21st Century Astronomy The Solar System Fifth Edition by Kay - Palen - Test Bank

21st Century Astronomy The Solar System
Fifth Edition By Kay -Palen -Test Bank
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21st Century Astronomy The Solar System Fifth Edition
By Kay -Palen -Test Bank
Sample Test
Chapter 6: The Tools of the Astronomer

Learning Objectives
Define the bold-faced vocabulary terms within the chapter.

Multiple Choice: 3, 18, 30, 38, 39, 40
Short Answer: 16
6.1 The Optical Telescope Revolutionized Astronomy
Characterize why telescopes are important astronomical tools.
Multiple Choice: 1, 2
Illustrate the processes of reflection and refraction.
Multiple Choice: 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20
Short Answer: 4, 5, 11
Compare and contrast the design, construction, and optical characteristics of
reflecting and refracting telescopes.
Multiple Choice: 4, 5, 6, 17, 19
Short Answer: 1, 2, 7, 8, 10
Relate resolution to telescope design.
Multiple Choice: 21, 22, 23
Short Answer: 9, 12, 13, 14
Illustrate the effects of atmospheric seeing.
Short Answer: 3, 6
Assess what makes a good location for a telescope on Earth.
6.2 Optical Detectors and Instruments Used with Telescopes
Relate the optical properties of the human eye to film or a CCD camera.
Multiple Choice: 24, 28, 35, 36
Short Answer: 15, 18
Explain why photographic plates and CCD cameras are important tools of
astronomy.
Multiple Choice: 25, 26, 27, 33, 34, 42
Distinguish between imaging and spectroscopy.
6.3 Astronomers Observe in Wavelengths Beyond the Visible
Explain when and why it is advantageous or necessary to place telescopes in
space.
Compare and contrast the practical utility of observing on the ground and from
space for different wavelengths.
Summarize the challenges and simplifications of observing in wavelengths
other than optical.
Multiple Choice: 37, 46, 47, 50
Short Answer: 24
6.4 Planetary Spacecraft Explore the Solar System
Summarize reasons why spacecraft are needed to explore the solar system.
Evaluate the cost and benefit of different kinds of spacecraft (flyby, orbiter,
lander, probe).
6.5 Other Astronomical Tools Contribute to the Study of the Universe
Establish why other tools (particle accelerators and detectors,
supercomputers) are important to astronomy.
Multiple Choice: 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61
Working It Out 6.1
Compute the magnification and light-collecting areas of different optical
systems.
Short Answer: 29
Working It Out 6.2
Compute the diffraction limits of different optical systems.
Multiple Choice: 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70
Short Answer: 30
MULTIPLE CHOICE
The telescope was invented by
Galileo Galilei, an Italian inventor.
Hans Lippershey, an eyeglass maker in the Netherlands.
Gote Reber, a German cabinetmaker.
Tycho Brahe, a Danish astronomer.
Johannes Kepler, a German mathematician.
ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Section 6.1
MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Characterize why telescopes are important astronomical tools.
Which of the following was not discovered by Galileo using a telescope?
The Moon has a heavily cratered surface.
Jupiter has four moons that orbit around it.
Mars has a polar ice cap similar to Earth.
The planet Venus goes through phases similar to those of the Moon.
The Milky Way is a collection of countless numbers of individual stars.
ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Section 6.1
MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Characterize why telescopes are important astronomical tools.
The aperture of a telescope is which of the following?
the length of the telescope
the diameter of the telescope tube
the diameter of the primary lens/mirror
the radius of the primary lens/mirror
the diameter of the secondary mirror
MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Define the bold-faced vocabulary terms within the chapter.
Why can a compound lens combat a refracting telescope’s chromatic
aberration?
Red light is absorbed by a larger amount than blue light.
Red light is refracted by a larger amount than blue light, and different types of
glass have different indexes of refraction.
Blue light is refracted by a larger amount than red light, and different types of
glass have different indexes of refraction.
Blue light is absorbed by a larger amount than red light.
A compound lens cannot combat chromatic aberration.
ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Section 6.1
MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Compare and contrast the design, construction, and optical
characteristics of reflecting and refracting telescopes.
