Gravitational Waves and LIGO

What is the primary purpose of the LIGO facility?

• To measure the speed of light in a vacuum

• To detect gravitational waves from cosmic events

• To observe the formation of new galaxies

• To study the effects of black holes on nearby stars

Gravitational waves are similar to which of the following phenomena?

• Magnetic fields around a magnet

• Ripples on a pond

• Light waves in a vacuum

• Sound waves in air

What is the significance of the speed of gravitational waves?

• They are instantaneous

• They travel faster than light

• They travel at the same speed as light

• They are slower than sound

How does LIGO detect gravitational waves?

• By capturing images of cosmic events

• By measuring changes in light intensity

• By observing changes in laser beam paths

• By detecting sound waves in space

Why must LIGO detectors be placed far from human activity?

• To minimize vibrations affecting the detectors

• To prevent interference from sound waves

• To ensure clear visibility of the sky

• To avoid light pollution

What is a unique feature of LIGO's detector arms?

• They are flexible and can bend

• They are made of solid steel

• They are under vacuum

• They are filled with water

What is the effective length of LIGO's arms due to light bouncing?

• 4 kilometers

• 1200 kilometers

• 12,000 kilometers

• 120 kilometers

What kind of cosmic events can LIGO detect?

• Solar flares

• Neutron stars colliding

• Planetary alignments

• Meteor showers

How much energy was released in the first detected black hole collision?

• Equivalent to a supernova explosion

• Equivalent to three solar masses

• Equivalent to the sun's energy in a year

• Equivalent to a single nuclear bomb

What is the main reason gravitational waves are so small when they reach Earth?

• They are absorbed by cosmic dust

• They lose energy as they travel

• They are deflected by magnetic fields

• Space is extremely stiff