Section 16.B Quasars and Supermassive Black Holes

Question 1

Define quasar

Answer 1

these are faster feeding, hotter, brightest “Active Galactic Nuclei”

can be up to 1000x brighter than a supernova or a galaxy
brightest objects in the universe

Question 2

Realize a quasar is the brightest thing in the universe! Brighter than a

Answer 2

supernova and brighter than the brightest galaxy.

Question 3

Recognize that the power source at the center of an active galaxy is _______

 Quasars are the ones that feed the most.

Answer 3

a supermassive black hole that is feeding.

Question 4

Recognize most of the light for a quasar is from matter being turned into light in ________

Answer 4

nuclear fusion reactions

Question 5

Realize what we can conclude if we see material moving very quickly around the center of a galaxy. It means there is_______

Answer 5

a huge mass with very strong gravity there.

Question 6

Realize the masses of black holes in the centers of large galaxies are usually ______

Answer 6

millions or billions of times the Sun’s mass.

Question 7

If asked what size (diameter) a supermassive black hole has, pick the answer that fits what your notes say.

Answer 7

the edge of one “event horizon” as big as a planets orbit

Question 8

Quiet supermassive black holes must have been active in the past, since otherwise _____

Answer 8

they could not have grown so big.