Question 1

The first radio energy to be detected from outer space came from the:

Accepted Answer

A)  center of the Milky Way Galaxy, in the direction of Sagittarius. 
B)  Sun. 
C)  Moon. 
D)  quasar 3C 273. 
A)  center of the Milky Way Galaxy, in the direction of Sagittarius. 
B)  Sun. 
C)  Moon. 
D)  quasar 3C 273.

Question 2

Light from a point-like light source will enter your detector almost parallel if the source is very far away.If you move closer to the source,the light entering your detector:

Accepted Answer

A)  becomes more parallel. 
B)  becomes more divergent (the rays move away from each other). 
C)  becomes more convergent (the rays move toward each other). 
D)  remains unchanged. 
A)  becomes more parallel. 
B)  becomes more divergent (the rays move away from each other). 
C)  becomes more convergent (the rays move toward each other). 
D)  remains unchanged.

Question 3

Which of the following types of telescopes is MOST seriously affected by chromatic aberration?

Accepted Answer

A)  radio 
B)  refracting 
C)  Newtonian 
D)  Cassegrain 
A)  radio 
B)  refracting 
C)  Newtonian 
D)  Cassegrain

Question 4

The BEST Earth-based sites for modern large astronomical telescopes,which provide the least seeing effects on astronomical images,are:

Accepted Answer

A)  near large cities, where the warm air from human activity serves to stabilize the overlying atmosphere. 
B)  at sea level, where the air is less turbulent. 
C)  on the downwind side of mountain ranges, where smooth airflow produces clear air and stable images. 
D)  on the tops of high mountains, above a large fraction of the disturbing atmosphere. 
A)  near large cities, where the warm air from human activity serves to stabilize the overlying atmosphere. 
B)  at sea level, where the air is less turbulent. 
C)  on the downwind side of mountain ranges, where smooth airflow produces clear air and stable images. 
D)  on the tops of high mountains, above a large fraction of the disturbing atmosphere.

Question 5

Which of the following characteristics of an astronomical telescope is the MOST important for determining the angular resolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  the magnifying power of the telescope 
B)  the focal length of the objective lens or mirror 
C)  the focal length of the eyepiece 
D)  the diameter of the objective lens or mirror 
A)  the magnifying power of the telescope 
B)  the focal length of the objective lens or mirror 
C)  the focal length of the eyepiece 
D)  the diameter of the objective lens or mirror

Question 6

A typical but very cool star might have a temperature of 3100° Celsius.On the Kelvin scale,this is about:

Accepted Answer

A)  3373 K. 
B)  3068 K because 0 K, the freezing point of water, is 32°C. 
C)  the same number, 3100 K, because the Kelvin and Celsius scales are the same. 
D)  2827 K. 
A)  3373 K. 
B)  3068 K because 0 K, the freezing point of water, is 32°C. 
C)  the same number, 3100 K, because the Kelvin and Celsius scales are the same. 
D)  2827 K.

Question 7

The MAIN reason for building large optical telescopes on Earth's surface is to:

Accepted Answer

A)  bring astronomical objects closer for more detailed examination by scientists. 
B)  collect more light from faint objects. 
C)  enhance national prestige, with no scientific reason. 
D)  nullify the effects of Earth's atmosphere and thus produce higher-resolution photographs. 
A)  bring astronomical objects closer for more detailed examination by scientists. 
B)  collect more light from faint objects. 
C)  enhance national prestige, with no scientific reason. 
D)  nullify the effects of Earth's atmosphere and thus produce higher-resolution photographs.

Question 8

The average distance of Pluto from the Sun is 40 AU.How long does it take for light to travel across the solar system from one side of Pluto's orbit to the other?

Accepted Answer

A)  5 hours 
B)  8 minutes 
C)  22 hours 
D)  11 hours 
A)  5 hours 
B)  8 minutes 
C)  22 hours 
D)  11 hours

Question 9

Which of the following was the first nonvisible radiation to be detected from outer space?

Accepted Answer

A)  X-rays 
B)  gamma rays 
C)  radio waves 
D)  ultraviolet (UV) light 
A)  X-rays 
B)  gamma rays 
C)  radio waves 
D)  ultraviolet (UV) light

Question 10

How is spherical aberration eliminated in a reflecting telescope?

