Question 1

If you want to build a telescope having the least possible amount of chromatic aberration,you should use:

Accepted Answer

A)  a front lens that has been coated with a special material to reduce refraction. 
B)  a front lens that is composed of two closely spaced lenses made of different kinds of glass. 
C)  the thinnest front lens that you can obtain. 
D)  mirrors instead of lenses. 
A)  a front lens that has been coated with a special material to reduce refraction. 
B)  a front lens that is composed of two closely spaced lenses made of different kinds of glass. 
C)  the thinnest front lens that you can obtain. 
D)  mirrors instead of lenses.

Question 2

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A)  Visible light takes up only a very small part of the total range of wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum. 
B)  Visible light takes up the whole electromagnetic spectrum. 
C)  Visible light takes up most (but not all) of the total range of wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum. 
D)  Visible light is not part of the electromagnetic spectrum. 
A)  Visible light takes up only a very small part of the total range of wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum. 
B)  Visible light takes up the whole electromagnetic spectrum. 
C)  Visible light takes up most (but not all) of the total range of wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum. 
D)  Visible light is not part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Question 3

The physical force that holds the components of an atom together is the:

Accepted Answer

A)  nuclear force between protons and neutrons. 
B)  gravitational force between the massive nucleus and the much less massive electrons. 
C)  centrifugal force produced on electrons by their orbital motion around the nucleus. 
D)  electromagnetic attraction between the positive nucleus and the negative electrons. 
A)  nuclear force between protons and neutrons. 
B)  gravitational force between the massive nucleus and the much less massive electrons. 
C)  centrifugal force produced on electrons by their orbital motion around the nucleus. 
D)  electromagnetic attraction between the positive nucleus and the negative electrons.

Question 4

Which of the following types of electromagnetic radiation has the SHORTEST wavelength?

Accepted Answer

A)  violet light 
B)  X-rays 
C)  ultraviolet radiation 
D)  gamma rays 
A)  violet light 
B)  X-rays 
C)  ultraviolet radiation 
D)  gamma rays

Question 5

How much time elapsed from when Ole Rømer discovered that light did not travel at infinite speed to a time when the speed of light was first measured accurately?

Accepted Answer

A)  No time at all-it was Rømer himself who measured this speed accurately! 
B)  28 years 
C)  almost 1000 years 
D)  more than a century but less than two centuries 
A)  No time at all-it was Rømer himself who measured this speed accurately! 
B)  28 years 
C)  almost 1000 years 
D)  more than a century but less than two centuries

Question 6

In the atomic nucleus,the neutrons:

Accepted Answer

A)  help hold the nucleus together through the strong nuclear force. 
B)  attract the electrons and keep them in their orbits. 
C)  attract the protons through the electric force. 
D)  repel the other particles and thus make the nucleus less tightly bound. 
A)  help hold the nucleus together through the strong nuclear force. 
B)  attract the electrons and keep them in their orbits. 
C)  attract the protons through the electric force. 
D)  repel the other particles and thus make the nucleus less tightly bound.

Question 7

When electrons jump from higher levels in hydrogen atoms to the level n = 2,the resulting spectrum will consist of a:

Accepted Answer

A)  continuum of light with a maximum in the visible spectral range. 
B)  series of UV lines, the Lyman series. 
C)  series of IR spectral lines, the Paschen series. 
D)  series of spectral lines, some of which are in the visible range, the Balmer series. 
A)  continuum of light with a maximum in the visible spectral range. 
B)  series of UV lines, the Lyman series. 
C)  series of IR spectral lines, the Paschen series. 
D)  series of spectral lines, some of which are in the visible range, the Balmer series.

Question 8

A scientist measures the temperature change between freezing water and boiling water with a thermometer calibrated in the Kelvin or absolute scale.How many degrees Kelvin (K)will he measure?

Accepted Answer

A)  273 
B)  100 
C)  180 
D)  373 
A)  273 
B)  100 
C)  180 
D)  373

Question 9

How does the wavelength of visible light compare with the wavelengths of other forms of electromagnetic radiation?

Accepted Answer

A)  longer than ultraviolet radiation but shorter than X-rays 
B)  longer than X-rays but shorter than gamma rays 
C)  longer than infrared radiation but shorter than radio waves 
D)  longer than X-rays but shorter than radio waves 
A)  longer than ultraviolet radiation but shorter than X-rays 
B)  longer than X-rays but shorter than gamma rays 
C)  longer than infrared radiation but shorter than radio waves 
D)  longer than X-rays but shorter than radio waves

Question 10

When a light ray in air or a vacuum hits the surface of a piece of perfectly smooth,flat glass at an angle and enters the glass,it will:

Accepted Answer

A)  reverse its direction and return along its original path. 
B)  bend toward the perpendicular to the surface. 
C)  bend away from the perpendicular to the surface. 
D)  not change its direction at all. 
A)  reverse its direction and return along its original path. 
B)  bend toward the perpendicular to the surface. 
C)  bend away from the perpendicular to the surface. 
D)  not change its direction at all.

