Astronomy Review Questions

What is the wavelength of the longest wavelength light visible to the human eye?

• 400 nm

• 4000 nm

• 7000 nm

• 700 nm

• 3×10^8 m

What is the wavelength of the shortest wavelength light visible to the human eye?

• 400 nm

• 4000 nm

• 7000 nm

• 700 nm

• 3×10^8 m

Violet light has a wavelength of approximately _____________.

• 400 nm

• 4000 nm

• 7000 nm

• 700 nm

• 3×10^8 m

____________ has (have) wavelengths that are longer than visible light.

• Gamma-rays

• Ultraviolet light

• Infrared radiation

• X-rays

• a, b and d above

There are __________ nanometers in one meter.

• 1×10^3

• 1×10^-3

• 1×10^9

• 1×10^-9

____________ has (have) wavelengths that are shorter than visible light.

• Gamma-rays

• Ultraviolet light

• Infrared radiation

• Radio

• a and b

Astronomers build optical telescopes on tops of mountains because

• there is less air to dim the light.

• the seeing is better.

• CCDs work better when there is less oxygen in the air.

• all of the above

• a and b

Ultraviolet radiation from a star

• will not penetrate Earth's atmosphere and reach the ground.

• has a wavelength that is longer than the visible light emitted by the star.

• has a wavelength that is shorter than the x-rays emitted by the star.

• a and b

• b and c

A new generation of telescopes is currently being built that overcomes the limitations of the older large telescopes. Some of these new telescopes

• use segmented mirrors.

• use mirrors that are very thin.

• use active optics to control the shape of the mirror.

• all of the above

The ability of a telescope to resolve fine detail is known as the telescope’s ____________________.

• light gathering power

• focal length

• resolving power

• telescope detailing

• aberration