass from the vacuum of space (e.g.,a spacecraft window).What is the speed of light inside the glass compared with that in a vacuum?

Accepted Answer

A)  The speed will depend on the angle that the light ray makes with the perpendicular to the surface, becoming slower as the angle increases. 
B)  The speed will be the same because the speed of light is always constant, by definition. 
C)  The speed will be faster because the glass is denser than the vacuum. 
D)  The speed will be slower because the glass is denser than the vacuum. 
A)  The speed will depend on the angle that the light ray makes with the perpendicular to the surface, becoming slower as the angle increases. 
B)  The speed will be the same because the speed of light is always constant, by definition. 
C)  The speed will be faster because the glass is denser than the vacuum. 
D)  The speed will be slower because the glass is denser than the vacuum.

Question 14

Pieces of metal are heated by varying amounts in a flame.The hottest of the pieces will be the one that shows MOST prominently which color?

Accepted Answer

A)  red 
B)  black 
C)  yellow 
D)  blue 
A)  red 
B)  black 
C)  yellow 
D)  blue

Question 15

Telescopes designed to observe infrared radiation:

Accepted Answer

A)  must be placed in orbit above Earth's atmosphere. 
B)  can be placed on Earth's surface as long as the altitude is high enough to avoid water vapor, the prime absorber of infrared in the atmosphere. 
C)  can be placed on Earth's surface as long as the altitude is high enough to avoid carbon dioxide, the prime absorber of infrared in the atmosphere. 
D)  can be placed at any convenient location on Earth's surface because infrared radiation penetrates one of the "windows" of transparency in the atmosphere. 
A)  must be placed in orbit above Earth's atmosphere. 
B)  can be placed on Earth's surface as long as the altitude is high enough to avoid water vapor, the prime absorber of infrared in the atmosphere. 
C)  can be placed on Earth's surface as long as the altitude is high enough to avoid carbon dioxide, the prime absorber of infrared in the atmosphere. 
D)  can be placed at any convenient location on Earth's surface because infrared radiation penetrates one of the "windows" of transparency in the atmosphere.

Question 16

What changes would you expect to see in the resulting spectrum of emitted light from a piece of metal when it is heated slowly in an intense flame from 500 K to 1500 K?

Accepted Answer

A)  The intensity of radiation would increase greatly, while the color would change from blue through white to red. 
B)  The intensity of radiation would increase greatly, and the color would change from red through white to blue. 
C)  The intensity of radiation would increase greatly, while the color would remain a dull red. 
D)  The intensity of radiation would increase only slightly, while the color would change from red through white to blue. 
A)  The intensity of radiation would increase greatly, while the color would change from blue through white to red. 
B)  The intensity of radiation would increase greatly, and the color would change from red through white to blue. 
C)  The intensity of radiation would increase greatly, while the color would remain a dull red. 
D)  The intensity of radiation would increase only slightly, while the color would change from red through white to blue.

Question 17

Do we use astronomical gamma-ray detectors on Earth's surface?

Accepted Answer

A)  No. The atmosphere blocks all gamma rays from space. Thus, we cannot use gamma-ray detectors on Earth's surface. 
B)  Yes. Gamma rays have a narrow "window" through Earth's atmosphere. So we can detect enough of them to form images. 
C)  Yes, but these detectors are actually pointed downward to detect rays coming through Earth. Only cosmic gamma rays have enough energy to penetrate Earth, which acts as a filter for gamma rays generated by terrestrial sources. 
D)  Yes, but these detectors actually detect Cherenkov radiation produced by particles struck by gamma rays high in the atmosphere. Thus, the gamma-ray detection is very indirect. 
A)  No. The atmosphere blocks all gamma rays from space. Thus, we cannot use gamma-ray detectors on Earth's surface. 
B)  Yes. Gamma rays have a narrow "window" through Earth's atmosphere. So we can detect enough of them to form images. 
C)  Yes, but these detectors are actually pointed downward to detect rays coming through Earth. Only cosmic gamma rays have enough energy to penetrate Earth, which acts as a filter for gamma rays generated by terrestrial sources. 
D)  Yes, but these detectors actually detect Cherenkov radiation produced by particles struck by gamma rays high in the atmosphere. Thus, the gamma-ray detection is very indirect.

Question 18

How many neutrons are there in the nucleus of the isotope ¹⁷O of oxygen?

Accepted Answer

A)  9 
B)  7 
C)  8 
D)  17 
A)  9 
B)  7 
C)  8 
D)  17

Question 19

When light passes through a prism of glass:

Accepted Answer

A)  the prism absorbs colors from different parts of the broad beam coming out of the prism, leaving the complementary colors that we see. 
B)  different colors are caused by multiple reflections within the prism and the resulting interference between the beams. 
C)  refraction changes the directions of different colors or wavelengths of light. 
D)  the prism adds colors to different parts of the outgoing and broadly scattered beam. 
A)  the prism absorbs colors from different parts of the broad beam coming out of the prism, leaving the complementary colors that we see. 
B)  different colors are caused by multiple reflections within the prism and the resulting interference between the beams. 
C)  refraction changes the directions of different colors or wavelengths of light. 
D)  the prism adds colors to different parts of the outgoing and broadly scattered beam.

