Assignment 3

Chapters 5 & 6
Thomas Edison State College

Introductory Astronomy
AST-101-GS002
Semester - October 2013

1.) The Seeds textbook states, To an astronomer, nothing is so precious as starlight. Today
we recognize that this starlight is electromagnetic radiation. List the following:
A. Each part of this radiation used by an astronomer.
The parts of electromagnetic radiation utilized by an astronomer are x-rays, gamma rays,
ultraviolet radiation, visible light, infrared radiation, and radio waves. One cannot see infrared
radiation, but a persons skin senses it as heat. In the electromagnetic spectrum, electromagnetic
waves shorter than violet are known as ultraviolet, the ones shorter than those are known as Xrays, and the shortest of the three are known as gamma rays.

B. What instrument (telescope, etc.) works best with each type of radiation.
The instrument that works best for radio waves is a radio telescope. Astronomers use a
radio telescope to study celestial objects such as clouds of gas and erupting stars. Due to never
reaching the Earths surface infrared radiation, ultraviolet, X-Rays, and gamma ray are used with
instruments such as the infrared telescopes. Astronomers have used many infrared telescopes to
study star formation; planets are orbiting other stars, distant galaxies, and more. Some of these
telescopes are known as the Spitzer Space Telescope, Hubble Space Telescope, Ariel 1, and the
Chandra X-Ray Observatory.
C. What celestial objects we study and what we learn about them from the radiation they
emit.
All astronomical objects, except for black holes, emit at least some light. Many objects
emit more radiation in some parts of the electromagnetic spectrum than in others while others
emit strongly across the entire spectrum. Each part of the spectrum reveals information not found
at other wavelengths. Light is a form of electromagnetic radiation. Visible light is a narrow range
of wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. By measuring the wavelength or frequency of

light coming from objects in the universe, we can learn something about their nature. Since we
are not able to travel to a star or take samples from a galaxy, we must depend on electromagnetic
radiation to carry information to us from distant objects in space.
D. What special instruments work in conjunction with telescopes to advance our studies of
starlight.
The unique instruments that work together with telescopes to promote our studies of
starlight are charge-coupled devices and spectrographs. Charge-coupled devices are specialized
chips that detect both bright and faint objects in a single exposure, and the chip could be placed
into a computer for later analysis. Spectrographs are used to analyze light in detail. They spread
the light out according to wavelength to form a spectrum.
2. The ultimate key to our understanding the universe is our knowledge of the atom.
A. Illustrate with an example the difference between an atom and an ion.
The ultimate key to understanding the universe is our knowledge of the atom. Atoms are
the basic units of matter made up of three particles; protons, neutrons, and electrons. The atom is
also a defining structure of an element. A typical atom has a neutral charge with the same number
of protons and electrons. An ion is an atom that has lost one or more electrons and now either
has a net positive or a net negative charge.

B. Describe two ways an atom can be excited.

There are two ways to excite an atom. These two ways are either absorbing a proton or
moving an electron from a low energy level to a high energy level. An atom can only absorb a
proton with the right amount of energy if the proton has too much or too little energy the atom

would not be able to absorb it. When moving an electron from a low energy level to a high
energy level, the atom now has added energy.
C. Why should photons emitted by a hotter material have an average shorter wavelength?
The amount of energy a photon carry is inversely proportional to its wavelength. The
temperature of an object is a measure of how much energy its atoms have. Since atoms in hotter
objects have more energy, they can emit photons with more energy than cooler objects can So
hot objects emit high-energy photons or short wavelength light. They also emit more photons
that cooler objects do. The rule is the amount of power emitted (energy emitted each second) is P
emitted T4
D. Atoms produce spectra. Distinguish between a continuous, a bright-line, and an
absorption spectrum by describing how each is formed.
There are two ways to excite an atom. These two ways are either absorbing a proton or
moving an electron from a low energy level to a high energy level. An atom can only absorb a
proton with the right amount of energy, if the proton has too much or too little energy the atom
will not be able to absorb it. When moving an electron from a low energy level to a high energy
level, the atom now has added energy.
Photons emitted by a hotter material have an average of a shorter wavelength.
This is because they have a high energy level and the higher the energy level the shorter the
wavelength. Atoms produce spectra. There are three different types of spectra the continuous,
bright-line, and absorption spectra. Continuous spectrum is formed by gas emitted
electromagnetic radiation at all wavelengths. Excited low-density gas is containing produces an

emission/ bright-light spectrum containing emission lines. Absorption spectrum is formed by a

light source viewed through low-density gas containing absorption lines.
3. How was the spectral classification system arrived at? Relate its construction to
the Balmer series and explain how a stars spectral class can give us clues to its
temperature, motion, and chemical composition.
In 1802, William Wollaston noted that the spectrum of sunlight did not appear to be a
continuous band of colors, but rather had a series of dark lines superimposed on it. Wollaston
attributed the lines to natural boundaries between colors. Joseph Fraunhofer made a more careful
set of observations of the solar spectrum in 1814 and found some 600 dark lines, and he
specifically measured the wavelength of 324 of them. Many of the Fraunhofer lines in the solar
spectrum retain the notations he created to designate them. In 1864, Sir William Huggins
matched some of these dark lines in spectra from other stars with terrestrial substances,
demonstrating that stars are made of the same materials of everyday material rather than exotic
substances. This paved the way for modern spectroscopy.
The Balmer absorption lines help to find temperatures of the stars more accurately.
Calculations can predict how strong Balmer lines will be for stars. When a star of particular
strength can either be a star with a high temperature or a low-temperature one must examine
other spectral lines to choose the correct temperature. A stars spectral class can give us clues to
its temperature, motion, and chemical composition.
The seven spectral classes are O, B, A, F, G, K, M known as the spectral sequence that is
the temperature sequence. O is the hottest temperature and M is the coolest temperature. By
dividing the seven spectral classes into ten subclasses in each division, it accurately identifies the

temperature within about 5 degrees. The strength of the spectral lines depends on the temperature
of the star.
By identifying the lines in the stars spectrum, one can identify the elements that are
present in the star. It is important to know though that if spectral lines characteristics of an
element are missing, one cannot accurately conclude that the element is absent. For example
hydrogen, Balmer lines are weak in the suns spectrum even though 90% of the atoms in the sun
are hydrogen.
A stars spectral class can give us clues to its motion by looking at the Doppler Effect.
One can measure the wavelengths of the lines in a stars spectrum and find the velocity of the
star by using the Doppler Effect. The Doppler Effect is the apparent change in wavelengths of
radiation caused by the motion of the source. One will observe a blueshift when a star is
approaching and produces shorter wavelengths. On the other hand, one will observe a redshift
when the star is moving away creating longer wavelengths.