Earth Science, 13e (Tarbuck)

Chapter 23 Light, Astronomical Observations, and the Sun

1) Which of the following is NOT considered a form of electromagnetic radiation?
A) radio waves
B) gravity
C) gamma rays
D) visible light
E) x-rays
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.1 Signals from Space
Bloom's: Remembering
2) Which of the following colors has the longest wavelength?
A) blue
B) violet
C) green
D) red
E) orange
Answer: D
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.1 Signals from Space
Bloom's: Remembering
3) The study of spectroscopy was begun by ________.
A) Albert Einstein
B) Sir Isaac Newton
C) Galileo
D) George Hale
E) Niels Bohr
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.1 Signals from Space
Bloom's: Remembering
4) The type of spectrum produced by a common light bulb is a ________.
A) continuous spectrum
B) dark-line (absorption) spectrum
C) bright-line (emission) spectrum
D) all of the above
E) none of the above
Answer: A
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.1 Signals from Space
Bloom's: Remembering
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5) The spectra of most stars are of this type.

A) continuous spectrum
B) dark-line (absorption) spectrum
C) bright-line (emission) spectrum
D) all of the above
E) none of the above
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.1 Signals from Space
Bloom's: Remembering
6) As the temperature of a radiating surface is increased ________.
A) the total amount of energy emitted increases
B) a larger portion of the energy is radiated at longer wavelengths
C) a larger portion of the energy is radiated at shorter wavelengths
D) both A and B
E) both A and C
Answer: E
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.1 Signals from Space
Bloom's: Remembering
7) To determine whether a celestial body is approaching or receding from Earth, astronomers
employ ________.
A) the Stefan-Boltzmann law
B) Einstein's equation
C) the Doppler principle
D) high speed radar
E) telescopic imaging
Answer: C
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.1 Signals from Space
Bloom's: Remembering
8) The first person to use a telescope for astronomical observations was ________.
A) Albert Einstein
B) Sir Isaac Newton
C) Galileo
D) George Hale
E) Niels Bohr
Answer: C
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Remembering

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9) The problems encountered with lenses caused this scientist to build reflecting telescopes of his
own design.
A) Albert Einstein
B) Sir Isaac Newton
C) Galileo
D) George Hale
E) Niels Bohr
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.1 Signals from Space
Bloom's: Remembering
10) Because lenses act like a prism to separate the colors of the spectrum, they produce a
troublesome effect known as ________.
A) focal distortion
B) the atmospheric effect
C) chromatic aberration
D) poor seeing
E) light dispersion
Answer: C
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.1 Signals from Space
Bloom's: Remembering
11) Nearly all large optical telescopes built today are ________.
A) reflectors
B) refractors
C) radio
Answer: A
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.1 Signals from Space
Bloom's: Remembering
12) Which of the following is NOT an advantage that radio telescopes have over optical
telescopes?
A) They are less affected by the conditions of the atmosphere.
B) They are generally less expensive.
C) They can operate 24 hours a day.
D) They have better resolution.
E) They can "see" through interstellar dust clouds.
Answer: D
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.4 Light Collection and Detection
Bloom's: Remembering

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13) The layer of the Sun that radiates most of the light that reaches Earth is called the ________.
A) ionosphere
B) corona
C) photosphere
D) chromosphere
E) megasphere
Answer: C
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Remembering
14) The layer of the solar atmosphere directly above the photosphere is referred to as the
________.
A) ionosphere
B) corona
C) chromosphere
D) solarsphere
E) megasphere
Answer: C
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Remembering
15) The outermost layer of the Sun is called the ________.
A) ionosphere
B) corona
C) photosphere
D) chromosphere
E) megasphere
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Remembering
16) The most explosive events to occur on the Sun are ________.
A) umbras
B) solar flares
C) sunspots
D) filaments
E) solar winds
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Remembering

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17) The source of the Sun's energy is ________.

A) chemical burning
B) nuclear fission
C) nuclear fusion
D) heat of contraction
E) potential energy
Answer: C
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Remembering
18) The most conspicuous features on the surface of the Sun are dark areas called ________.
A) granules
B) helium lines
C) flares
D) spicules
E) sunspots
Answer: E
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Remembering
19) The Sun's surface has a grainy texture produced by numerous bright markings called
________.
A) granules
B) helium lines
C) umbras
D) spicules
E) sunspots
Answer: A
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Remembering
20) The Sun produces energy by converting ________.
A) oxygen nuclei to carbon dioxide
B) oxygen nuclei to nitrogen nuclei
C) carbon monoxide to oxygen nuclei
D) hydrogen nuclei to helium nuclei
E) helium nuclei to hydrogen nuclei
Answer: D
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Remembering