Question 11

The observed change in wavelength of light due to the Doppler effect occurs:

Accepted Answer

A)  only when the temperature of an object changes. 
B)  only when the light source has proper motion (i.e., motion across the line of sight). 
C)  whenever the light source is moving with respect to the observer (regardless of direction). 
D)  only when the light source has a radial velocity (i.e., motion toward or away from the observer). 
A)  only when the temperature of an object changes. 
B)  only when the light source has proper motion (i.e., motion across the line of sight). 
C)  whenever the light source is moving with respect to the observer (regardless of direction). 
D)  only when the light source has a radial velocity (i.e., motion toward or away from the observer).

Question 12

Schmidt telescopes are used mostly for:

Accepted Answer

A)  tracking artificial satellites in Earth orbit. 
B)  photographing wide areas of the night sky. 
C)  high-magnification views of faint, distant galaxies and quasars. 
D)  photography of planets, using high magnification. 
A)  tracking artificial satellites in Earth orbit. 
B)  photographing wide areas of the night sky. 
C)  high-magnification views of faint, distant galaxies and quasars. 
D)  photography of planets, using high magnification.

Question 13

How is spherical aberration usually overcome in the objective lens of a refracting astronomical telescope?

Accepted Answer

A)  by making the lens very thin, with a long focal length 
B)  by coating the lenses with an antireflective coating 
C)  by grinding the lens surfaces to a parabolic shape 
D)  by using a filter that allows only a small range of wavelengths (colors) through the telescope 
A)  by making the lens very thin, with a long focal length 
B)  by coating the lenses with an antireflective coating 
C)  by grinding the lens surfaces to a parabolic shape 
D)  by using a filter that allows only a small range of wavelengths (colors) through the telescope

Question 14

When visible light passes through a glass prism or a glass lens,which wavelengths of light are deflected most by the glass? (See Figures 3-1 and 3-20a,Comins,Discovering the Essential Universe,6th ed.)

Accepted Answer

A)  the longer wavelengths 
B)  The light is not deflected by glass because glass is transparent. 
C)  All wavelengths have their directions changed by the same amount. 
D)  the shorter wavelengths 
A)  the longer wavelengths 
B)  The light is not deflected by glass because glass is transparent. 
C)  All wavelengths have their directions changed by the same amount. 
D)  the shorter wavelengths

Question 15

Compared with the 2.5-m-diameter Mount Wilson telescope,the 10-m-diameter Keck telescope has a greater light-gathering power by a factor of:

Accepted Answer

A)  4. 
B)  16. 
C)  2. 
D)  1; they have the same light-gathering capability. 
A)  4. 
B)  16. 
C)  2. 
D)  1; they have the same light-gathering capability.

Question 16

What is the MAIN reason for using several radio telescopes together as an interferometer?

Accepted Answer

A)  to obtain much better angular resolution or sharpness in the images 
B)  to ensure that at least one of the telescopes is in a radio-interference-free zone 
C)  to collect more radiation from very faint sources 
D)  to ensure that observations are uninterrupted by the failure of one or two telescopes 
A)  to obtain much better angular resolution or sharpness in the images 
B)  to ensure that at least one of the telescopes is in a radio-interference-free zone 
C)  to collect more radiation from very faint sources 
D)  to ensure that observations are uninterrupted by the failure of one or two telescopes

Question 17

Of the four combinations of particles that form the nuclei of atoms,which one does NOT make up the nucleus of an isotope of the same element as the other three?

Accepted Answer

A)  7 protons, 9 neutrons 
B)  8 protons, 10 neutrons 
C)  8 protons, 9 neutrons 
D)  8 protons, 8 neutrons 
A)  7 protons, 9 neutrons 
B)  8 protons, 10 neutrons 
C)  8 protons, 9 neutrons 
D)  8 protons, 8 neutrons

Question 18

Twinkling is an observational problem when making observations from:

Accepted Answer

A)  the Hubble Space Telescope. 
B)  a telescope equipped with active optics. 
C)  a telescope equipped with adaptive optics. 
D)  the Solar Dynamic Observatory, an orbiting solar observatory. 
A)  the Hubble Space Telescope. 
B)  a telescope equipped with active optics. 
C)  a telescope equipped with adaptive optics. 
D)  the Solar Dynamic Observatory, an orbiting solar observatory.

