Chapter 16
Astronomy: At Play in the Cosmos · 33 exercises
Problem 1
The factor that makes Cepheid variables particularly useful as standard candles is a. their distance. b. their spectral class. c. the inverse square relation. d. their position on the HR diagram. e. the period-luminosity relationship.
5 step solution
Problem 2
Which of the following structures is/are found in all spiral galaxies? Choose all that apply. a. disk b. bulge c. jets d. bar e. spiral arms
3 step solution
Problem 3
A galaxy is observed to be spheroid and to have increasing stellar density toward the center. What is its galaxy classification? a. spiral b. barred spiral c. lenticular d. elliptical e. irregular
3 step solution
Problem 4
A galaxy seen edge on is observed to have a disk and a bulge. What is its galaxy classification? a. spiral b. barred spiral c. either elliptical or barred spiral d. either spiral or elliptical e. either spiral or barred spiral
4 step solution
Problem 5
Which of the following galaxy types is most likely to be clearly identifiable, regardless of orientation? a. E0 b. Irr \(c . \mathrm{SBa}\) d. E6 e. SBc
4 step solution
Problem 6
Which of the following is/are not among the subcategories of spiral galaxies? Choose all that apply. a. elliptical b. halo c. flocculent d. barred e. grand design
3 step solution
Problem 7
Which of the following galaxy types has no discernible structure? a. Irr II b. \(\mathrm{E} 7\) c. Irr I d. Ienticular e. SBb
3 step solution
Problem 8
Which of the following cosmic distance ladder methods use(s) actual or apparent motion of objects to determine distance? Choose all that apply. a. Tully-Fisher law b. spectroscopic parallax c. Type Ia supernovas d. parallax e. Cepheid variables
4 step solution
Problem 9
Which of the following cosmic distance ladder methods uses cyclical changes in star's brightness over time to determine distance? a. Tully-Fisher law b. spectroscopic parallax c. Type Ia supernovas d. parallax e. Cepheid variables
3 step solution
Problem 10
Which method of determining distance would be most appropriate for a ground- based observer trying to find accurate distances out to approximately 100 pc? a. Tully-Fisher law b. spectroscopic parallax c. Type Ia supernovas d. parallax e. Cepheid variables
5 step solution
Problem 11
Hubble's law says that a. all galaxies are expanding. b. the more distant the galaxy is, the faster it appears to be receding from us. c. larger galaxies rotate faster. d. the larger the galaxy is, the faster it is receding. e. all galaxies that will ever exist already do exist.
3 step solution
Problem 12
Galaxy A is receding from us at \(x \mathrm{km} / \mathrm{s}\), while galaxy \(\mathrm{B}\) 's recession velocity is \(3 x \mathrm{km} / \mathrm{s}\). Based on Hubble's law, which statement is true? a. \(\mathrm{B}\) is \(1 / 3\) as far from us as \(\mathrm{A}\). b. \(\mathrm{A}\) is \(1 / 3\) as far from us as \(\mathrm{B}\). c. \(\mathrm{B}\) is 9 times as far from us as \(\mathrm{A}\). d. The relative positions of \(A\) and \(B\) depend on the types of galaxies they are. e. The relative positions of \(\mathrm{A}\) and \(\mathrm{B}\) depend on their size.
3 step solution
Problem 14
Which of the following is/are included in the AGN designation? Choose all that apply. a. Seyfert galaxies b. radio galaxies c. quasars d. lenticular galaxies e. blazars
3 step solution
Problem 15
Which of the following describe(s) characteristics of AGNs that point to a black hole as the central engine? Choose all that apply. a. compact size of the core b. abundance of dark matter c. relativistic velocity of jets d. short timescale for variability in brightness e. rapid star formation
5 step solution
Problem 18
True/False: The defining characteristics of spiral galaxies include disk and bulge.
3 step solution
Problem 19
What led astronomers to infer the existence of dark matter? a. infrared images showing galactic halos b. the presence of far more satellite galaxies than expected c. observations of dark nebulas d. unexpected results in galactic rotation curves e. the discovery of black holes
5 step solution
Problem 20
Astronomers determined that elliptical galaxies have dark matter by a. calculating that the average stellar orbital velocity is greater than the expected escape velocity based on the luminous matter. b. calculating that the expected escape velocity based on the luminous matter is greater than the average stellar orbital velocity. c. measuring star rotation speeds near the axis of the galaxy. d. measuring the galaxies' rotation curves. e. measuring the observed brightness versus the luminosity.
4 step solution
Problem 22
Speculate on the role that dust played in determining the distance to faraway objects such as the spiral nebulas.
4 step solution
Problem 23
What are the four main classes of galaxies? Describe the characteristics of each type.
5 step solution
Problem 24
Which of the four galaxy types commonly occur as dwarfs?
4 step solution
Problem 25
Which types of galaxies show active star formation?
4 step solution
Problem 26
Describe the stellar orbits in spiral versus elliptical galaxies.
4 step solution
Problem 27
What does the Hubble tuning-fork diagram describe?
5 step solution
Problem 28
What is the cosmic distance ladder, and what does it mean that each rung of the ladder has been used to calibrate the next-higher rung?
4 step solution
Problem 29
Describe each of the following methods for determining astronomical distances: parallax, spectroscopic parallax, Cepheid variables, TullyFisher law, Type Ia supernovas. How did each technique rely on the previous one for calibration?
5 step solution
Problem 30
Hubble's law describes a correlation between what two quantities?
2 step solution
Problem 32
Define the following terms: \(A G N\), Seyfert galaxy, radio galaxy, quasar.
4 step solution
Problem 33
What evidence do astronomers have that AGNs are associated with supermassive black holes?
4 step solution
Problem 34
What is the evidence for dark matter in spiral galaxies? in elliptical galaxies?
6 step solution
Problem 35
How might people's outlook and understanding have changed upon learning that ours was not the only galaxy in the Universe?
4 step solution
Problem 41
The wavelength in the laboratory for a particular spectral line is \(580 \mathrm{nm} .\) It is observed in the spectrum of a galaxy at \(660 \mathrm{nm}\) What is the recession velocity of the galaxy, in kilometers per second?
5 step solution
Problem 44
What is the mass, in kilograms, of a black hole whose Schwarzschild radius is \(4.3 \times 10^{9} \mathrm{km}\) ?
4 step solution
Problem 45
Calculate the mass, in \(M_{\mathrm{Su}}\), of a black hole with Schwarzschild radius \(7.0 \times 10^{11} \mathrm{km}\)
4 step solution