the red light seen at a sunset is light that has been
A scattered many times by particles in the Earth's atmosphere
C reflected from other celestial objects
B scattered only slightly if at all by particles in the Earth's atmosphere
D emitted independently by particles in the Earth's atmosphere
to which of the following radiations is the Earth's atmosphere least transparent
A infrared
B visible
C radio
D x-ray
in which spectral region is it possible for astronomers to observe through clouds?
A visual
B radio
C ultraviolet
D x-ray
the particles and molecules in the Earth's atmosphere most efficiently scatter which color
A red
B infrared
C blue
D ultra-violet
a satellite is necessary for observation of celestial objects in the
A radio
B visible
C infrared
D x-ray
satellites are currently used in astronomy to
A observe objects too faint to be seen from the ground
B avoid the turbulence of the atmosphere
C observe wavelengths completely absorbed by the atmosphere
D observe objects blocked from view by the Earth
stars twinkle because of motions
A in their atmosphere
B of gas in interstellar space
C of gas in the solar system
D of gas in the Earth's atmosphere
x-ray astronomy has developed only recently because
A the necessary detectors were just invented
B satellites are necessary to get above the Earth's atmosphere
C special telescopes needed to focus x-rays were just invented
D astronomers only recently became interested in observing x-rays
ground based x-ray astronomy is impossible because
A no astronomical objects emit x-rays
B there is too much terrestrial x-ray "noise"
C the Earth's atmosphere absorbs all x-rays
D all astronomical x-rays have been Doppler shifted into the visual part of the spectrum
light pollution
A isn't too bad on nights when the stars twinkle a lot
B makes it harder to see a celestial object against the glow of the sky
C means the light is dirty
D produces speckled photographs
the two ranges of electromagnetic radiation for which the Earth's atmosphere is reasonably transparent, are
A visible and far infrared radiation
B UV and radio waves
C x-rays and visible radiation
D visible and radio radiation
infrared radiation
A passes through the atmosphere without a significant amount of absorption
B is partly absorbed by the atmosphere, but much of it is able to reach the Earth
C is nearly all absorbed by the atmosphere
D is not astronomically important
the Earth's atmosphere is relatively transparent to
A x-rays
B ultra-violet rays
C radio waves
D no electromagnetic waves.
which of the following most easily penetrates the Earth's atmosphere
A x-rays
B radio
C ultraviolet
D gamma rays
which of the following branches of astronomy cannot be performed on the surface of the Earth?
A radio astronomy
B infrared astronomy
C visible light astronomy
D x-ray astronomy
visible light observations from ground based observatories are always hampered by
A cloudy weather
B light pollution
C turbulence in the air
D smog
atmospheric windows are
A located at the equator, in general
B devices allowing astronomers to see through the atmosphere
C areas in the atmosphere where all the radiation from space can be seen
D wavelength regions that are not greatly absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere
which of the following cannot be observed from the Earth's surface
A radio
B visible
C microwave
D ultraviolet
most radio radiation
A passes through the atmosphere without a significant amount of absorption
B cannot be detected from astronomical sources with current technology
C is nearly all absorbed by the atmosphere
D is not astronomically important
the reason that x-ray radiation from stars is not observed on the Earth is that
A astronomical bodies do not emit x-ray radiation
B detectors for observing x-rays have not been developed
C x-rays from the sun blot out all others
D the Earth's atmosphere absorbs all the x-rays from stars
as seen from the Earth's surface, astronomical objects such as planets appear fuzzy because of
A the great distances involved
B their faintness
C the effects of the telescope on their light
D turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere
which of the following radiations do not reach the surface of the Earth in observable quantities
A radio
B infrared
C x-ray
D visible
which of the following part(s) of the electromagnetic spectrum penetrate the atmosphere well?
A visible light.
B infrared waves.
C ultraviolet waves.
D radio waves.
E both (a) and (d) above.
where would be the best place to locate a telescope for observing celestial x-rays
A near a hospital
B on a mountain top
C in a desert
D aboard a satellite
the Earth's atmosphere is transparent to which of the following?
A radio waves
B short ultraviolet wavelengths
C x-rays
D long infrared wavelengths
the blue sky light seen at mid-day is light that has been
A strongly scattered by particles in the Earth's atmosphere
B weakly scattered by particles in the Earth's atmosphere
C reflected from objects near the surface of the Earth
D emitted independently by particles in the Earth's atmosphere
the mid-day sky is blue because
A particles in the Earth's atmosphere efficiently scatter blue light
B particles in the Earth's atmosphere efficiently scatter red light
C the sun is predominantly blue
D our eyes are most sensitive to blue light
the ozone molecule is
A an exotic molecule observed by radio-astronomers in interstellar space
B the principle source of radiation on the sun
C an important absorber of ultraviolet radiation in the Earth's atmosphere
D always a perfect radiator
to view a rainbow after a rainstorm one should look
A toward the sun
B above the sun
C below the sun
D away from the sun
which vehicle is routinely used for x-ray observations
A airplane
B spacecraft
C balloon
D none is needed
sunsets often appear red because
A the sun is actually a reddish star
B the Earth's atmosphere preferentially scatters red light
C the Earth's atmosphere preferentially scatters blue light
D the Earth's atmosphere is transparent only to red light
which of the following effects does the Earth's atmosphere have on starlight
A extinction
B refraction
C scintillation
D all of these
which vehicle is relatively cheap and reusable
A airplane
B sounding rocket
C spacecraft
D none are reusable
ozone is
A a common spray can propellant
B an efficient absorber of ultraviolet light
C a cancer causing agent
D used in radiation therapy
a rainbow is created when
A sunlight is reflected from molecules in the air
B sunlight passes through small water droplets in the air
C particles in the air emit light of different colors
D the sun's light is temporarily split into colors by storms on the surface of the sun
sunsets frequently appear red because
A the molecules and particles in the Earth's atmosphere more effectively scatter blue light than red
B when looking directly at the sun its true reddish color is apparent
C temperature changes triggered by the setting sun alter the atmosphere's transparency to different colors
D of unexplained reasons
which does not get high enough to observe infrared
A rocket
B balloon
C airplane
D all get high enough
Return to Table of Contents