Question 19

Which of the following properties of the isotopes ¹⁵N (nitrogen)and ¹⁵O (oxygen)are the same or almost the same?

Accepted Answer

A)  the number of protons in the nucleus 
B)  the number of neutrons in the nucleus 
C)  the nuclear mass and the number of neutrons in the nucleus 
D)  the nuclear mass 
A)  the number of protons in the nucleus 
B)  the number of neutrons in the nucleus 
C)  the nuclear mass and the number of neutrons in the nucleus 
D)  the nuclear mass

Question 20

An electromagnetic wave has a wavelength of 80 cm.This wave is:

Accepted Answer

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

If you want to build a telescope having the least possible amount of chromatic aberration,you should use:

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

The physical force that holds the components of an atom together is the:

Which of the following types of electromagnetic radiation has the SHORTEST wavelength?

How much time elapsed from when Ole Rømer discovered that light did not travel at infinite speed to a time when the speed of light was first measured accurately?

In the atomic nucleus,the neutrons:

When electrons jump from higher levels in hydrogen atoms to the level n = 2,the resulting spectrum will consist of a:

A scientist measures the temperature change between freezing water and boiling water with a thermometer calibrated in the Kelvin or absolute scale.How many degrees Kelvin (K)will he measure?

How does the wavelength of visible light compare with the wavelengths of other forms of electromagnetic radiation?

When a light ray in air or a vacuum hits the surface of a piece of perfectly smooth,flat glass at an angle and enters the glass,it will:

The observed change in wavelength of light due to the Doppler effect occurs:

Schmidt telescopes are used mostly for:

How is spherical aberration usually overcome in the objective lens of a refracting astronomical telescope?

When visible light passes through a glass prism or a glass lens,which wavelengths of light are deflected most by the glass? (See Figures 3-1 and 3-20a,Comins,Discovering the Essential Universe,6th ed.)

Compared with the 2.5-m-diameter Mount Wilson telescope,the 10-m-diameter Keck telescope has a greater light-gathering power by a factor of:

What is the MAIN reason for using several radio telescopes together as an interferometer?

Of the four combinations of particles that form the nuclei of atoms,which one does NOT make up the nucleus of an isotope of the same element as the other three?

Twinkling is an observational problem when making observations from:

Which of the following properties of the isotopes ¹⁵N (nitrogen)and ¹⁵O (oxygen)are the same or almost the same?

An electromagnetic wave has a wavelength of 80 cm.This wave is:

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

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Exam 3: Light and Telescopes

If you want to build a telescope having the least possible amount of chromatic aberration,you should use:

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

The physical force that holds the components of an atom together is the:

Which of the following types of electromagnetic radiation has the SHORTEST wavelength?

How much time elapsed from when Ole Rømer discovered that light did not travel at infinite speed to a time when the speed of light was first measured accurately?

In the atomic nucleus,the neutrons:

When electrons jump from higher levels in hydrogen atoms to the level n = 2,the resulting spectrum will consist of a:

A scientist measures the temperature change between freezing water and boiling water with a thermometer calibrated in the Kelvin or absolute scale.How many degrees Kelvin (K)will he measure?

How does the wavelength of visible light compare with the wavelengths of other forms of electromagnetic radiation?

When a light ray in air or a vacuum hits the surface of a piece of perfectly smooth,flat glass at an angle and enters the glass,it will:

The observed change in wavelength of light due to the Doppler effect occurs:

Schmidt telescopes are used mostly for:

How is spherical aberration usually overcome in the objective lens of a refracting astronomical telescope?

When visible light passes through a glass prism or a glass lens,which wavelengths of light are deflected most by the glass? (See Figures 3-1 and 3-20a,Comins,Discovering the Essential Universe,6th ed.)

Compared with the 2.5-m-diameter Mount Wilson telescope,the 10-m-diameter Keck telescope has a greater light-gathering power by a factor of:

What is the MAIN reason for using several radio telescopes together as an interferometer?

Of the four combinations of particles that form the nuclei of atoms,which one does NOT make up the nucleus of an isotope of the same element as the other three?

Twinkling is an observational problem when making observations from:

Which of the following properties of the isotopes ¹⁵N (nitrogen)and ¹⁵O (oxygen)are the same or almost the same?

An electromagnetic wave has a wavelength of 80 cm.This wave is:

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