Answer the following questions: (a) Long distance radio broadcasts use short-wave bands. Why? (b) It is necessary to use satellites for long distance TV transmission. Why? (c) Optical and radiotelescopes are built on the ground but X-ray astronomy is possible only from satellites orbiting the earth. Why? (d) The small ozone layer on top of the stratosphere is crucial for human survival. Why? (e) If the earth did not have an atmosphere, would its average surface temperature be higher or lower than what it is now? (f) Some scientists have predicted that a global nuclear war on the earth would be followed by a severe ‘nuclear winter’ with a devastating effect on life on earth. What might be the basis of this prediction? Answer the following questions: (a) Long distance radio broadcasts use short-wave bands. Why? (b) It is necessary to use satellites for long distance TV transmission. Why? (c) Optical and radiotelescopes are built on the ground but X-ray astronomy is possible only from satellites orbiting the earth. Why? (d) The small ozone layer on top of the stratosphere is crucial for human survival. Why? (e) If the earth did not have an atmosphere, would its average surface temperature be higher or lower than what it is now? (f) Some scientists have predicted that a global nuclear war on the earth would be followed by a severe ‘nuclear winter’ with a devastating effect on life on earth. What might be the basis of this prediction?

Explanation

(a)

Long-distance radio broadcasts use short-wave bands because they can be reflected by the ionosphere of the earth's atmosphere and thus can be sent to longer distances.

(b)


Yes, long-distance TV transmission requires UHF and still higher frequencies. The ionosphere does not reflect frequencies more than 30 MHz and hence satellites are used to reflect these waves.


(c)


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