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Radio interferometry

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by rahulg83 » Sun Jun 21, 2009 11:20 am
Radio interferometry is a technique for studying details of celestial objects that combines signals intercepted by widely spaced radio telescopes. This technique requires ultra precise timing, exact knowledge of the locations of the telescopes, and sophisticated computer programs. The successful interferometric linking of an Earth-based radio telescope with a radio telescope on an orbiting satellite was therefore a significant technological accomplishment.

Which of the following can be correctly inferred from the statements above?
(A) Special care was taken in the launching of the satellite so that the calculations of its orbit would be facilitated.
(B) The signals received on the satellite are stronger than those received by a terrestrial telescope.
(C) The resolution of detail achieved by the satellite-Earth interferometer system is inferior to that achieved by exclusively terrestrial systems.
(D) The computer programs required for making use of the signals received by the satellite required a long time for development.
(E) The location of an orbiting satellite relative to locations on Earth can be well enough known for interferometric purposes

OA E
What's wrong with A?
Please explain your answer.
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Source: — Critical Reasoning |

by Domnu » Sun Jun 21, 2009 12:33 pm
I think that answer choice A was a trap; in reality, though it may (it most definitely is, as members from NASA could definitely attest to) be the case, nothing in the passage implies that choice A is the answer (nothing is mentioned about orbits, etc.). Choices B, C, and D are out of scope, so the answer should be E.

Nice question :)
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by ghacker » Sun Jun 21, 2009 6:15 pm
Radio interferometry is a technique for studying details of celestial objects that combines signals intercepted by widely spaced radio telescopes. This technique requires ultra precise timing, exact knowledge of the locations of the telescopes, and sophisticated computer programs. The successful interferometric linking of an Earth-based radio telescope with a radio telescope on an orbiting satellite was therefore a significant technological accomplishment.

the passage is about some thing called RI ( we are not expected to be knowledgeable on RI) so what can we say about RI from the what is presented in the passage ?

It uses some type of signals from different sources and combines them

and they have given 3 requirements
1.0 ultra precise timing,
2.0exact knowledge of the locations of the telescopes,
3.0 sophisticated computer programs

and says that some thing was a significant techno achievement

So what can we infer ?

The location of an orbiting satellite relative to locations on Earth can be well enough known for interferometric purposes

Nothing is known about the launch
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by viju9162 » Mon Jun 22, 2009 1:39 am
Intially, he gives a description about Radio interferometry. And later talks about interferometric linking, which is directly related to first point mentioned.

Hence, nowhere the author talks about the launching about the satellite. He has sticked to the radio interferometry and its entities
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by Sprite_TM » Tue Jun 23, 2009 5:03 pm
i think E

A: calculations - nothing mentioned
B: OOS - nothing to do with strength of signal
C resolution??
D: argument never mentions anything about long term development
E: yes, location must be known for satellite
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Hi

by ashaydesai » Sat Jun 27, 2009 4:14 am
To be frank.....its was a POE for me to get to Ans as E
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by ketkoag » Tue Jul 14, 2009 3:27 am
clearly E coz i think that all the other choices are out of scope..
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by amazonviper » Tue Jul 14, 2009 4:36 am
It is E since other choices are out of scope of this arguement..
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by james33 » Sun May 15, 2016 8:18 pm
I am pretty sure that the right Answer is E
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