20140509

Astronomy current events question: Arecibo Observatory detection of radio burst FRB 121102

Astronomy 210L, spring semester 2014
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Students are assigned to read online articles on current astronomy events, and take a short current events quiz during the first 10 minutes of lab. (This motivates students to show up promptly to lab, as the time cut-off for the quiz is strictly enforced!)
Nadia Drake, "Arecibo Observatory Detects Mysterious, Energetic Radio Burst," April 20, 2014
http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2014/04/20/mysterious-energetic-radio-burst/
The Arecibo Observatory received mysterious "fast radio burst" signals that confirmed:
(A) the existence of rotating black holes.
(B) miniature big bang-like explosions.
(C) that pulsars can die.
(D) early universe inflation.
(E) earlier observations from Australia.

Correct answer: (E)

Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 1 student
(B) : 13 students
(C) : 5 students
(D) : 3 students
(E) : 19 students

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