Question 1

The twinkling of the stars is called ______.&#10;A) wobbling&#10;B) scintillation&#10;C) refraction&#10;D) reflection

Accepted Answer

The twinkling of stars is referred to as scintillation, which is caused by the Earth's atmosphere disturbing the path of light as it travels towards us.

Question 2

Water vapor stops _____ from reaching the Earth's surface.&#10;A) X-ray&#10;B) UV&#10;C) Gamma&#10;D) Infrared

Accepted Answer

Water vapor in the Earth's atmosphere absorbs a significant amount of infrared radiation, preventing it from reaching the Earth's surface. This is a key aspect of the natural greenhouse effect, which helps to regulate the Earth's temperature.

Question 3

The transparency to different wavelengths by our atmosphere is called _____.&#10;A) seeing&#10;B) opacity&#10;C) atmospheric window&#10;D) light pollution

Accepted Answer

Atmospheric windows refer to the ranges of electromagnetic wavelengths or frequencies that can pass through the Earth's atmosphere without being absorbed significantly. These windows allow specific types of electromagnetic radiation, such as visible light and certain radio waves, to reach the Earth's surface from space, making observations in these wavelengths possible from the ground.

Question 4

The atmosphere is relatively transparent, at least at high altitudes, to some wavelengths of&#10;A) infrared.&#10;B) ultraviolet.&#10;C) gamma.&#10;D) x-ray.

Accepted Answer

The atmosphere is relatively transparent to infrared wavelengths, especially at high altitudes, allowing infrared radiation from the sun to reach the Earth's surface and also allowing the Earth's thermal radiation to escape into space.

Question 5

_____________ limits our ability to see stars in urban areas.

Accepted Answer

The answer of _____________ limits our ability to see stars...

Question 6

_________ is when the stars have serious twinkling.

Accepted Answer

The answer of _________ is when the stars have serious...

Question 7

The HST can only see visible light.

Accepted Answer

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) can observe in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Question 8

Ozone stops infrared light from reaching the Earth's surface.

Accepted Answer

Ozone primarily absorbs ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun, not infrared light.

Deck 32: The Earths Atmosphere and Space Observatories