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Astr 1050     Homework 3
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Question 3:   Calculate wavelength/diameter for each, pick the smallest.
a.A 2.3 meter telescope operating at 2 microns (like WIRO):  9x10-7
b.The Hubble Space Telescope (2.5 meter) at 150 nanometers: 6x10-8
c.The Very Large Array (36 km) at 43 GHz (0.65 cm):   1.8x10-7
d.The 10-meter Keck telescope at 500 nanometers: 5x10-8
Question 4: You identify the Balmer series absorption lines in the spectrum of a hot type O star, but notice that the lines are shifted from their laboratory wavelengths. For instance, H-beta, normally seen at 486 nm appears at 488 nm. What can you deduce about the motion of this star relative to Earth? USE THE DOPPLER EQ:
v/c = (λobs/λrest) – 1;
v/c = (488/486) – 1 = 0.004115
V = 0.004 x 300,000 km/s = 1200 km/s away from us (c)
Question 5:   ALL statements are true, Kirchoff’s Laws and Balmer Lines.