Radiation and Spectroscopy Test Review

Question 1

The number of waves passing the observer per second is:

Answer 1

The frequency in Hertz

Question 2

Both sound waves and electromagnetic radiation:

Answer 2

Transfer energy

Question 3

What does the phenomenon of diffraction demonstrate?

Answer 3

The wave nature of light

Question 4

What does the phenomenon of interference demonstrate?

Answer 4

The particle nature of the photon

Question 5

Which of these is constant for ALL types of electromagnetic radiation in a vacuum?

Answer 5

Velocity

Question 6

Electromagnetic radiation:

Answer 6

Can behave both as a wave and as a particle

Question 7

Of all the forms of electromagnetic radiation, the one with the lowest frequency is:

Answer 7

Radio Waves

Question 8

The two forms of electromagnetic radiation that penetrate the atmosphere best are:

Answer 8

Visible and Radio Waves

Question 9

Colors appear different to us because of their photons’ different:

Answer 9

Frequencies

Question 10

Which type of radiation can be observed well from Earth’s surface?

Answer 10

Visible

Question 11

The wavelength at which a blackbody radiates most depends on its:

Answer 11

Temperature

Question 12

Star A and Star B have the same temperature, but Star A is 5 times bigger than Star B. Which statement below is correct?

Answer 12

Star A and B have the same color, but Star A is brighter.

Question 13

What is spectroscopy?

Answer 13

An analysis of the way in which atoms absorb and emit light.

Question 14

Typical stellar spectra appear as:

Answer 14

A rainbow, but with some dark lines mixed in

Question 15

The three laws dealing with the creation of various spectra are due to:

Answer 15

Kirchhoff

Question 16

The element first found in the Sun’s spectrum, then on Earth 30 years later, is:

Answer 16

Helium

Question 17

An incandescent light (glowing tungsten filament) produces:

Answer 17

A continuous spectrum, with the peak giving the temperature of the filament.

Question 18

An emission spectrum can be used to identify a(n):

Answer 18

Atom

Question 19

In Bohr’s model of the atom, electrons:

Answer 19

only make transitions between orbitals of specific energies.

Question 20

A heavy neutral atom, such as iron, produces many spectral lines compared to light elements like hydrogen and helium. Why?

Answer 20

Because of the larger number of electrons and corresponding energy levels, more transitions are possible

Question 21

Why are molecular lines more complex than elemental spectral lines?

Answer 21

Molecules can vibrate and rotate as well.

Question 22

Spectral lines are often referred to as the stars’ “fingerprints” because:

Answer 22

All of these are correct

Question 23

The observed spectral lines of a star are all shifted towards the red end of the spectrum. Which statement is true?

Answer 23

This is an example of the Doppler effect.

Question 24

The broadening of spectral lines can be caused by:

Answer 24

Density of the hot medium; thermal motion of the hot atoms; rotation of the star.

Question 25

What information about an astronomical object can be determined by observing its spectrum?

Answer 25

Its temperature; its radial motion; its chemical composition