20180301

Astronomy quiz question: telescope funding

Astronomy 210 Quiz 3, spring semester 2018
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Based on being able to detect its wavelength, and cost of location, which telescope should be funded?
(A) An x ray detector on a remote ocean platform (30' elevation).
(B) An far infrared telescope in the Mojave desert (5,000' elevation).
(C) A radio telescope on a high-altitude balloon (100,000' altitude).
(D) An ultraviolet detector in space (above 500,000' altitude).


Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (D)

X-rays and far-infrared cannot be detected at or not much above sea level (the bottom edge of the graph), due to absorption of these wavelengths by the atmosphere. A radio telescope would work on a high-altitude balloon, but would work just as well on the ground for much less cost. An ultraviolet telescope would work in space, and may work just as well on a high-altitude balloon as well. So while the radio telescope on a high-altitude ballon and the ultraviolet detector in space would both be able to detect their wavelengths, a vastly cheaper alternative for the radio telescope exists (putting it on the ground), compared to a slightly cheaper alternative for the ultraviolet detector, so the latter is most cost-effective than the former.

Section 30674
Exam code: quiz03nT7a
(A) : 1 student
(B) : 5 students
(C) : 1 student
(D) : 16 students

Success level: 72% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.83

Section 30676
Exam code: quiz03sB1g
(A) : 4 students
(B) : 13 students
(C) : 6 students
(D) : 17 students

Success level: 46% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.82

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