Please furnish the following information before the commencement of the examination

Full Name of the Candidate:

Examination Centre: Colombo/Peradeniya/Ruhuna/ Jaffna (underline) Index Number:
IColombo/Peradeniya/Kelaniya/Ruhuna/Batticaloa?Jaffna
Date of Birth: Signature of the Candidate :

XYW lAk` @x_wQk vQq&` a`ywny –

INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS, SRI LANKA
w`rk` vQq&`v h` w`rk` @x_wQk vQq&`v pQLQb[ @qvn olQmp
| Qy`d| wrM`vlQy-2008
THE 2ND NATIONAL OLYMPIAD ON ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS - 2008
(k`ly p#y 1 vQn`dQ 30)(Duration : 1 hour and 30 minutes)
sQyUm pYX~n vlt @mm pYX~n pwY@y~m pQLQwSr# spy` vQx`gy avs`n@y~qW vQx`g X`l`{QpwQ wSm` @vw x`r @qn~n
Answer all the questions and submit this paper to the supervisor at the end of the examination.

@mm pYX~n pwYy pYX~n A h` B @k`ts~ @qkkQn~ yEwS pYX~n 25 kQn~ sh mEqYQw pQtE 5 kQn~ sm~vQwy
This paper consists of 25 questions in two parts(A & B) printed in Five (05) pages.
gNk yn~wY x`vQw kl h#k/Electronic calculators are allowed.

(pY@y`~jnvw~ qw~w / Useful information : a`@l`~k@y~ @v|gy / Speed of light c = 3 x 105 km/s,
sr~vwY gSr#w~v`kr~Xn nQywy / Universal gravitational constant G = 6.67 x 10-11 m3 kg-1 s-2).
sQAhl pr~vrwn@yhQ g#tU mwSvEv@h`w~ iAgWYsQ bsQn~ a#wQ pYXn
~ y bl` pQLQwSr# spyn~n.

A @k`ts / PART A
A @k`tst aq`l pYX~n vlt @h`[m pQLQwSr @w`~r` rvEmk~ a#qWm @h`~ ytQn~ irk~ a#[Wm sQqEkrn~n
(Answers to Part A should be made by circling or underlining the correct answer on the question paper)

1. wr#vk wQY@k`~NmQwQk asm|p`wy vQkl` 0.04 @ls mnQn lq~@q~ nm| wr#vt a#wQ qEr p`@sk~ vlQn~ vnE@y~
For a star, the trigonometric parallax was measured to be 0.04 arc seconds. What is the distance to the star in parsec?

a) 20 pc b) 25 pc c) 30 pc d) 35 pc

2. bE{ sh bYhs~pwW gYhyn~@g~ k’]vl ar~{-mh` a] pQL@Q vlQn~ n]wY e~kk 0.387 sh 5.203 @v|. bYhs~pwQ gYhy`@g~
prQbYmN k`l`vr~wy avEr#qE 11.862 nm|, bE{ gYhy`@g~ prbYmN k`l`vr~wy vr~”;vln~ vnE@y~
If the semi-major axes of the orbits of Mercury and Jupiter are 0.387 and 5.203 astronomical units, respectively and
Jupiter’s orbital period is 11.862 years, the orbital period of Mercury in years would be

a) 2.106 b) 0.937 c) 0.402 d) 0.241

3. p”’”^}QvQ@y~ sQt sQkSr# gYhy` nrW]Ny krn vQt sQkSr# gYhy` sRr~yy` sm”M qk~vn uprQm @vn~vWm aAXk 46 nm|, sRr~yy`
sh sQkSr# gYhy` awr qEr n]wY e~kk vlQn~ vnE@y~ (p”’”^}QvQy h` sRr~yy` awr qEr n]wY e~kk 1 kQ.)
If the maximum elongation of Venus from the sun is 46 o , the Sun – Venus distance in astronomical units would be (the
distance between the Sun and the Earth is 1 AU)

a) 0.71 b) 0.72 c) 0.73 d) 0.93

4. hbl~ nQywy (H0 ), 70 km/s/Mpc @ls s#lkS vQt vQXv

~ @y~ vys a`sn~n vX@yn~ avEr#qE bQlQyn
Using the value for Hubble's constant H0 as 70 km/s/Mpc, the age of the universe can be computed approximately as (in
billion years)