Question 20

Astronomers sometimes choose the type of reflecting telescope they use based on the amount of strain the weight of their mounted equipment will exert on the telescope.Which type of reflector generally results in the MOST strain?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cassegrain focus 
B)  Newtonian focus 
C)  prime focus 
D)  coudé focus 
A)  Cassegrain focus 
B)  Newtonian focus 
C)  prime focus 
D)  coudé focus

The basic makeup of an atom is:

As a light ray leaves a glass surface,traveling from the glass back into air at an angle to the surface,the light ray:

The MAIN reason that the angular resolution of a 20-m-diameter radio telescope is worse than that of a 0.5-m-diameter optical telescope is that:

The important breakthrough in theoretical physics that was first suggested by Planck to explain the shape of the spectrum of a hot body was the:

Radio waves travel through space at what speed?

When light in air or a vacuum enters the plane surface of a dense,transparent medium at an angle to the perpendicular to this surface,which way does the light ray bend?

A department store sells an "astronomical telescope" with an objective lens of 30-cm focal length and a diameter of 5 cm,and an eyepiece lens of focal length 5 mm and diameter 4 mm.What is the magnifying power of this telescope?

Charge-coupled devices (CCDs)are used in all of the following EXCEPT:

Who developed the first reflecting astronomical telescope?

The Hubble space Telescope is NOT designed to investigate:

Chromatic aberration,the inability of a simple lens to focus all colors of light to the same focal point,is reduced in astronomical telescopes by:

Which very significant fact concerning the spectra produced by hot gases,such as elements heated on the solar surface (Fraunhofer,with the solar spectrum)or in a flame (Bunsen and Kirchhoff,with laboratory spectra),was discovered in the 1800s?

Light enters the smooth,flat surface of a block of glass from the vacuum of space (e.g.,a spacecraft window).What is the speed of light inside the glass compared with that in a vacuum?

Pieces of metal are heated by varying amounts in a flame.The hottest of the pieces will be the one that shows MOST prominently which color?

Telescopes designed to observe infrared radiation:

What changes would you expect to see in the resulting spectrum of emitted light from a piece of metal when it is heated slowly in an intense flame from 500 K to 1500 K?

Do we use astronomical gamma-ray detectors on Earth's surface?

How many neutrons are there in the nucleus of the isotope ¹⁷O of oxygen?

When light passes through a prism of glass:

Astronomers sometimes choose the type of reflecting telescope they use based on the amount of strain the weight of their mounted equipment will exert on the telescope.Which type of reflector generally results in the MOST strain?

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

Formation of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems

Exoplanets

The Terrestrial Planets and Their Moons

The Outer Planets and Their Moons

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of the Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Deaths and Remnants of Stars

The Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters

Exam 3: Light and Telescopes

The basic makeup of an atom is:

As a light ray leaves a glass surface,traveling from the glass back into air at an angle to the surface,the light ray:

The MAIN reason that the angular resolution of a 20-m-diameter radio telescope is worse than that of a 0.5-m-diameter optical telescope is that:

The important breakthrough in theoretical physics that was first suggested by Planck to explain the shape of the spectrum of a hot body was the:

Radio waves travel through space at what speed?

When light in air or a vacuum enters the plane surface of a dense,transparent medium at an angle to the perpendicular to this surface,which way does the light ray bend?

A department store sells an "astronomical telescope" with an objective lens of 30-cm focal length and a diameter of 5 cm,and an eyepiece lens of focal length 5 mm and diameter 4 mm.What is the magnifying power of this telescope?

Charge-coupled devices (CCDs)are used in all of the following EXCEPT:

Who developed the first reflecting astronomical telescope?

The Hubble space Telescope is NOT designed to investigate:

Chromatic aberration,the inability of a simple lens to focus all colors of light to the same focal point,is reduced in astronomical telescopes by:

Which very significant fact concerning the spectra produced by hot gases,such as elements heated on the solar surface (Fraunhofer,with the solar spectrum)or in a flame (Bunsen and Kirchhoff,with laboratory spectra),was discovered in the 1800s?

Light enters the smooth,flat surface of a block of glass from the vacuum of space (e.g.,a spacecraft window).What is the speed of light inside the glass compared with that in a vacuum?

Pieces of metal are heated by varying amounts in a flame.The hottest of the pieces will be the one that shows MOST prominently which color?

Telescopes designed to observe infrared radiation:

What changes would you expect to see in the resulting spectrum of emitted light from a piece of metal when it is heated slowly in an intense flame from 500 K to 1500 K?

Do we use astronomical gamma-ray detectors on Earth's surface?

How many neutrons are there in the nucleus of the isotope ¹⁷O of oxygen?

When light passes through a prism of glass:

Astronomers sometimes choose the type of reflecting telescope they use based on the amount of strain the weight of their mounted equipment will exert on the telescope.Which type of reflector generally results in the MOST strain?

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

Formation of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems

Exoplanets

The Terrestrial Planets and Their Moons

The Outer Planets and Their Moons

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of the Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Deaths and Remnants of Stars

The Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters