Astronomy Quiz Unit 1

The number of waves passing an observer per second is:

• The wavelength

• The frequency

• The period

• The amplitude

The distance between successive wave crests defines the

• wavelength

• frequency

• period

• amplitude

Light waves differ fundamentally from water or sound waves because:

• They do not require a material medium for transmission.

• They have many different wavelengths.

• They can only travel at one speed, regardless of the medium.

• The energy of all light waves is constant.

Which type of electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength of 700 nm?

• X-rays

• Red light

• Violet light

• Microwaves

Of all electromagnetic waves, the ones carrying the least energy per photon are:

• gamma rays

• visible light

• ultraviolet rays

• radio waves

The visible waves carrying the most energy appear to the human eye as:

• red

• green

• blue

• violet

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

• speeds

• amplitudes

• wavelengths

• polarization

What is spectroscopy?

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

• A study of the geometry of rainbows

• An observational technique to measure the brightness of light at different colors

• A method to freeze atmospheric turbulence for better resolution

What is the upper limit of all motion?

• Speed of ocean waves

• The speed of light

• The speed of sound

• Mach 1

What is the constant for the speed of light in a vacuum?