Accepted Answer

A)  by using the Cassegrain focus of the telescope 
B)  by making the primary mirror very thin 
C)  by grinding the primary mirror surface to a parabolic shape 
D)  by bending the photographic film into a concave shape 
A)  by using the Cassegrain focus of the telescope 
B)  by making the primary mirror very thin 
C)  by grinding the primary mirror surface to a parabolic shape 
D)  by bending the photographic film into a concave shape

Question 11

If you increase the exposure time of an image taken with a certain telescope,you will also increase the:

Accepted Answer

A)  brightness. 
B)  magnification. 
C)  resolution. 
D)  sharpness. 
A)  brightness. 
B)  magnification. 
C)  resolution. 
D)  sharpness.

Question 12

An electrical spark,such as lightning,generates electromagnetic radiation over a wide range of wavelengths.How much longer will a pulse of radio energy take to travel between two detector stations 100 m apart than will a pulse of ultraviolet radiation from the same spark?

Accepted Answer

A)  The time will be identical because both pulses travel at the speed of light. 
B)  The time will be just a little longer because the high-frequency UV radiation travels faster than the low-frequency radio waves. 
C)  The time will be much shorter because long-wavelength radiations travel faster. 
D)  The time will be much longer because radio waves have much longer wavelengths and therefore travel more slowly. 
A)  The time will be identical because both pulses travel at the speed of light. 
B)  The time will be just a little longer because the high-frequency UV radiation travels faster than the low-frequency radio waves. 
C)  The time will be much shorter because long-wavelength radiations travel faster. 
D)  The time will be much longer because radio waves have much longer wavelengths and therefore travel more slowly.

Question 13

Who was the first person to suggest that light is an electromagnetic wave?

Accepted Answer

A)  Thomas Young 
B)  Isaac Newton 
C)  Albert Einstein 
D)  James Clerk Maxwell 
A)  Thomas Young 
B)  Isaac Newton 
C)  Albert Einstein 
D)  James Clerk Maxwell

Question 14

Which of the following optical elements or combinations make up a Newtonian telescope?

Accepted Answer

A)  two curved mirrors, one concave, the second convex 
B)  two lenses, to produce an image the correct way around 
C)  one concave and one flat mirror 
D)  one concave focusing mirror 
A)  two curved mirrors, one concave, the second convex 
B)  two lenses, to produce an image the correct way around 
C)  one concave and one flat mirror 
D)  one concave focusing mirror

Question 15

A spectrum of the Sun observed on Earth's surface will contain all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  a continuous spectrum. 
B)  bright emission lines. 
C)  dark emission lines corresponding to elements in the Sun's atmosphere. 
D)  dark emission lines corresponding to elements in Earth's atmosphere. 
A)  a continuous spectrum. 
B)  bright emission lines. 
C)  dark emission lines corresponding to elements in the Sun's atmosphere. 
D)  dark emission lines corresponding to elements in Earth's atmosphere.

Question 16

How much more light can the 5-m telescope at Mount Palomar collect from an astronomical source than the unaided human eye (with a diameter of 5 mm)?

Accepted Answer

A)  10⁶ ⁽or 1,000,000) times 
B)  1000 times 
C)  10,000 times 
D)  5000 times 
A)  10⁶ ⁽or 1,000,000) times 
B)  1000 times 
C)  10,000 times 
D)  5000 times

Question 17

Who first discovered that radio emissions could be received from astronomical objects?

Accepted Answer

A)  Isaac Newton 
B)  Edwin Hubble 
C)  Thomas Young 
D)  Karl Jansky 
A)  Isaac Newton 
B)  Edwin Hubble 
C)  Thomas Young 
D)  Karl Jansky

Question 18

One nanometer (nm)is equal to:

Accepted Answer

A)  10-¹² m. 
B)  10-⁶ m. 
C)  10⁹ m. 
D)  10-⁹ m. 
A)  10-¹² m. 
B)  10-⁶ m. 
C)  10⁹ m. 
D)  10-⁹ m.

Question 19

Iron occupies the 26th position in the periodic table,and one isotope of iron,⁵⁷Fe,has an atomic mass of about 57.How many neutrons are in the nucleus of this atom?