a) 12.1 b) 13.6 c) 14.0 d) 15.0

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5. vQv{ u’;~Nw~v shQw wr# hwrk ekm wrAg a`y`m pr`s@y~ lb`gw~ vr~N`vlQ hwrk~ phw r$p@y~ q#k~@v|. @mm
vr~N`vlW hw@r~ ek~ ek~ wr#@v| s`@p~] wWv|rw` anEv sh e~v`@y~ av@X`~”;N @r~K` anEv w`rk` vl nQv#rqQ u’”’;~Nw~v
vr~gWkrNy vnE@y~
The four spectra shown in the figures are taken in the same wavelength range from four stars which have different type
of spectral classes. According to the maximum relative flux and the line absorptions in the given wavelength range,
identify the spectral classes of the four spectra.

a) 1- O type, 2- A type, 3- M type, 4- G type

b) 1- A type, 2- O type, 3- M type, 4- G type
c) 1- G type, 2- O type, 3- A type, 4- M type
d) 1- M type, 2- A type, 3- O type, 4- G type

6. p”’”^}QvQ@y~ sQtQn nQrW]kykSt s$m vQtm cn~qYy`@g~ ek~ p#w~wk~ pmNk~ @p@nn~@n~
The reason that we see the same side of the moon always is

a) 5 degrees angle between the planes of the moon and earth.

(cn~qYy`@g~ wlyw~ p”’”^}QvQ@y~ wlyw~ awr aAxk 5 k a`nwQy nQs`)
b) Moon does not rotate at all . (cn~qYy` bYmNy @n`vn nQs`)
c) Moon’s rotational speed is equal to the moon’s speed of revolution.
(cn~qYy`@g~ bYmNy k`ly sh prQbYmN k`ly sm`n nQs`)
d) Tidal effect of the moon on the earth. (cn~qYy`@gn~ p^}QvQy mw a#wQvn uqm| nQs`)

7. p”’”^}QvQ@y~ sQt nQrW]Ny krn sRr~yy` @g~ vr~N`vlQy av@X`~’;N vr~N`vlQykQ. nmEw~ o|n$m k^;~N vs~wSvkQn~ l#@bn
vr~N`vlQy vQ@m`~ck vr~N`vlQyk~ @v|. sRr~yy` @gn~ l#@bn vr~N`vlQy av@X;k vr~N`vlQyk~ vWmt @h~wSv vn~@n~
The solar spectrum observes in ground based telescope is an absorption spectrum. The spectrum of any black body is
usually an emission spectrum. The reason/s for the solar spectrum becomes an absorption is

a) The gases around the solar atmosphere (sRr~yy` vt` a#wQ v`yE @g`~l@y~ v`yRn~)
b) The Earth’s atmosphere ( p^}QvQ v`yE @g`~ly)
c) The convection current in the solar convection zone (sRr~yy` @g~ sAvhn kl`p@y~ a#wQvn sAvhn {`r`)
d) Both (a) and (b) (a sh b @qkm)

8. aynWkrny vR k#l~sQym| (Ca) vl pr~@y~’;N`g`r wrAg a`y`my 393.3 nm @v|. mn~q`kQNQykQn~ l#@bn @mm k#l~sQym|
@r~K`v nQrW]Ny klvQt ekW wrAg a`y`my 401.8 nm @ls q#k~@v|. mn~q`kQNQyt a#wQ qEr~ a`sn~n vX@yn~ @qnE
lbn~@n~ (pY@y`~jnvw~ qw~w: H0=70 km/s/Mpc, rk~w vQs~}`pny sh aRw~vW@m| @v|gy awr adE @v|g sm|bn~{w`vy
up@y`~gW krgn~n.)
When measured in a laboratory on Earth, ionized Ca is found to have a wavelength of 393.3 nm. When you observe the
spectrum of a galaxy you find this spectral line at 401.8nm. What is the approximate distance of the galaxy? (Useful
information: H0 = 70 km/s/Mpc, use low speed relationship between recessional speed(v) and red shift (z) )

a) 93 Mpc b) 60 Mpc c) 120 Mpc d) 205 Kpc

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9. bYhs~pwW@g~ q^X& vQX`lw~vy a`sn~n vX@yn~ -4 pmN @v|. pQ@yvQ a#st @p@nn qWp~wQ@yn~ adEm wr#@v| q^X&
vQx`lw~vy +6 nm|, bYhs~pwW @mm wr#vt vd` @k`pmN gSNyk~ qWp~wQmw~q?
Jupiter has a magnitude of about -4. Roughly, how many times brighter is the Jupiter than the dimmest stars visible to
the naked eye, with magnitude of + 6 ?

