Exploring the Interstellar Medium (ISM)

What is the interstellar medium (ISM) primarily composed of?

• 99% gas and 1% dust

• 90% hydrogen and 10% helium

• 50% gas and 50% dust

• 75% hydrogen and 25% helium

What is the typical temperature of the dust in the interstellar medium (ISM)?

• 10 K

• 100 K

• 273 K

• 1000 K

Why is it necessary to use telescopes that detect light at wavelengths longer than visible light to observe the ISM?

• Because the ISM is very hot

• Because the ISM is very cold

• Because the ISM is very dense

• Because the ISM is very bright

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-4

What effect does dust in the ISM have on light at optical wavelengths?

• It amplifies the light

• It blocks the light

• It changes the color of the light to blue

• It makes the light brighter

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-4

What is the phenomenon called when dust absorbs and scatters blue light more than red light, making a star look redder than it really is?

• Optical extinction

• Interstellar reddening

• Light amplification

• Blue shift

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-4

Why is the sky blue?

• Because the atmosphere absorbs all colors except blue

• Because blue light is more scattered than red light

• Because the Sun emits more blue light

• Because blue light is absorbed by the atmosphere

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-3

Why do sunsets appear red?

• Because the Sun emits more red light at sunset

• Because red light is absorbed by the atmosphere

• Because the light has to travel further through the atmosphere, leaving more red light after the blue is scattered away

What happens to the Sun's brightness at sunset?

• It becomes brighter

• It remains the same

• It appears less bright

What is the effect of the atmosphere on sunlight similar to?

• The effect of the ocean on sunlight

• The effect of interstellar dust on the light from stars

• The effect of clouds on sunlight

• The effect of the Moon on sunlight

What is interstellar reddening?

• Interstellar dust absorbs more red light than blue light, making stars appear redder than their true color.

• Interstellar dust absorbs more red light than blue light, making stars appear bluer than their true color.

• Interstellar dust absorbs more blue light than red light, making stars appear bluer than their true color.

• Interstellar dust absorbs more blue light than red light, making stars appear redder than their true color.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-4