One reason to prefer a reflecting over a refracting telescope is
its lack of chromatic aberration.
its shorter length for the same aperture size.
its lack of an aperture limit.
its lighter weight for larger apertures.
all of the above
ANS: E DIF: Easy REF: Section 6.1
MSC: Remembering
Large reflecting telescopes have mirrors that are _________ in shape.
spherical
parabolic
convex
hyperbolic
cylindrical
MSC: Remembering
A beam of light passes from air to water at an incident angle of 40°, relative to
a plane perpendicular to the boundary between the two. At what angle will it
emerge into the water, relative to a plane perpendicular to the boundary?
less than 40°
exactly 40°
more than 40°
The beam of light does not emerge from the water.
There is not enough information to answer the question.
ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Section 6.1
MSC: Applying
OBJ: Illustrate the processes of reflection and refraction.
Which of the following phenomena is shown in the figure below?
reflection
refraction
magnification
diffraction
interference
MSC: Applying
reflection
refraction
magnification
diffraction
interference
MSC: Applying
The angular resolution of a ground-based telescope (without adaptive optics)
is typically
30 arcseconds (arcsec).
1 arcminutes (arcmin).
10 arcsec.
1 arcsec.
30 arcmin.
ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Section 6.1
MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Illustrate the effects of atmospheric seeing.
Cameras that use adaptive optics provide higher spatial resolution images
primarily because
they operate above Earth’s atmosphere.
they capture infrared light, which has a longer wavelength than visible light.
deformable mirrors are used to correct the blurring due to Earth’s atmosphere.
composite lenses correct for chromatic aberration.
they simulate a much larger telescope.
MSC: Understanding
According to the law of reflection, if a beam of light strikes a flat mirror at an
angle of 30° relative to a plane perpendicular to the surface of the mirror, at
what angle will it reflect, relative to a plane perpendicular to the surface of the
mirror?
0°
30°
60°
90°
120°
ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Section 6.1
MSC: Applying
A prism is able to spread white light out into a spectrum of colors based on the
property of
reflection.
refraction.
magnification.
resolution.
aberration.
MSC: Understanding
reflection
chromatic aberration
diffraction
magnification
interference
MSC: Applying
Chromatic aberration results from
blue light being reflected more than red light.
red light being reflected more than blue light.
red light being refracted more than blue light.
blue light being refracted more than red light.
a lens being polished incorrectly.
ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Section 6.1
MSC: Understanding
As a beam of light travels from one medium to another, the change in
direction of the beam of light depends on
the wavelength of the light.
the index of refraction of the outgoing medium.
the index of refraction of the incoming medium.
the angle of incidence.
all of the above
ANS: E DIF: Medium REF: Section 6.1
MSC: Understanding
Why do reflecting telescopes usually have a secondary mirror in addition to a
primary mirror?
to increase the light-gathering power
to make the telescope shorter
to increase the magnification
to increase the focal length
to combat chromatic aberration
MSC: Understanding
The aperture of a telescope partially or totally determines its
focal length and magnification.
light-gathering power.
focal length.
light-gathering power and magnification.
light-gathering power and diffraction limit.
MSC: Remembering
An object sits infinitely far away from a parabolic mirror. At what distance from
the mirror will its image be created?
It will be imaged at half the focal length.
It will be imaged at the focal length.
It will be imaged at twice the focal length.
No image will be created (the beams would be reflected parallel to each
other).
The image is created on the other side of the mirror.
ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Section 6.1
MSC: Applying
Which property of light is responsible for chromatic aberration?
reflection
interference
dispersion
diffraction
magnification
MSC: Remembering
How does the resolution of a telescope depend on its focal length?
The longer the focal length, the better the resolution.
The longer the focal length, the worse the resolution.
There is no relation between resolution and focal length.
MSC: Applying
OBJ: Relate resolution to telescope design.
In practice, the smallest angular size that one can resolve with a 10-inch
telescope is governed by the
blurring caused by Earth’s atmosphere.
diffraction limit of the telescope.
size of the primary mirror.
motion of the night sky.
magnification of the telescope.
ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Section 6.1
MSC: Remembering
The 305-meter (-m) Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico has a resolution
that is closest to that of
the Hubble Space Telescope (0.1 arcsec).
a human eye (1 arcmin).
the Chandra X-ray telescope (0.5 arcsec).
a 1-m optical telescope (1 arcsec).
one of the 10-m Keck telescopes (0.0133 arcsec)
MSC: Remembering
What part(s) of the human eye is responsible for detecting light?
cornea
lens
pupil
rods and cones
iris
MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Relate the optical properties of the human eye to film or a CCD camera.
Before charge-coupled devices (CCDs) were invented, what was the device
most commonly used for imaging with optical telescopes?
Polaroid cameras
photographic glass plates
35-mm film
high-speed film
video cameras
MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Explain why photographic plates and CCD cameras are important tools
of astronomy.
The major advantage CCDs have over other imaging techniques is that
they have a higher quantum efficiency.
they have a linear response to light.
they yield output in digital format.
they operate at visible and near-infrared wavelengths.
all of the above
MSC: Applying
of astronomy.
Why do astronomers use monochromatic CCDs instead of color CCDs like
your cell phone does?
Color CCDs have a smaller angular resolution.
They don’t make color CCDs large enough.
Monochromatic CCDs last longer.
Monochromatic CCDs have smaller angular resolution.
MSC: Understanding
of astronomy.
Why can you see fainter stars with an 8-inch telescope than you can see with
your naked eye?
The telescope collects light over a larger area.
The telescope magnifies the field of view.
The telescope collects light over a wider range of wavelengths than your eye.
The telescope has a wider field of view.
The telescope has a longer integration time than your eyes.
MSC: Understanding
A diffraction grating is
a filter for imaging.
typically made from glass with many closely spaced lines engraved in it.
a prism.
a grism.
a spectrograph.
MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Distinguish between imaging and spectroscopy.
A spectrograph is
a device used for imaging.
typically made from glass with many closely spaced lines engraved in it.
a device used to measure the intensity of light at each wavelength.
a radio telescope.
a visible-light telescope.
MSC: Remembering
Most modern spectrographs use a _________ to disperse the light from an
object.
spherical mirror
lens
glass prism
diffraction grating
parabolic mirror
MSC: Remembering
What property of light allows a grating to disperse the light from an object into
a spectrum?
interference
reflection
refraction
aberration
magnification
ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: Section 6.2
MSC: Understanding
Photography provides an improvement over naked-eye observations because
it is possible to observe a larger field of view with photographic plates.
the quantum efficiency is higher for photographic plates.
the image resolution is much better for photographic plates.
it is possible to detect fainter objects with the use of photographic plates.
the integration time is much shorter with the use of photographic plates.
MSC: Understanding
of astronomy.
You are observing the Andromeda Galaxy using both photographic plates and
a CCD. If you double the exposure time for both detectors, you
double the amount of light collected on both the photographic plate and the
CCD.
double the amount of light collected on the only.
double the amount of light collected on the photographic plate, but the CCD
collects less.
double the amount of light collected on the photographic plate, but the CCD
collects more.
collect less than twice the amount of light on both the photographic plate and
the CCD.
MSC: Understanding
of astronomy.
If we could increase the quantum efficiency of the human eye, it would
allow humans to see a larger range of wavelengths.
allow humans to see better at night or other low-light conditions.
increase the resolution of the human eye.
decrease the resolution of the human eye.
not make a difference in the sight of the human eye.
MSC: Understanding
Typically, video is shot using 24 to 30 frames per second (one frame each 33
to 42 ms). If a filmmaker shot new experimental video at 100 frames per
second (one frame each 10 ms), how would it look during playback to the
human eye if played at 100 frames per second?
It would look like the video was being fast-forwarded.
It would look like the video was about the same as normal video.
It would look like the video was being played back in slow motion.
It would look like a slideshow, a series of pictures on the screen each for a
perceptible amount of time.
It would look like the video was about the same speed as normal video, but
blurry.
MSC: Understanding
Arrays of radio telescopes can produce much better resolution than single-
dish telescopes because they work based on the principle of
reflection.
refraction.
dispersion.
diffraction.
interference.
MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Summarize the challenges and simplifications of observing in
wavelengths other than optical.,
An atmospheric window is
a giant glass dome.
a region of the electromagnet spectrum that can reach the ground.
a region of the electromagnet spectrum that cannot reach the ground.
ultraviolet.