a) 100 b) 1000 c) 10000 d) 105

10. mn~q`kQNQyk a#wQ vQcl& w`rk`vk~ vn RR lyQ@r~ wr#vk~~ a`vr~wWy @ls ehQ pYx`vy @qgSN kryQ. evQt ehQ q^X&
vQX`lw~vy @k`pmN pYm`NykQn~ @vns ~@v|q?.
A RR Lyrae variable in a galaxy periodically doubles its light out put. By how much does its apparent magnitude
change?
a) 0.50 b) 0.75 c) 4.00 d) Does not change (@vns~ @n`@v|).

11. w`rk`vn~ vQv{ @prhn~ @y`q` nQrW]Ny krnE l#@b|. phw vgS@v| q#k~@vn~@n~ B sh V @prhn~ x`vQw` kr @s`y`gw~
wr# hwrk vQX`lw~v agyn~y. @mm wr# hw@rn~ pY}m@yn~m vQk`Xy vWm a`rm|x krn wr#v kSmk~q ?
The stars are observed through various filters. The following table shows 4 stars and their magnitudes observed through
B and V filters. Of those four stars which one will evolve first?

Star B V
E 0.56 0.34
F 0.78 0.58
G 0.29 0.89
H 0.45 0.54

a) E b) F c) G d) H

12. qE@r~]yk av@n@whQ n`xQ qERr 1m sh ehQ up@n@w hQ n`xQ qEr 20 mm nm|, qE@r~]@y~ vQX`lny vnE@y~
If the focal length of the objective of a telescope is 1 m and the focal length of its eye piece is 20 mm, the
magnification of the telescope is
a) 10 b) 50 c) 100 d) 200.

13. ek~wr` ps@l`s~vk qQnk r`wQY@y~ cn~qYy` vQsQn~ nQrW]k@ykS@g~ a#@shQ aAXk 0.49 k @k`~Nyk~ a`p`wny kryQ. em
r`wY@Q y~qW nQrW]ky` sh cn~qYy` awr qEr vnE@y~ (cn~qYy`@g~ vQ’;~km|xy 3476 km).
One night during a full Moon, the Moon subtends an angle of 0.49 degree to an observer. The observer’s distance to
the Moon on that night is (the diameter of the moon is 3476 km)

a) 432,947 km b) 203,223 km c) 406,446 km d) 384,400 km

14. hQr# vt` gmn~ gn~n` a`vr~wW {Rm@k~wSvk hQr#t a$wQn~m pQhQtn vQt qEr n]wY e~kk 31 vn awr hQr#t lgQn~m pQhQtn
vQt qEr n]wY e~kk 1 @v|. {Rm@k~wS@v| k]@y~ a`vr~w k`ly p^}QvQ vr~; vlQn~
A Sun-orbiting periodic comet is the farthest at 31 A.U. and the closest at 1 A.U. The orbital period of this comet (in
earth years) is

a) 8 b) 16 c) 64 d) 76

15. mwSpQt u;~Nw~vy 5000 K vn wr#vk~ uprQm Xk~wQy pQtkrnE lbn~@n~ kSmn wrAg a`y`m@y~qWq ? (wr#v k^;~N
vs~wSvk~ @s~ slk` vWn~@g~ nQymy x`vQw` krn~n, vWn~ nQywy = 2.898 x 10-3 m K)
At what wavelength does a star with the surface temperature of 5000 K radiate most intensely. (Consider the star as a
blackbody and use the Wien’s law, Wien constant = 2.898 x 10-3 m K)

a) 0.58 µm b) 0.75 µm c) 0.49 µm d) 0.63 µm

16. cn~qYy` mwSpQt a#wQ a`v`tyk vQ;~km|xy 80 km @v|. ap@g~ a#@shQ krNQk`@v| vQ;~km|xy 5 mm @ls upkl~pny
krmQn~ @mm a`v`ty pQyvQ a#sQn~ h[En`gw h#kQq#yQ qk~vn~n.
A crater on the surface of the Moon has a diameter of 80 km. Is it possible to resolve this crater with naked eyes,
assuming the eye pupil aperture is 5 mm ?

