Activities 5, 6 and 7
17.
A future scientist observes that the sunspot cycle has just reached a minimum. The year is
2016. On the basis of this observation, the scientist would then predict the next maximum in
sunspot activity to occur in:
a) 2018
b) 2021
c) 2026
d) 2036
18.
One evening, several regional electrical power grids were disrupted. At the same time, cellular
telephone users lost service because several communication satellites stopped functioning
properly. Which of the solar phenomena listed below is the most likely cause of these
disruptions?
a) solar flares
b) sunspot activity
c) Oort minima
d) coronal turbulence
19.
If the entire Earth was suddenly and permanently covered with a layer of glistening, white
snow, the albedo of the Earth would _____ making the Earth a much _____ place.
a) decrease, warmer
b) increase, warmer
c) decrease, colder
d) increase, colder
20.
If the Sun stopped producing energy, then all fusion would cease in its
a) radiative zone
b) lithosphere
c) core
d) corona
21.
The order of colors observed in the visible light spectrum is determined by the:
a) Intensity of the light.
b) Wavelength of the light.
c) Quality of the prism.
d) Position of the observer.
22.
An astronomer is studying the electromagnetic radiation from two different astronomical
bodies. He finds that the radiation spectrum from the first body has a peak wavelength in the
visible light portion of the spectrum, near the blue end. The second body has its peak radiation
in the x-ray range of the spectrum. From this information the astronomer correctly concludes
that the
a) second body is hotter than the first
b) second body is colder than the first
c) second body is moving toward Earth faster than the first
d) second body is moving toward Earth slower than the first
23.
The gaseous elements ionized in the fluorescent light bulb that you observed caused the
light spectrum to:
a) Have a different order of colors.
b) Exhibit characteristic bright emission lines.
c) Be shifted towards shorter wavelengths.
d) Be dimmer and less distinct
Refer to the diagram below to answer questions 24-26.
4
24.
25.
Which of the four stars shown (A, B, C, D) has the largest diameter?
a) A b)B c)C d)D
If all four stars were equidistant from the Earth, which stars would appear to have
the same brightness in the night sky?
a) A and C
b) C and D
c) none would appear the same
d) all would appear the same
26.
If star C were 4 times as far away from Earth as Star D, then star C would have
an apparent brightness to an Earth observer that was
a) four times that of star D
b) the same as star D
c) one-fourth that of star D
d) one-sixteenth that of star D
27.
Four stars described below all reside on the main sequence. Which will have the
shortest expected life span?
Star
Surface
Temperature (K)
Luminosity
(relative to Sun)
Diameter (solar
diameters)
Mass (solar
masses)
A
10,300
50.8
3.1
3.07
B
C
D
5300
2300
25300
75.8
7.5
2121
10.8
1.4
7.3
3.0
1.78
10.9
Teocher Commentary
Answer
Key
17.
18.
19.
b
a
d
20. c
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
b
a
b
b
b
d
d