X-rays.
MSC: Remembering
The Jansky is a unit used to measure the strength of which type of source?
X-ray
ultraviolet
visible
infrared
radio
MSC: Remembering
An interferometer requires a minimum of how many telescopes?
1
2
3
4
10
MSC: Remembering
Which of the following is the best location for an infrared telescope on the
ground?
at sea level
300 ft above sea level
10,000 ft above sea level
MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Explain when and why it is advantageous or necessary to place
telescopes in space.
The first astronomical detector was
the CCD.
photoelectric tubes.
the human eye.
photographic plates.
35-mm film.
MSC: Remembering
of astronomy.
You hear a news story about an X-ray telescope being built on Earth. You
know this can’t be possible because
X-rays do not travel very far through Earth’s atmosphere.
X-ray telescopes are impossible to build.
X-ray telescopes would receive too much interference from hospitals.
it would cost too much money.
MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Compare and contrast the practical utility of observing on the ground
and from space for different wavelengths.
Astronomers can use ground-based telescopes to observe in the majority of
which of the following parts of the electromagnetic spectrum?
visible and infrared
visible and ultraviolet
visible and radio
visible, ultraviolet, and infrared
visible, infrared, and radio
MSC: Remembering
Water vapor in Earth’s atmosphere primarily absorbs which type of photons?
radio
infrared
visible
ultraviolet
X-ray
MSC: Remembering
NASA’s Kuiper Airborne Observatory and the Stratospheric Observatory for
Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) are two examples of telescopes placed in high-
flying aircraft. Why would astronomers put telescopes in airplanes?
to get the telescopes closer to the stars
to get the telescopes away from the light-pollution of cities
to get the telescopes above the majority of the water vapor in Earth’s
atmosphere
to be able to observe one object for more than 24 hours without stopping
to allow the telescopes to observe the full spectrum of light
MSC: Understanding
wavelengths other than optical.
Which of the following is the biggest disadvantage of putting a telescope in
space?
Astronomers don’t have as much control in choosing what to observe.
Astronomers have to wait until the telescopes come back to Earth to get their
images.
Space telescopes can only observe in certain parts of the electromagnetic
spectrum.
Space telescopes don’t last long before they fall back to Earth.
Space telescopes are much more expensive than similar ground-based
telescopes.
MSC: Understanding
Which of the following is not a reason to put a telescope in space?
to observe at wavelengths blocked by Earth’s atmosphere
to avoid light-pollution on Earth
to avoid weather on Earth
to avoid atmospheric distortion
to get closer to the stars
MSC: Understanding
Ultraviolet radiation with wavelengths shorter than about 200 nm are hard to
observe primarily because
Earth’s atmosphere easily absorbs it.
no space-based telescopes operate at ultraviolet wavelengths.
only the lowest mass stars emit ultraviolet light.
very few objects emit at ultraviolet wavelengths.
Earth emits too much ultraviolet background light.
MSC: Remembering
The first astronomical radio source ever observed was
the Andromeda Galaxy.
the galactic center, in the constellation Sagittarius.
thunderstorms.
Earth.
Jupiter.
MSC: Remembering
Samples of which celestial object(s) have been brought back to Earth to be
studied in detail?
a comet
the solar wind
an asteroid
the Moon
all of the above
MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Evaluate the cost and benefit of different kinds of spacecraft (flyby,
orbiter, lander, probe).
Remote sensing instruments have been used to
map surfaces hidden beneath thick atmospheres.
measure the composition of atmospheres.
identify geological features.
watch weather patterns develop.
all of the above
MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Summarize reasons why spacecraft are needed to explore the solar
system.
The Voyager 1 spacecraft is currently 18 billion km from Earth and heading
out of our Solar System. How long does it take radio messages from Voyager
1 to reach us?
1.7 days
17 hours
17 days
17 weeks
17 minutes
MSC: Applying
system.
Landers, rovers, and/or atmospheric probes have visited which object(s) listed
below in an effort to gain new information about our Solar System?