Accepted Answer

A)  31 
B)  83 
C)  26 
D)  57 
A)  31 
B)  83 
C)  26 
D)  57

Question 20

In 1675,Ole Rømer measured the speed of light by:

Accepted Answer

A)  timing eclipses of Jupiter's satellites by the planet, which appeared to occur later, when Earth was farther from Jupiter. 
B)  opening a shutter on a lantern on a hilltop and measuring the time taken for light from an assistant's shuttered lantern to return. 
C)  reflecting light from a mirror rotating at a known speed and measuring the angle of deflection of the light beam. 
D)  measuring how long it took the light to reach Earth from stars located at different distances from Earth. 
A)  timing eclipses of Jupiter's satellites by the planet, which appeared to occur later, when Earth was farther from Jupiter. 
B)  opening a shutter on a lantern on a hilltop and measuring the time taken for light from an assistant's shuttered lantern to return. 
C)  reflecting light from a mirror rotating at a known speed and measuring the angle of deflection of the light beam. 
D)  measuring how long it took the light to reach Earth from stars located at different distances from Earth.

The first radio energy to be detected from outer space came from the:

Light from a point-like light source will enter your detector almost parallel if the source is very far away.If you move closer to the source,the light entering your detector:

Which of the following types of telescopes is MOST seriously affected by chromatic aberration?

The BEST Earth-based sites for modern large astronomical telescopes,which provide the least seeing effects on astronomical images,are:

Which of the following characteristics of an astronomical telescope is the MOST important for determining the angular resolution?

A typical but very cool star might have a temperature of 3100° Celsius.On the Kelvin scale,this is about:

The MAIN reason for building large optical telescopes on Earth's surface is to:

The average distance of Pluto from the Sun is 40 AU.How long does it take for light to travel across the solar system from one side of Pluto's orbit to the other?

Which of the following was the first nonvisible radiation to be detected from outer space?

How is spherical aberration eliminated in a reflecting telescope?

If you increase the exposure time of an image taken with a certain telescope,you will also increase the:

An electrical spark,such as lightning,generates electromagnetic radiation over a wide range of wavelengths.How much longer will a pulse of radio energy take to travel between two detector stations 100 m apart than will a pulse of ultraviolet radiation from the same spark?

Who was the first person to suggest that light is an electromagnetic wave?

Which of the following optical elements or combinations make up a Newtonian telescope?

A spectrum of the Sun observed on Earth's surface will contain all of the following EXCEPT:

How much more light can the 5-m telescope at Mount Palomar collect from an astronomical source than the unaided human eye (with a diameter of 5 mm)?

Who first discovered that radio emissions could be received from astronomical objects?

One nanometer (nm)is equal to:

Iron occupies the 26th position in the periodic table,and one isotope of iron,⁵⁷Fe,has an atomic mass of about 57.How many neutrons are in the nucleus of this atom?

In 1675,Ole Rømer measured the speed of light by:

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 first radio energy to be detected from outer space came from the:

Light from a point-like light source will enter your detector almost parallel if the source is very far away.If you move closer to the source,the light entering your detector:

Which of the following types of telescopes is MOST seriously affected by chromatic aberration?

The BEST Earth-based sites for modern large astronomical telescopes,which provide the least seeing effects on astronomical images,are:

Which of the following characteristics of an astronomical telescope is the MOST important for determining the angular resolution?

A typical but very cool star might have a temperature of 3100° Celsius.On the Kelvin scale,this is about:

The MAIN reason for building large optical telescopes on Earth's surface is to:

The average distance of Pluto from the Sun is 40 AU.How long does it take for light to travel across the solar system from one side of Pluto's orbit to the other?

Which of the following was the first nonvisible radiation to be detected from outer space?

How is spherical aberration eliminated in a reflecting telescope?

If you increase the exposure time of an image taken with a certain telescope,you will also increase the:

An electrical spark,such as lightning,generates electromagnetic radiation over a wide range of wavelengths.How much longer will a pulse of radio energy take to travel between two detector stations 100 m apart than will a pulse of ultraviolet radiation from the same spark?

Who was the first person to suggest that light is an electromagnetic wave?

Which of the following optical elements or combinations make up a Newtonian telescope?

A spectrum of the Sun observed on Earth's surface will contain all of the following EXCEPT:

How much more light can the 5-m telescope at Mount Palomar collect from an astronomical source than the unaided human eye (with a diameter of 5 mm)?

Who first discovered that radio emissions could be received from astronomical objects?

One nanometer (nm)is equal to:

Iron occupies the 26th position in the periodic table,and one isotope of iron,⁵⁷Fe,has an atomic mass of about 57.How many neutrons are in the nucleus of this atom?

In 1675,Ole Rømer measured the speed of light by:

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