20150321

Astronomy quiz question: redshift vs. blueshift

Astronomy 210 Quiz 4, fall semester 2010
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

[Version 1]

The (simplified) absorption lines for Iota Sagittarii, a K0 giant, are shown at right. (The arrows indicate the expected wavelength values for a stationary K0 giant.)

Based on its absorption line wavelength values, Iota Sagittarii must be a star:
(A) located a little farther away than 1 parsec.
(B) located closer than 1 parsec.
(C) moving towards Earth.
(D) moving away from Earth.

Correct answer: (D)

The absorption lines for Iota Sagittarii are shifted towards slightly larger values ("redshifted"), indicating that it is moving away from Earth.

Section 70158
(A) : 7 students
(B) : 4 students
(C) : 13 students
(D) : 20 students
(No response: 1 student)

"Success level": 47% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.75

[Version 2]

The (simplified) absorption lines for Procyon A, a F5 main sequence star, are shown at right. (The arrows indicate the expected wavelength values for a stationary F5 star.)

Based on its absorption line wavelength values, Procyon A must be a star:
(A) located a little farther away than 1 parsec.
(B) located closer than 1 parsec.
(C) moving towards Earth.
(D) moving away from Earth.

Correct answer: (C)

The absorption lines for Procyon A are shifted towards slightly smaller values ("blueshifted"), indicating that it is moving towards Earth.

Section 70160
(A) : 5 students
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 20 students
(D) : 14 students

"Success level": 52% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.82

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