Jupiter
Titan, Saturn’s moon
Mars
Eros, an asteroid
all of the above
MSC: Remembering
In 2008, the Cassini spacecraft made a flyby of Enceladus, one of the icy
moons of Saturn. If the spacecraft’s high-resolution camera had an angular
resolution of 3 arcsec and it flew at an altitude of 23 km above Enceladus’s
surface, how large an object could be resolved on the surface?
3m
30 cm
30 km
5 cm
50 m
MSC: Applying
system.
Particle accelerators that smash atoms or particles together at high speeds,
such as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), are important tools used for
simulating conditions in
the early universe.
the solar wind.
red giants.
brown dwarf stars.
planetary nebula.
MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Establish why other tools (particle accelerators and detectors,
Which of the following cannot be directly detected using a telescope?
X-rays
visible light
infrared light
neutrinos
ultraviolet light
MSC: Remembering
What type of waves have not yet been directly detected by astronomers?
sound waves
gravitational waves
X-ray waves
gamma-ray waves
pressure waves
MSC: Remembering
Telescopes and satellites such as Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE),
Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), and Planck are designed to
detect microwave radiation emitted by
galaxies.
black holes.
planets.
the Big Bang.
stars.
MSC: Remembering
High-speed computers have become one of an astronomer’s most important
tools. Which of the following does not require the use of a high-speed
computer?
analyzing images taken with very large CCDs
generating and testing theoretical models
moving a telescope from object to object
studying the evolution of astronomical objects or systems over time
correcting for atmospheric distortion
MSC: Understanding
Neutrino detectors typically capture one out of every _________ neutrinos
that pass through them.
10
106 (one million)
109 (one billion)
1012 (one trillion)
1022 (10 billion trillion)
ANS: E DIF: Difficult REF: Section 6.5
MSC: Remembering
The magnification of a telescope depends on the focal length of the telescope
and
the size of the aperture.
the type of telescope (refracting vs. reflecting).
the wavelengths being observed.
the focal length of the eyepiece.
the angular resolution of the telescope.
ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Working It Out 6.1
MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Compute the magnification and light-collecting areas of different optical
systems.
Which telescope would collect 100 times more light than a 1-m telescope?
100-m telescope
80-m telescope
50-m telescope
30-m telescope
10-m telescope
ANS: E DIF: Medium REF: Working It Out 6.1
MSC: Applying
systems.
When we determine the angular resolution of an interferometric array of radio
telescopes using the formula θ ∝ λ/D, the variable D stands for the
diameter of the telescopes.
separation between the telescopes.
magnification of the telescopes.
number of telescopes.
focal length of the telescopes.
ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Working It Out 6.2
MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Compute the diffraction limits of different optical systems.
reflection
chromatic aberration
refraction
magnification
interference
ANS: C DIF: Medium REF: Working It Out 6.2
MSC: Understanding
The diffraction limit of a 4-m telescope is _________ than that of a 2-m
telescope.
two times larger
four times larger
four times smaller
two times smaller
It depends on the type of telescope.
ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: Working It Out 6.2
MSC: Applying
Grote Reber conducted the first radio survey of the sky in the 1930s and
1940s with his 9-m-diameter radio telescope. Why did his telescope need to
be so large?
He needed a large light-collecting area because radio sources are notoriously
dim.
He needed better angular resolution to identify sources because radio waves
are so long.
He needed a higher magnification to identify sources because radio sources
are quite small.
He needed a longer focal length because radio sources are so far away.
He needed a shorter focal length because radio sources are so far away.
ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: Working It Out 6.2
MSC: Applying
The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) project’s Allen Telescope
Array will have 350 radio dishes, each with an individual diameter of 6 m,
spread out over a circle whose diameter is 1 km. What would this array’s
spatial resolution be when it operates at 6,000 MHz?
10 arcsec
0.10 arcsec
1 arcsec
10 arcmin
1.0 arcmin
ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Working It Out 6.2
MSC: Applying
The two Keck 10-m telescopes, separated by a distance of 85 m, can operate
as an optical interferometer. What is its resolution when it observes in the
infrared at a wavelength of 2 microns?
0.01 arcsec
0.005 arcsec
0.4 arcsec
0.06 arcsec
0.2 arcsec
ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Working It Out 6.2
MSC: Applying
The angular resolution of the largest single-dish radio telescope in the United
States, the 100-m Green Bank Telescope, is _________ when it operates at a
wavelength of 20 cm.