a) Yes (h#kQy) b) No(@n`h#kQy) c) Depend on country of observation(nQrW]ny krn rt mw wWrny @v|)

d) Data provided is insufficient to answer (pQLQwSr# s#pyWmt wrm| qw~w pYm`N`vw~ @n`@v|.)
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17. p^}QvQy mwSpQtqW 60 kg brk~ a#wQ mQnQskS h[t gQ@y~ nm|, h[ mwSpQtqW ohE@g~ br vnE@y~
The weight of a man on Earth’s surface is 60 kg. If he goes to the moon, his weight at the lunar surface would be
a) 10 kg b) 20 kg c) 60 kg d) 120 kg

18. sRr~yy`@g~ s~kn~{y 1.9891 x 10 30 kg q, p^}QvQ@y~ sQt sRr~yy`t a#wQ qEr 1.5 x 1011 m q nm| p^}QvQy wm k]@y~
gmn~ gn~n` @v|gy vnE@y~ (v^w`k`r k]yk~ slkn~n)
If the mass of the Sun is 1.9891 x 10 30 kg, and the distance between the Earth and the Sun is 1.5 x 1011 m, the orbital
velocity of the earth would be (assume a circular orbit)
a) 28 km/s b) 30 km/s c) 32 km/s
d) None of the above answers are correct. (ihw pQLQwSr# kQsQvk~ @n`@v|).

19. sRr~yy`@g~ pYx`v 3.9 X 1026 J/s vn awr ehQ a`sn~n vX@yn~ prm`NE 1057 pmN a#Ew. sRr~yy`@g~ pYwQkyYQ ` mgQn~
nQkSw~ vn Xk~wQ pYm`Ny 10-19 J/atom @s~ slk` ehQ smQpRrN prm`NE pYm`Ny x`vQw vWmt gwvn k`ly @s`yn~n.
The luminosity of the Sun is 3.9 X 1026 J/s and Sun contains roughly 1057 atoms. The reactions in the Sun involved in
burning release roughly 10-19 J/atom. What is the length of time required to consume the entire Sun by burning?

a) 3.9 trillion years. b) 2.6 x1012 years. c) 3.9x1011 seconds d) 0.26x1012 seconds

20. sRr~yy` ]Wrp}y mn~q`kQN@y~ m{&@y~ sQt d = 8500 pc qErQn~ pQhQt` a#w~nm| sh ehQ k]@y~ @v|gy v=220 km/s,
nm|, k]@y~ a`vr~} k`ly P= 2πd/v smWkrNy x`vQw`kr avEr#qE mQlQyn vlQn~ gnny krn~n.
If the Sun is at a distance (d )of 8500 pc from the centre of the Milky Way Galaxy and the Sun’s orbital speed ( v ) is
220 km/s, using the equation for period P= 2πd/v, calculate the orbital period of the sun about the centre of the Galaxy.
The answer is (in million years)

a) 225 b) 230 c) 400 d) 850

___________________________________________________________________________________________

B @k`ts / PART B
awQ@r~k @k`l @yq`gnQmQn~ phw pYX~nvlt pQLQwSr# spyn~n.
s$m awQ@r~k pQLQwSr# pwYykm ihlQn~ oB@g~ nm sh vQx`g aAky s[hn~ krn~n.
(Please provide your answers to this part using additional sheets.
Write your name and index number on top of each and every additional sheet)

21. vr~; 2006 a@g`~s~wS ms 24 qQn an~wr~ j`wQk w`rk` vQq&` sm|@m|lny mgQn~ sm|mw krgw~ prQq Q phw s[hn~ vs~wSn~
s[h` @qnlq nQr~vcnyn~ qk~vn~n. (a) gYh@l`~kyk~, (a`) v`mn gYh@l`~kyk~, (a#) kSd` @s_rgYh mN~dl vs~wSn~.
Based on the International Astronomical Union resolution passed on 24th August 2006 give the definitions of (a) a
planet, (b) a dwarf planet, and (c) Small Solar-System Bodies.

