Astronomy

1.

1 point

Space travelers looking out from the front of their spacecraft would note that the light emitted from the star system toward which they were moving seemed to be:

Getting redder.

Getting bluer.

Staying the same.

2.

1 point

Spectral lines are sometimes referred to as the stars' "fingerprints" because:

Fingerprints also consist of individual lines that combine to make a pattern.

Both are unique and characteristic of that which has produced them.

All of these.

Both can be categorized.

3.

1 point

What problem is adaptive optics used to correct?

slight errors in the telescope's mount to compensate for the Earth's rotation

effects of atmospheric turbulence

defects in the optics of the telescope

the opacity of the Earth's atmosphere

4.

1 point

High-energy astronomers study:

X-rays and gamma rays.

Radio waves.

Excited atoms.

The entire range of radiation from stars.

5.

1 point

Which of these is the classic continuous spectrum?

a fluorescent light

a rainbow

sunlight

a neon light

6.

1 point

At which of these Kelvin temperatures is water a liquid?

3000 K

30 K

300 K

3 K

7.

1 point

What is emitted from an atom when one of its electrons makes a transition

from a higher energy state to a lower energy state? neutron

photon

electron

proton

8.

1 point

What is spectroscopy?

An analysis of the way in which atoms absorb and emit light.

An observing technique that electronically records many images of stars and is much more efficient than photography.

An method used to increase the resolution of images.

An observational technique used to measure the brightness of light.

9.

1 point

The Orion Nebula is a hot, thin cloud of glowing gas. Which best describes its spectrum?

a few bright lines on a dark background

a rainbow of colors, with no breaks at all

a rainbow, but with dark lines mixed in

10.

1 point

What is the name of the device that accurately and quickly measures the light intensity of a single object, such as a star?

Spectrometer

Photographic plate

Photometer

Charged-coupled device

11.

1 point

Which of the following is constant for all types of electromagnetic waves in space?

energy

speed

color

frequency

12.

1 point

Which of the following forms of radiation is never able to penetrate the Earth's atmosphere?

X-rays

visible light

radio

infrared

13.

1 point

Light waves differ fundamentally from either water waves or sound waves because:

They do not require a material medium.

They do not travel from place to place instantaneously.

The amplitude of light never changes.

They have various wavelengths.

14.

1 point

A mountain top is a good location for optical and infrared telescopes because the site:

all of these.

is closer to astronomical objects.

is above much of the atmosphere.

has cold weather which improves the performance of the instruments

15.

1 point

An incandescent light bulb (glowing hot tungsten filament) produces which spectrum?

emission

absorption

continuous

16.

1 point

What is the primary purpose of an astronomical telescope?

to collect a large amount of light and bring it to a focus

to magnify and make distant objects look closer

to separate light into its various wavelengths

to measure the intensity of light very accurately

17.

1 point

Line broadening is caused by:

Magnetism.

Rotation.

All of these.

Atoms in thermal motion.

18.

1 point

If an object is moving toward you, what effect do you observe in the spectrum of that object?

All the spectral lines appear broadened.

The light appears to be moving faster.

It appears blue-shifted.

It appears red-shifted.

19.

1 point

Which statement best express the advantages of large telescopes over small ones?

Large telescopes are heavier and therefore more stable and accurate in pointing.

Large telescopes have a wider field of view and a sharper focus.

Large telescopes are easier to mount than small telescopes and they collect more light.

Large telescopes collect more light than small ones and they bring the light to a sharper focus.

20.

1 point

Refracting telescopes suffer from this type of defect. Light of different wavelengths is focused at different positions and focal points.

Diffraction limited

Seeing

Refraction

Chromatic aberration

21.

1 point

Colors are perceived differently by our eyes because of their different:

Magnetism.

Speeds.

Particles.

Wavelengths.

22.

1 point

A hydrogen atom consists of:

One electron orbiting a proton.

Three electrons orbiting a proton.

Two electrons orbiting a proton.

Any number of electrons in unspecified locations.

23.

1 point

What is the primary advantage of the Hubble Space Telescope over ground-based telescopes?

It is the largest telescope ever built.

Its instruments are more sophisticated than any on Earth.

Its mirror is the most perfect ever built.

It is above the atmosphere.

24.

1 point

Typical stellar spectra appear as:

a rainbow with no breaks

a rainbow with dark lines mixed in

a rainbow with bright lines mixed in

a series of bright, colored lines

25.

1 point

The frequency at which the intensity of a star's light peaks depends on the _____ of the star.

speed toward or away from the observer

magnetism

wavelength

temperature

26.

1 point

What is the name of the effect when an electromagnetic wave is bent as it passes from one material into another?

deflection

refraction

diffraction

reflection

27.

1 point

Other than at optical and radio wavelengths, most forms of electromagnetic radiation are best studied:

From elevated peaks on the Earth's surface.

During the day.

From space.

By photometers.

28.

1 point

For what is an interferometer used?

to decrease the effects of light pollution in the images

to decrease the effects of atmospheric seeing for optical telescopes

to increase the sensitivity of infrared telescopes

to improve the angular resolution of radio telescopes

29.

1 point

If you view a hot star through a cool cloud of gas, what sort of spectrum are you likely to see?

Absorption.

Emission.

Continuous

30.

1 point

A neon light (thin hot neon gas in a vacuum tube) produces which type of spectrum?

emission

absorption

continuous

31.

1 point

Which of the following types of visible light has the highest energy?

red

violet

green

yellow

32.

1 point

Two forms of electromagnetic radiation that penetrate Earth's atmosphere are:

X-rays and visible light.

Ultraviolet and infrared.

Gamma rays and radio waves.

Visible light and radio waves.

33.

1 point

You go to a physician who is also really into physics. If your body temperature is normal, his Kelvin thermometer should read:

375 K

343 K

310 K

298 K

34.

1 point

What does Wien's Law reveal?

White light consists of many different colors.

That the hotter the object, the bluer its radiation.

No known object can become hot enough to emit high-energy radiation.

The farther away we look in space, the deeper we are looking into the past.

35.

1 point

Which of the following statements is true regarding the Kelvin temperature scale?

Water freezes at 273 K.

The lowest possible temperature occurs at -273 K.

Water boils at 273 K.

Kelvins equal degrees Celsius plus 100.

36.

1 point

Why are most large telescopes reflectors, not refractors?

The lenses in refractors often crack.

Large lenses deform under their own weight, while large mirrors can be supported.

It takes too long to make refractors.