41 arcmin
6.8 arcmin
4.1 arcmin
6.8 arcsec
4.1 arcsec
ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Working It Out 6.2
MSC: Applying
SHORT ANSWER
Explain why the largest telescopes are not refracting telescopes.
ANS: The larger the refracting telescope, the heavier the lens. If the lens is
too massive, it will sag under the force of gravity and the image will be
distorted.
DIF: Easy REF: Section 6.1 MSC: Understanding
Why do reflecting telescopes use curved mirrors instead of flat mirrors?
ANS: The purpose of a telescope is to redirect parallel beams of light from a
distant object to converge at a point. A flat mirror would simply redirect them
all at the same angle; therefore, they would still travel parallel to each other. A
curved mirror reflects the different rays through different angles, so that they
all converge at a common focal point.
DIF: Easy REF: Section 6.1
MSC: Understanding
Explain why stars twinkle when viewed from the ground. Would they twinkle if
they were viewed from outer space?
ANS: Slight differences in air temperature cause density differences in the air
which change optical densities. This causes light to refract slightly as it passes
through different temperature regions. Atmospheric turbulence causes these
regions to move over time, so two different beams of light will take slightly
different paths over time. This causes a shimmering of objects viewed through
Earth’s atmosphere. For telescopes like the Hubble Space Telescope, which
lie above Earth’s atmosphere, this does not occur.
When a ray of light passes from vacuum into a material, what is the speed of
light inside the material?
ANS: The speed of light in vacuum is always c. However, in a medium it is
always lower by v = c/n, where n is the index of refraction of the material,
and v is the speed of light in the medium.
DIF: Easy REF: Section 6.1 MSC: Remembering
A ray of light is incident on a flat mirror at an angle of 15° degrees from the
vertical, what is the angle of reflection, so the angle of reflection is also 15
degrees from the vertical.
ANS: The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
MSC: Remembering
Explain how adaptive optics help compensate for atmospheric seeing.
ANS: Slight perturbances in the atmosphere can degrade the resolution of an
image. Adaptive optics can measure these perturbances and correct for them
before the light is imaged by bouncing it off a deformable mirror.
DIF: Medium REF: Section 6.1 MSC: Understanding
Explain why chromatic aberration is a problem for refracting lenses but not for
reflecting mirrors.
ANS: Chromatic aberration occurs because refractors suffer dispersion
caused the fact that the index of refraction of the lens depends on the
wavelength of light going through it. As a result, different wavelengths of light
will focus at different distances from a lens. Because the law of reflection
holds for any wavelength, mirrors focus all wavelengths of light to the same
focal point.
DIF: Medium REF: Section 6.1
MSC: Understanding
Label the eyepiece, lens, focus, and focal length of the telescope shown in the
figure below.
ANS: This telescope is a refracting telescope. A student should label the
eyepiece as the lens near the eye, the focus at the point where the light rays
cross, the lens as the piece that initially bends the light from the stars, and the
focal length as the distance between the lens and the focus.
MSC: Remembering
In what way are Arecibo and the human eye similar?
ANS: They are similar because both gather electromagnetic energy, and they
both have similar angular resolutions.
MSC: Remembering
Label the eyepiece, primary mirror, secondary mirror, focus, and focal length
of the telescope shown in the figure below.
ANS: This telescope is a reflecting telescope. A student should label the
eyepiece as the lens near the eye, the focus at the point where the light rays
cross, the primary mirror as the curved piece that initially reflects the light from
the stars, the secondary mirror as the flat piece that reflects the light from the
primary mirror to the eyepiece, and the focal length as the distance between
the primary mirror and the focus. (NOTE: In this case, the focal length is not
measured in a straight line!)
DIF: Difficult REF: Section 6.1
MSC: Remembering
Explain what happens when white light is refracted by a prism.
ANS: When white light is refracted by a prism, the path of the light is bent,
twice. The amount of this bending (angle of refraction) is determined by (1)
the index of refraction of the prism’s material, (2) the angle of incidence, and
(3) the wavelength of the light (blue light is refracted more than red light in the
same medium).
