Active Galaxies and Quasars

1.         It is important to find the optical objects that correspond in position with radio sources because we can then

a.         Observe their red shifts.

b.         Study their spectra to determine their temperatures.

c.         Study their spectra to determine their densities.

d.         All of these.*

e.         None of these.

2.         In the largest telescopes, a quasar looks like

a.         a faint planet

b.         a star*

c.         a dwarf galaxy

d.         a planetary nebula.

3.         The most conspicuous observed property of quasars is their

a.         low apparent magnitude (high apparent brightness)

b.         high red shift*

c.         high blue shift

d.         dramatic appearance on photographs

e.         strong spiral structure.

4.         The red shifts of emission lines in quasar spectra are best explained as caused by

a.         a large Doppler shift*

b.         a strong gravitational field

c.         a black hole in the quasar

d.         rapid rotation

e.         turbulence in the nucleus.

5.         The best evidence that quasars are at cosmological distances is

a.         their large observed red shift

b.         their association with clusters of galaxies having the same red shift*

c.         their association with clusters of galaxies having a very different red shift

d.         their great luminosities

e.         their galaxy-like spectra.

6.         Why isn't the large red shift observed in quasars likely to be a gravitational red shift?  If the large red shift observed for quasars was gravitational then quasars

a.         would have unusually large masses.

b.         should show effects of gravitational attraction on other bodies.

c.         should show effects on the "fuzz" surrounding them that decrease with an inverse square law.

d.         All of these.*

e.         None of these.

7.         If the red shifts of quasars arise from the expansion of the universe,

a.         a quasar must be very small.

b.         a quasar must be within the Local Group.

c.         a quasar must be single star with an extremely large mass.

d.         a quasar must be moving toward Earth with a large radial velocity.

e.         a quasar must be very luminous.*

8.         Quasars must be small because they

a.         have high radial velocities.

b.         are very luminous.

c.         are surrounded by quasar fuzz.

d.         radiate huge amounts of energy.

e.         fluctuate rapidly.*

9.         The active region of a quasar whose light output varies considerably in a month is

a.         a light-month in size*

b.         a light-year in size

c.         a parsec in size

d.         the size of the Milky Way

e.         unknown in size.

10.      Since quasars are at great distances with the light taking a long time to reach us, we are observing ______ objects.

a.         old

b.         young*

c.         medium age

d.         dying

e.         no statement concerning age may be made.

11.      The discovery of the gravitational lens effect for quasars

a.         shows that quasars were located within the local group of galaxies.

b.         shows that quasars were giant elliptical galaxies at very great distances.

c.         shows that quasars are much further away than the distant galaxy that forms the gravitational lens. *

d.         proves Newton's theory of gravitation by showing that the photon was affected by gravity.

e.         proves the existence of super massive black holes at the center of active galactic nuclei.

12.      When the radio appearance of a typical radio galaxy is compared with its optical counterpart, the radio object looks like

a.         a tadpole

b.         a jellyfish

c.         waterwings*

d.         a spiral galaxy.

13.      The radio emission in a typical radio galaxy is produced by ______ emission.

a.         thermal

b.         synchrotron*

c.         black hole

d.         cyclotron

e.         thermonuclear.

14.      If an object is observed to be emitting synchrotron radiation, we may conclude that

a.         it has a very high temperature

b.         it has a very low temperature

c.         the object is moving near the speed of light

d.         the object has a strong magnetic field*

e.         the object has no magnetic field.

15.      The fact that many radio lobes emit more intensely from the side away from the galaxy suggests that

a.         they are formed by material falling into the galaxy.

b.         they are powered by magnetic fields.

c.         they are excited by radiation from nearby galaxies.

d.         they are powered by the rapid rotation of the galaxy.

e.         they are created by jets from the galaxy.*

16.      Seyfert galaxies are characterized by

a.         weak reddish nuclei

b.         bright reddish nuclei

c.         weak bluish nuclei

d.         bright bluish nuclei.*

17.      BL Lac objects

a.         are galaxies with many properties of quasars*

b.         have two jets protruding from each side

c.         have some of the largest known red shifts

d.         are found at the centers of quasars.

18.      BL Lac objects are known to be surrounded by a normal galaxy because

a.         the surrounding galaxy can be seen visually through a telescope

b.         BL Lac objects emit strong emission lines like a normal galaxy

c.         BL Lac objects vary in brightness just like a normal galaxy

d.         the spectrum of the surrounding region resembles that of a normal galaxy.*

19.      Which of the following is NOT evidence of violent activity in the Milky Way and other galaxies?

a.         nonthermal radiation from the nucleus

b.         large amounts of infrared radiation coming from the center of the galaxy

c.         matter being ejected from the nucleus

d.         the nuclei of galaxies spin very rapidly *

20.      The unified model describes active galactic nuclei using

a.         a super massive black hole at the center of a normal spiral galaxy.

b.         a super massive black hole surrounded by an accretion disk and dense disk of gas. *

c.         an accretion disk around a neutron star.

d.         gravitational lenses to intensify the radiation coming from them.

e.         different lines of sight toward and dwarf irregular galaxy.

21.      By comparing and contrasting quasars, active galaxies, and the Milky Way, we might conclude that

a.         all are essentially the same thing, except that quasars are larger than active galaxies

b.         these objects represent an evolutionary sequence, showing that galaxies tend to become less violent as the universe ages *

c.         galaxies and similar objects were smaller in the distant past than they are today

d.         objects which are farther away tend to be brighter