Unit 2 Homework Questions w_ Answers
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Polk State College *
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1002
Subject
Astronomy
Date
Dec 6, 2023
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2
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UNIT 2 HOMEWORK
1. What do radio waves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays, and gamma
rays have in common? How do they differ?
All types of electromagnetic radiation are made of electrical and magnetic fields that
move throughout space, as well as traveling at the same velocity. They all have different wave
shapes, dimensions, and patterns to them in time as well as their behaviors in space and time.
One of the main differences between them all is their wavelengths and frequencies that carry
along with each.
2. What types electromagnetic radiation can be observed at sea level? What kinds can be
observed without going into space? Explain.
The types of electromagnetic radiation that we can observe at sea level are visible light,
near-infrared, and a part of the radio spectrum. Other electromagnetic radiation that can be
observed without going into space are infrared and ultraviolet. This is due to the atmosphere
absorbing most of the electromagnetic radiation.
3. Imagine that the Earth is completely blanketed by thick clouds (of water vapor) so that the sky
is overcast everywhere on Earth every day. What information about objects outside of our
atmosphere would we be able to get from visible light? What kind of astronomy would be
possible.
With the interference of the thick clouds, it would be hard to receive information about
objects that are outside of our atmosphere from visible light. This makes vision and light
interferences for visible light but radio waves, on the other hand, can penetrate through clouds
so radio astronomy is very possible.
4. What is a continuous spectrum? What has to happen to create a continuous spectrum? What
information does an astronomer get from one?
A continuous spectrum is radiation that is given off by an object's warmth. Any object
has the potential to create a continuous spectrum because all objects give off some sort of
warmth. Astronomers will look at the spectrum to help measure how much energy is coming
from each wavelength, giving ideas about the temperature of that object.
5. What is an absorption spectrum? What has to happen to create this kind of spectrum? What
information can an astronomer get from one?
An absorption spectrum happens when a continuous spectrum passes through a cool
cloud of gas and the atoms that are within the gas will absorb the frequencies that they emit
leaving dark lines on the rainbow background. The absorption spectrum tells astronomers the
temperature of an object as well as its chemical composition.
6. What is an emission spectrum? What has to happen to create this kind of spectrum? What
information can an astronomer get from an emission spectrum?
Emission spectrums occur when low-density gases create emission lines that are
created by particular atoms. This creates bright lines on a dark or black background and this
helps to give information on the chemical compositions of an object.
7. What is the Doppler effect? One line of the hydrogen spectrum lies at 428nm. Describe the
main way the Doppler effect could change the appearance of this line coming from an object,
and describe what you could find out from the information.
The Doppler effect is when an object sends out waves that spread equally in every
direction if the object is stationary, but if the object is moving then the waves will change. An
object’s spectrum will entirely shift due to the Doppler effect, making it appear either more red or
blue depending on your proximity to the object. The closer you get it will be blue while the
further you get will appear red. By measuring the shift of the spectrum, you will be able to
determine the velocity. It can also help to determine an object’s; rotation, magnetic field
strength, pressure, and temperature.
8. The Keck Telescopes in Mauna Kea, HI can see objects as dim as the Hubble Space
Telescope can, and can see some infrared. What is one advantage that the Keck telescopes
have over the Hubble? What is one disadvantage?
The Keck Telescopes are the third largest telescope, with the use of the Nasmyth
design, making them the strongest device in astronomy when they work together so they can
see a higher resolution than the Hubble Space Telescope. Since they are located on Earth and
are on the ground, they are much easier to maintain compared to the Hubble. The Keck
Telescopes are limited by the atmosphere meaning that they cannot see further infrared and
ultraviolet while the Hubble Space Telescope can see these. The Hubble Telescope doesn’t
have to worry about atmospheric interference, nor does it have to worry about the changes that
come with night and day cycles.
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