Question 1

Optical telescopes are usually used only at night,but radio telescopes can be used day or night.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Why doesn't the Hubble Space Telescope need adaptive optics?

Accepted Answer

Adaptive optics correct poor s...

Question 3

Based on their optical design,would an airline rather you bring your 8" Newtonian or Cassegrain to the next eclipse? Why?

Accepted Answer

Considering the restrictions o...

Question 4

In astronomy,an interferometer can be used to:

Accepted Answer

A)   yield better seeing conditions with optical telescopes.
B)   decrease the effects of light pollution in getting darker sky backgrounds.
C)   improve the angular resolution of radio telescopes.
D)   increase the sensitivity of infrared telescopes to longer wavelengths.
E)   speed up the processing of CCD images.F) C) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 5

Which of the following greatly improves the angular resolution of radio maps?

Accepted Answer

A)   Schmidt corrector plates
B)   more sensitive spectrometers
C)   switching from film to CCD imaging
D)   use of interferometers
E)   chilling the infrared detectorsF) C) and E)
G) B) and E)

Question 6

What type of telescope is the Hubble Space Telescope?

Accepted Answer

A)   refractor
B)   prime focus
C)   Newtonian
D)   Cassegrain
E)   Nasmyth/CoudeF) A) and D)
G) A) and E)

Question 7

Explain why the image seen in astronomical telescopes is inverted.

Accepted Answer

In both reflectors and refractors,the eyepiece must be located behind the prime focus,so the light reaching it has "flipped over" in passing through the focus.

Question 8

A major advantage of a Newtonian reflector over a refractor is:

Accepted Answer

A)   its compact size.
B)   the elimination of chromatic aberration.
C)   there are only two lenses to grind.
D)   the central hole in the mirror is smaller.
E)   the elimination of the secondary mirror.F) C) and D)
G) A) and E)

Question 9

What is a CCD,and how does it work? Why is it replacing film?

Accepted Answer

A charge coupled device consists of a gr...

Question 10

Galaxies look the same whether viewed in visible or X-ray wavelengths.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

The detectors on the Spitzer Space Telescope were cooled to near absolute zero in order to:

Accepted Answer

A)   allow the electronics in these instruments to operate most efficiently.
B)   keep the telescope more nearly stationary.
C)   prevent the infrared radiation from the instruments interfering with the infrared signals from space.
D)   improve the angular resolution of the telescope.E) None of the above
F) B) and C)

Question 12

Why do stars appear to twinkle?

Accepted Answer

In space,the light of the stars appears ...

Question 13

Green light has a shorter wavelength than orange light.In a 5-inch telescope,green light will:

Accepted Answer

A)   provide better angular resolution than orange light.
B)   come to the same exact focus as orange light.
C)   provide worse angular resolution than orange light.
D)   allow dimmer stars to be observed.
E)   reduce the effects of atmospheric turbulence.F) A) and B)
G) C) and E)

Question 14

What is the primary purpose of an astronomical telescope?

Accepted Answer

A)   to magnify and make distant objects appear closer
B)   to separate light into its component colors
C)   to measure the intensity of light very accurately
D)   to access wavelengths that we cannot see visually
E)   to collect a lot of light and bring it to a focusF) A) and E)
G) C) and E)

Question 15

Refractor telescopes suffer from this separation of light into its component colors.

Accepted Answer

A)   limited diffraction
B)   spherical aberration
C)   chromatic aberration
D)   bad seeing
E)   refractionF) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 16

Why is the image seen in astronomical telescope eyepieces inverted?

Accepted Answer

As the eyepiece must lie behin...

Question 17

The convex secondary mirror in this design focuses light down through a hole cut in the concave primary mirror.

Accepted Answer

A)   refractor
B)   prime focus reflector
C)   Newtonian reflector
D)   Cassegrain reflector
E)   interferometerF) A) and D)
G) A) and B)

Question 18

The amount of diffraction a telescope creates depends upon:

Accepted Answer

A)   whether the telescope is a refractor or a reflector.
B)   the wavelength and the diameter of the telescope objective.
C)   the magnification of the eyepiece.
D)   the types of glass used in the achromat.
E)   the transparency of the atmosphere.F) None of the above
G) C) and E) B

Question 19

Why is a complete image formed even if half of a lens or mirror is blocked?

Accepted Answer

While the image formed is only half as bright,each part of the objective "sees" and images the entire object.

Question 20

What is true of radio telescopes?

Accepted Answer

A)   They have poorer angular resolution than a refractor.
B)   They have better angular resolution than a reflector.
C)   They are the smallest, most compact telescopes.
D)   They can only be used above the atmosphere.
E)   They are most sensitive to the opacity of the ozone layer.F) D) and E)
G) A) and C)

Exam 5: Telescopes: The Tools of Astronomy

Optical telescopes are usually used only at night,but radio telescopes can be used day or night.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why doesn't the Hubble Space Telescope need adaptive optics?

Correct AnswerverifiedAdaptive optics correct poor s...View AnswerShow Answer

Based on their optical design,would an airline rather you bring your 8" Newtonian or Cassegrain to the next eclipse? Why?

Correct AnswerverifiedConsidering the restrictions o...View AnswerShow Answer

In astronomy,an interferometer can be used to:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following greatly improves the angular resolution of radio maps?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What type of telescope is the Hubble Space Telescope?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Explain why the image seen in astronomical telescopes is inverted.

Correct AnswerverifiedIn both reflectors and refractors,the eyepiece must be located behind the prime focus,so the light reaching it has "flipped over" in passing through the focus.

A major advantage of a Newtonian reflector over a refractor is:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is a CCD,and how does it work? Why is it replacing film?

Correct AnswerverifiedA charge coupled device consists of a gr...View AnswerShow Answer

Galaxies look the same whether viewed in visible or X-ray wavelengths.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The detectors on the Spitzer Space Telescope were cooled to near absolute zero in order to:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why do stars appear to twinkle?

Correct AnswerverifiedIn space,the light of the stars appears ...View AnswerShow Answer

Green light has a shorter wavelength than orange light.In a 5-inch telescope,green light will:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the primary purpose of an astronomical telescope?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Refractor telescopes suffer from this separation of light into its component colors.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why is the image seen in astronomical telescope eyepieces inverted?

Correct AnswerverifiedAs the eyepiece must lie behin...View AnswerShow Answer

The convex secondary mirror in this design focuses light down through a hole cut in the concave primary mirror.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The amount of diffraction a telescope creates depends upon:

Correct AnswerverifiedB

Why is a complete image formed even if half of a lens or mirror is blocked?

Correct AnswerverifiedWhile the image formed is only half as bright,each part of the objective "sees" and images the entire object.

What is true of radio telescopes?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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Adaptive optics correct poor s...
View Answer

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Considering the restrictions o...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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In both reflectors and refractors,the eyepiece must be located behind the prime focus,so the light reaching it has "flipped over" in passing through the focus.

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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A charge coupled device consists of a gr...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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In space,the light of the stars appears ...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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As the eyepiece must lie behin...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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B

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While the image formed is only half as bright,each part of the objective "sees" and images the entire object.

Correct Answer
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