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21) The amount of energy released during a nuclear reaction was established by ________.
A) Albert Einstein
B) Sir Isaac Newton
C) Galileo
D) George Hale
E) Niels Bohr
Answer: A
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Remembering
22) Streams of protons and electrons emitted from the Sun produce ________.
A) quasars
B) the solar wind
C) granules
D) plages
E) prominences
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Remembering
23) During periods of high solar activity, huge cloudlike structures that appear as great arches
extending from the Sun are often produced. These solar features are called ________.
A) quasars
B) the solar wind
C) spicules
D) plages
E) prominences
Answer: E
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Remembering
Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the
relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the
pattern.
24) reflecting
refracting
radio
Answer: radio
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.4 Light Collection and Detection
Bloom's: Understanding

optical

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25) corona
photosphere
Answer: sunspots
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Understanding
26) granules
sunspots
Answer: spicules
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Understanding

chromosphere

spicules

sunspots

photosphere

27) In some instances, light behaves like waves, and in others, like discrete particles.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.1 Signals from Space
Bloom's: Understanding
28) The wavelength of red light is shorter than the wavelength of yellow light.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.1 Signals from Space
Bloom's: Understanding
29) Shorter wavelengths correspond to more energetic photons.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.1 Signals from Space
Bloom's: Understanding
30) A hot (incandescent) gas under low pressure produces a continuous spectrum.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.1 Signals from Space
Bloom's: Understanding
31) Dark-line (absorption) spectra can be used to identify the elements present in stars.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.1 Signals from Space
Bloom's: Understanding
32) Blue stars are cooler than red stars.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.1 Signals from Space
Bloom's: Understanding
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33) In the case of light, when a source is moving away, its light appears redder than it actually is.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.1 Signals from Space
Bloom's: Understanding
34) Galileo built the first known telescope.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.4 Light Collection and Detection
Bloom's: Understanding
35) Sir Isaac Newton built and used reflecting telescopes.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.4 Light Collection and Detection
Bloom's: Understanding
36) All of the world's largest telescopes are of the refracting type.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.4 Light Collection and Detection
Bloom's: Understanding
37) Radio telescopes are able to detect very short wave radiation emitted by celestial objects.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.4 Light Collection and Detection
Bloom's: Understanding
38) Radio telescopes have an advantage over optical telescopes in that they can be used during
daylight hours.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.4 Light Collection and Detection
Bloom's: Understanding
39) Radio telescopes are generally much larger in size than are optical telescopes.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.4 Light Collection and Detection
Bloom's: Understanding

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40) Although current technology will allow the construction of much larger optical telescopes,
astronomers see no advantage in building these larger instruments.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.4 Light Collection and Detection
Bloom's: Understanding
41) The outermost portion of the solar atmosphere is called the photosphere.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Understanding
42) Sunspots appear dark because they are cooler than the surrounding solar surface.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Understanding
43) Bright centers of solar activity are called filaments.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Understanding
44) The Sun's energy results from the conversion of hydrogen nuclei into helium nuclei.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Understanding
45) The Sun is considered an "average star."
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Understanding
46) The mechanism that produces energy on the Sun involves the conversion of matter to energy.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Understanding

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47) Astronomers currently estimate the internal temperature of the Sun at 1500C.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Understanding
48) Visible light emitted from the celestial bodies is only a small part of an array of energy called
________ radiation.
Answer: electromagnetic
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Applying
49) Light can be described as a stream of fast-moving particles called ________.
Answer: photons
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Applying
50) A(n) ________ spectrum is produced when white light is passed through a comparatively
cool gas under low pressure.
Answer: dark-line (absorption)
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.1 Signals from Space
Bloom's: Applying
51) The motion of a star can be determined using the ________ effect.
Answer: Doppler
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.1 Signals from Space
Bloom's: Applying
52) The first scientist to use a telescope for astronomical purposes was ________.
Answer: Galileo
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.4 Light Collection and Detection
Bloom's: Applying
53) When several radio telescopes are connected together, the resulting network is called a(n)
________.
Answer: radio interferometer
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.4 Light Collection and Detection
Bloom's: Applying

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54) The most conspicuous features on the surface of the Sun are dark areas called ________.
Answer: sunspots
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Applying
55) The nuclear reaction process of converting hydrogen nuclei into helium nuclei is called the
________ chain.
Answer: proton-proton
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Applying
56) The Sun is composed almost entirely of two gases. They are ________ and ________.
Answer: hydrogen; helium
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Applying
57) The amount of energy released during a nuclear reaction was established by the well-known
scientist named ________.
Answer: Albert Einstein
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Applying
58) Einstein's famous equation ________, determines the amount of energy released through
nuclear fusion.
Answer: E=mc2
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Applying
59) The Sun produces energy by converting ________ to energy.
Answer: matter
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Applying
60) Streams of protons and electrons emitted from the Sun are known as the ________.
Answer: solar wind
Diff: 1
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Applying

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Critical Thinking and Discussion. Use complete sentences, correct spelling, and the
information presented in Chapter 23 to answer the questions below.
61) Compare and contrast the various types of telescopes, including radio telescopes. What are
the advantages and disadvantages of each one? Are there other considerations when choosing
one telescope over another besides optical clarity or magnification?
Answer: Some telescopes reach farther than others, and some have a finer resolution. When
looking at a star or distant body, a scientist must optimize on the amount of resolution versus
power so as to obtain maximum optical clarity.
Diff: 2
Topic: 23.4 Light Collection and Detection
Bloom's: Applying
62) Discuss the features and characteristics of the Sun? Are they thought to be unique to the Sun
or are they typical of other stars? How do any of these structures relate to the process of nuclear
fusion which is thought to produce the Sun's energy?
Answer: The sun is large and extremely hot with nuclear fusion occurring at its center. These
features are similar to many stars, though some stars are larger and exert more gravity and some
stars are smaller. The larger the star the more the nuclear fusion that can occur, and therefore the
hotter the star can be.
Diff: 2
Topic: 23.7 The Sun
Bloom's: Applying

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