DIF: Difficult REF: Section 6.1 MSC: Understanding
In 2009, the Cassini spacecraft made repeated orbits around Titan, Saturn’s
largest moon. If this spacecraft orbited at an altitude of 1,000 km above
Titan’s surface and its high-resolution camera had an angular resolution of 3
arcsec, how large an object could be resolved on Titan’s surface?
ANS: The small angle approximation says θ = 206,265 arcsec × D/d, where θ
is the angular resolution of the camera, D is the diameter of the smallest
resolvable surface feature on Titan, and d is the altitude of the spacecraft.
Therefore, the smallest resolvable surface feature on Titan is D = (θ/206,265
arcsec) × d = (3 arcsec/206,265 arcsec) × 106 m = 15 m.
DIF: Difficult REF: Section 6.1 MSC: Applying
Calculate the resolution of an interferometric array consisting of five 10-m
radio telescopes, each located 1,000 m apart from each other and observing a
distant object at a wavelength of 21 cm.
ANS: θ = 2.06 × 105 × (l/D), where l = wavelength and D = dish separation. θ =
2.06 × 105 × (0.21 m/ 1000 m) arcsec = 43 arcsec.
What is the angular resolution of a 1-m, ground-based, optical telescope that
observes at a wavelength of 600 nm compared to that of a 300-ft, single-dish
radio telescope that observes at a wavelength of 21 cm?
ANS: The angular resolution of the 1-m, ground-based telescope is limited by
the atmosphere to be approximately 1 arcsec. The angular resolution of the
radio dish is given by its diffraction limit, which is θ = 2.06 × 105 × (21 cm/[300
× 12 in × 2.54 cm/1 in.]) arcsec = 473 arcsec. Therefore, the angular
resolution of the optical telescope is about 500 times smaller than that of the
radio telescope.
Explain three major advantages of CCDs over other imaging techniques.
ANS: These are possible answers: (1) they have much higher quantum
efficiency (~80 percent); (2) their photometric response is linearly proportional
to the number of photons they collect; (3) they yield output in digital format; (4)
they cover a wide spectral range (optical through near-infrared).
DIF: Easy REF: Section 6.2 MSC: Remembering
What is quantum efficiency?
ANS: Quantum efficiency determines how many responses occur for each
photon received. A larger response to a photon means that a detector is more
sensitive and can see fainter sources of light.
MSC: Remembering
When you look at the side of a CD where the data are stored, why do you
observe a rainbow?
ANS: The closely spaced tracks of the CD act like a diffraction grating and
disperse the light into its spectrum.
MSC: Remembering
Why is it difficult to view low-surface-brightness, such as the Andromeda
Galaxy, with the naked eye? Does the view improve with the use of a
telescope? What is needed to get a bright, clear view of the Andromeda
Galaxy, as commonly seen in pictures?
ANS: The human eye has a low integration time. Using a telescope may
increase the light-collecting area, but low surface brightness objects will still
look dim. In order to get bright, clear images of such objects, photographic
plates or CCDs must be used. With these detectors, the integration time can
be increased, allowing more light to be collected for one image.
Explain how a spectrograph works.
ANS: A spectrograph takes light from a telescope and disperses it into its
constituent wavelengths with a prism or grating. The resulting spectrum is
recorded (modern spectrographs use a CCD).
Explain the difference between dispersion and diffraction. How can both
phenomena be used to create a spectrum?
ANS: Dispersion is the wavelength dependence in refraction. Because blue
light refracts more than red light, any white light that is refracted through a
medium is dispersed into its spectral colors. Diffraction is distortion of a
wavefront as it passes the edge of an opaque object. This is also wavelength
dependent and can create a spectrum as white light passes through a pair of
(or many) narrow slits. The resulting pattern is a mix of constructive and
destructive interference patterns. Each wavelength will have its first maxima at
a different location along the viewing screen, therefore showing a full
spectrum.
DIF: Difficult REF: Section 6.2 MSC: Understanding
Where is the best place to put a ground-based optical telescope? Discuss the
reasons for your selection.
