Astronomy current events question: gravitational waves of colliding neutron stars

Astronomy 210L, fall semester 2017
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!)

Kimberly Allen, Emily Velasco, Jason Maderer, Severine Perus, and Aya Collins, "LIGO and Virgo Make First Detection of Gravitational Waves Produced by Colliding Neutron Stars" (October 12, 2017)
ligo.caltech.edu/page/press-release-gw170817

Gravitational waves from colliding neutron stars were detected when they disturbed the timing of __________ in underground tunnels.
(A) laser beams.
(B) atomic clocks.
(C) radioactive decays.
(D) falling objects.
(E) sound waves.

Correct answer: (A)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186
(A) : 16 students
(B) : 8 students
(C) : 5 students
(D) : 3 student
(E) : 13 students