Question 1

Given that the Moon has an angular diameter of about 0.5° and an average distance of about 380,000 km from Earth,calculate its actual diameter.(Hint: Recall the angular separation formula α = $ \frac{\mathrm{s}}{2 \pi \mathrm{d}} $ × 360°. )

Accepted Answer

We are given α = 0.5° and d = 380,000.Th...

Question 2

A radio telescope and an optical telescope of the same size have the same angular resolution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Process of Science: If any single test of a scientific hypothesis contradicts it,the hypothesis must be revised.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

The lens in your eye forms an upside-down image of the world.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

A larger telescope will always have a higher spectral resolution than a smaller telescope when observing at the same wavelength.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Draw and label a simple diagram of the following:
a.a refracting telescope
b.a reflecting telescope

Accepted Answer

Diagrams should look...

Question 7

X-rays from astronomical objects can only be detected from telescopes in space.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Which of the following is always true about images captured with X-ray telescopes?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are always very pretty.
B)  They are always displayed with the highest possible angular resolution.
C)  They are always useful for seeing through things.
D)  They are always displayed in false color.
E)  They are always displayed with north pointing upward in the images.F) C) and D)
G) D) and E)

Question 9

Which of the following statements best describes the two principle advantages of telescopes over eyes?

Accepted Answer

A)  Telescopes can collect far more light with far better angular resolution.
B)  Telescopes can collect far more light with far greater magnification.
C)  Telescopes collect more light and are unaffected by twinkling.
D)  Telescopes have much more magnification and better angular resolution.E) B) and C)
F) All of the above

Question 10

What is the angular resolution of the human eye?

Accepted Answer

A)  about 1 degree
B)  about 1 arcsecond (1/3600 of a degree) 
C)  about 1 arcminute,or 1/60 of a degree
D)  about 1 milliarcsecondE) A) and D)
F) C) and D)

Question 11

Improvements in technology will eventually allow the entire electromagnetic spectrum to be observed from high mountaintop observatories.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Suppose you have two small photographs of the Moon.Although both look the same at small size,when you blow them up to poster size one of them still looks sharp while the other one becomes fuzzy (grainy) looking.Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  The one that still looks sharp at large size has better (smaller) angular resolution than the one that looks fuzzy.
B)  The one that looks fuzzy at large size has better angular resolution (smaller) than the one that looks sharp.
C)  Both photographs have the same angular resolution,because they were both printed at the same sizes in each case.
D)  Both photographs have the same angular resolution,because they are both photographs of the same object.E) All of the above
F) B) and C)

Question 13

Which of the following could not be measured by an observation that uses only imaging?

Accepted Answer

A)  the rate at which a variable star brightens and dims
B)  the general shape of an interstellar cloud of gas
C)  the color of a planet
D)  the brightness of a star in our sky
E)  the number of bright stars in a nearby star clusterF) D) and E)
G) A) and E)

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the development of astronomical telescopes over the past 60 years?

Accepted Answer

A)  Over the 60-year period,telescopes have gradually gotten bigger and more powerful.
B)  Although there have been advances in cameras and computing power,telescopes themselves have not changed much in the last 60 years.
C)  The world's most powerful telescope remained the same for most of this period,but in the past 20 years many new and more powerful telescopes have been built.
D)  The only major change in telescope power has occurred because of our ability to launch telescopes into space rather than operating them only from the ground.E) None of the above
F) B) and C)

Question 15

Which of the following is not a reason why telescopes tend to be built on mountaintops that are relatively far from cities and are in regions with dry climates?

Accepted Answer

A)  The thin air on mountaintops makes the glass in telescope mirrors less susceptible to warping.
B)  Being on a high mountain top means being relatively high in the atmosphere,which tends to limit turbulence.
C)  Dry regions mean less rain and clouds,and mountaintops in dry regions may even allow some infrared observations.
D)  Mountaintops far from cities are generally subject to less light pollution than locations nearer to cities.E) A) and B)
F) None of the above

Question 16

Telescopes operating at this wavelength must be cooled to observe faint astronomical objects.