ANS: Mountaintops away from cities and in dry climates. This location gets
your telescope away from light-pollution, as high above the atmosphere and
water vapor as Earth’s surface can get. Also, finding a location that fits these
requirements near the equator means you will be able to view the entire sky
over the course of the year.
MSC: Understanding
Name two reasons why astronomers might use a space telescope over a
ground-based telescope.
ANS: (1) To observe at wavelengths other than visible and radio waves; (2) to
avoid dealing with atmospheric distortion; (3) to avoid light-pollution on Earth;
(4) to avoid weather on Earth.
DIF: Medium REF: Section 6.3 MSC: Remembering
Why don’t astronomers put all telescopes in space?
ANS: Building and launching a telescope into space is much more costly than
building one on Earth. Also, the majority of space-based telescopes cannot be
repaired when something breaks or updated as new technology becomes
available.
Why does combining the light from smaller telescopes give observation
results comparable to those of a single large telescope with a diameter equal
to the separation of the two smaller telescopes?
ANS: An interferometric array will have the same angular resolution as a
single-dish telescope with a diameter equal to the baseline separation of the
individual telescopes in the interferometric array. However, it does not have
the same light gathering power as a single larger telescope.
Discuss two advantages of flyby missions over orbiters in exploring planets
and moons in the solar system.
ANS: First, flyby missions are relatively inexpensive and are the easiest
missions to design and execute. Second, they can visit several different
planets and moons during their travels. DIF: Easy REF: Section 6.4
MSC: Remembering
What are some advantages and disadvantages of using landers to explore the
solar system?
ANS: Advantages are many. Landers allow us to study things that remote
sensing cannot, for example, the composition of surfaces and the
atmosphere. Some disadvantage are the cost, limited landing sites, and the
applicability of the mission results limited to the landing site. It is impossible to
study the planet or moon on a large scale.
DIF: Medium REF: Section 6.4 MSC: Remembering
What are gravitational waves? Have astronomers been able to detect them
yet?
ANS: Gravitational waves are disturbances in a gravitational field.
Astronomers have yet to detect them but have strong theoretical evidence that
suggests they exist.
Discuss two tools that modern astronomers use to explore the cosmos that
are different from traditional optical telescopes and give an example of how
and why each is used.
ANS: These are possible answers: (1) radio telescopes— to record radio
waves and, in interferometric arrays, to increase spatial resolution compared
to single-dish radio telescopes; (2) adaptive optics—to obtain higher spatial
resolution images by correcting for the blurring due to Earth’s atmosphere; (3)
space-based telescopes—placed in orbit around Earth, provide high spatial
resolution images because they are outside the blurring effects of Earth’s
atmosphere; (4) airborne or high-flying observatories—can go outside Earth’s
atmosphere and detect wavelengths of light such as infrared or microwave,
which are absorbed by molecules in Earth’s atmosphere and do not reach the
ground; (5) spacecraft—orbiters and landers can provide images with much
better spatial resolution than Earth-based observations, and landers can
physically probe the conditions on a planet’s or moon’s surface; (6) particle
accelerators—smash atoms or particles together with high energy in order to
explore their constituents and probe physical conditions similar to those of the
early universe; (7) neutrino detectors—used to probe neutrinos emitted by
astronomical objects, including the Sun; (8) gravitational wave detectors—
measure gravitational waves in order to study changing gravitational fields
such as those produced by merging binary stars; (9) high-speed computers—
used to make predictions of complex physical processes, such as star
formation or the evolution of the universe, that can be compared with
observations to test theories.
MSC: Remembering
How much larger is the light-gathering power of a 10-inch telescope than the
human eye?
ANS: Light-gathering power is proportional to the area of the aperture, which
is proportional to the square of the diameter of the aperture. Thus, the light-
gathering power of a 10-inch telescope is X times greater than your eye,
where X = (10 in. × 2.54 cm/1 in.)2/(6 mm)2 = 645.
DIF: Easy REF: Working It Out 6.1
MSC: Applying
systems.
What is the diffraction limit of a 4-m telescope observing at a wavelength of
650 nm?
ANS: θ = 2.06 × 105 × (6.50 × 107 m/4m) arcsec = 0.033 arcsec.
DIF: Difficult REF: Working It Out 6.2 MSC: Applying

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