22. CCD k#mr`vk a`@l`~k sQA@v|qW pQk~sl @k`tsk pYm`Ny 9x10-6m @v|. @mm CCD k#mr`v 45 cm vQ;~km|xyk~ sh
F aAky f/12 vn k#s@g~Yn~ vrg@y~ qE@r~]ykt svQklvQt em k#mr`@v| pQk~sl ekk~ mw ahs mgQn~ a`p`wny krn
@k`~Ny vQkl`(a`k~ww~pr) vlQn~ @s`yn~n.
A CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera with pixel dimensions 9x10 -6m is attached to the Cassegrain focus of the
45cm, f/12 telescope. Find the angle subtended by a pixel in the sky in units of arcseconds.

23. ap sRr~yy` pY{`n anEkYmN@y~ sQtQn vQt wm s~kn~{@yn~ 10% ehQ hr@y~ qW n&;tQk pYwQkYQy` mgQn~ qhny kryQ. n&;tQk
pYwQkyYQ `@v|qW s~kn~{@yn~ 0.7% Xk~wQy bvt prQvr~wny @v|. ww~pr ekkqW sRr~yy`@gn~ pQtvn xk~wQy
L= 3.845x1026 J @v|. sRr~yy`@g~ skn~{y M= 1.9891x1030 Kg @v|. ayQn~s~tyQn~@g~ Xk~wQy h` s~kn~{y awr
pYsQq~{ smWkrNyk~ vn E=mc2 x`vQw` kr sRr~yy` pY{`n aNEkYm@yhQ gw krn k`ly avErEqE bQlQyn vlQn~ gnny
krn~n.
Our sun in the Main Sequence(MS) burns 10% of its total mass in the core. In the nuclear fusion reaction 0.7% of mass
is converted in to energy. The total energy output of the Sun in one second is L= 3.845x1026 J. The mass of the Sun
M= 1.9891x1030 Kg.
Using the Einstein’s famous equation for energy and mass, E=mc 2 find the life time of the Sun in the main sequence in
billions of years.

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24. H-R sthn a#[ ehQ sRr~yy` v#nQ wr#vk~ an~wrW] vl`vkQn~ a`rm|x vW wr#@v| avs`ny qk~v` vQk`Xy vn mr~gy a#[
qk~vn~n.
Draw the Hertzsprung-Russel (H-R) diagram and indicate the track of a sun like star on the same diagram during its
evolutionary history, i.e. birth from an interstellar cloud of gas and dust to its final demise.

25. wr#vk wWv|rw`vy (I) em wr#vt a#wQ qE@rhQ vr~gyt (d2) pYwQ@l`~mv sm`nEp`w @v|.
1
I
d2

enm| o|n$m wr#vk~ sRr~yy` @g~ sQt p`@sk~ 10 qErQn~ w#bRvQt @p@nn vQX`lw~vy em wr#@v| nQr@p~] vQX`lw~vy (M)
@ls ar} qk~vnE l#@b|. wr#vk pYk`X pr`s@y~ nQr@p~] vQX`lw~vy (Mv) sh pYk`X pr`s@y~ q^X& vQX`lw~vy(mv) sh
wWv|rw`vy (I)phw sm|bn~{y mgQn~ @qnE l#@b|.
M  mv  2.5log I (10 pc)  log I (d )
v
(a) ihw smWkrN @qk up@y`~gW krgnQmQn~
M v  mv  5 log d  5
bv @pn~vn~n.
(a`) emgQn~ q^X& vQX`lw~vy (mv) vn wr#vk~ sRr`yy`@g~ sQt p`@sk~ 63 (d) a$wQn~ w#bRvQt ehQ nQr@p~] vQX`lw~vy
(Mv) @syn~n.
The intensity (I) of a star is inversely proportional to the square of the distance (d 2) of the star.
1
I
d2
The magnitudes which the stars would have if they were at distance of 10 parsec are called the absolute magnitudes
( M ). The absolute visual magnitude ( M V ), apparent visual magnitude ( mv ) and the intensity ( I ) are related as
follows.
M  mv  2.5log I (10 pc)  log I (d )
v
a) Using above two relations show that
M v  mv  5 log d  5
b) For a star with mv  3.0 , the distance (d) was measured to be 63 pc. Find the absolute magnitude ( M V ) of the star.

*****

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