Accepted Answer

A)  radio
B)  extreme infrared
C)  visible
D)  X-ray
E)  gamma-rayF) C) and D)
G) B) and C)

Question 17

Which of the following is not a major reason why astronomers would like an observatory on the far side of the Moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  Telescopes on the Moon could see objects in all parts of the sky equally well,whereas telescopes on Earth can see only portions of the sky that depend on their latitude.
B)  Radio astronomy would be advantageous on the Moon because human radio transmissions are less likely to cause interference,especially on the far side of the Moon.
C)  It would be possible to put telescopes for ultraviolet and X-ray astronomy on the surface,unlike the case on the surface of the Earth.
D)  Telescopes on the Moon could observe stars even when it is daytime on the Moon.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 18

Professional astronomical telescopes generally have a much greater magnification than the telescopes you can buy in stores.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

What is a CCD?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is an electronic detector that can be used in place of photographic film for making images.
B)  It is an abbreviation for the world's largest operating telescope.
C)  It refers to any kind of instrument that can be hooked up to a telescope.
D)  It is a unit used by astronomers to measure angular resolution.E) A) and C)
F) A) and B)

Question 20

Process of Science: Explain how technology advances help address astronomical questions.

Accepted Answer

New technologies allow us to study objec...

Exam 6: Telescopes: Portals of Discovery

Which of the following is not a reason why telescopes tend to be built on mountaintops that are relatively far from cities and are in regions with dry climates?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Process of Science: If any single test of a scientific hypothesis contradicts it,the hypothesis must be revised.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following best describes the development of astronomical telescopes over the past 60 years?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following statements best describes the two principle advantages of telescopes over eyes?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Professional astronomical telescopes generally have a much greater magnification than the telescopes you can buy in stores.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following could not be measured by an observation that uses only imaging?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Given that the Moon has an angular diameter of about 0.5° and an average distance of about 380,000 km from Earth,calculate its actual diameter.(Hint: Recall the angular separation formula α = s2πd \frac{\mathrm{s}}{2 \pi \mathrm{d}} 2πds​ × 360°. )

Correct AnswerverifiedWe are given α = 0.5° and d = 380,000.Th...View AnswerShow Answer

Improvements in technology will eventually allow the entire electromagnetic spectrum to be observed from high mountaintop observatories.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

X-rays from astronomical objects can only be detected from telescopes in space.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Process of Science: Explain how technology advances help address astronomical questions.

Correct AnswerverifiedNew technologies allow us to study objec...View AnswerShow Answer

Suppose you have two small photographs of the Moon.Although both look the same at small size,when you blow them up to poster size one of them still looks sharp while the other one becomes fuzzy (grainy) looking.Which of the following statements is true?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Draw and label a simple diagram of the following: a.a refracting telescope b.a reflecting telescope

Correct AnswerverifiedDiagrams should look...View AnswerShow Answer

Which of the following is not a major reason why astronomers would like an observatory on the far side of the Moon?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Telescopes operating at this wavelength must be cooled to observe faint astronomical objects.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the angular resolution of the human eye?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is a CCD?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A radio telescope and an optical telescope of the same size have the same angular resolution.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is always true about images captured with X-ray telescopes?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The lens in your eye forms an upside-down image of the world.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A larger telescope will always have a higher spectral resolution than a smaller telescope when observing at the same wavelength.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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Given that the Moon has an angular diameter of about 0.5° and an average distance of about 380,000 km from Earth,calculate its actual diameter.(Hint: Recall the angular separation formula α = $\frac{\mathrm{s}}{2 \pi \mathrm{d}}$ × 360°. )

Correct Answer
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We are given α = 0.5° and d = 380,000.Th...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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New technologies allow us to study objec...
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Correct Answer
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Diagrams should look...
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