Question 1

The temperature of the Sun's core is about 20,000 K.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Which of the following is not a method astronomers use to determine the physical conditions inside the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A) observing X- ray images of the solar interior using satellites 
B) measuring Doppler shifts to observe solar vibrations 
C) building mathematical models that use the laws of physics 
D) detecting solar neutrinos generated in the Sun's core 
E) both C and D 
A) observing X- ray images of the solar interior using satellites 
B) measuring Doppler shifts to observe solar vibrations 
C) building mathematical models that use the laws of physics 
D) detecting solar neutrinos generated in the Sun's core 
E) both C and D

Question 3

If the Sun's core suddenly shrank a little bit, what would happen in the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A) The core would heat up, causing it to radiate so much energy that it would shrink even more. 
B) The core would heat up, fusion rates would increase, the core would re- expand. 
C) The core would cool off and continue to shrink as its density increased. 
D) The density of the core would decrease, causing the core to cool off and expand. 
A) The core would heat up, causing it to radiate so much energy that it would shrink even more. 
B) The core would heat up, fusion rates would increase, the core would re- expand. 
C) The core would cool off and continue to shrink as its density increased. 
D) The density of the core would decrease, causing the core to cool off and expand.

Question 4

If the sun's surface cooled, how would its appearance change?

Accepted Answer

A) It would appear more blue. 
B) It would appear more red. 
C) It would stay the same. 
D) It would become bright white. 
A) It would appear more blue. 
B) It would appear more red. 
C) It would stay the same. 
D) It would become bright white.

Question 5

At the center of the Sun, nuclear fusion converts hydrogen into

Accepted Answer

A) hydrogen compounds such as methane. 
B) molecular hydrogen. 
C) helium, gamma rays, and neutrinos. 
D) radiation and elements such as carbon and nitrogen. 
E) radioactive elements such as uranium and plutonium. 
A) hydrogen compounds such as methane. 
B) molecular hydrogen. 
C) helium, gamma rays, and neutrinos. 
D) radiation and elements such as carbon and nitrogen. 
E) radioactive elements such as uranium and plutonium.

Question 6

What is the solar wind?

Accepted Answer

A) the wind that causes huge arcs of gas to rise above the Sun's surface 
B) the strong wind that blows sunspots around on the surface of the Sun 
C) the uppermost layer of the Sun, lying just above the corona 
D) a stream of charged particles flowing outward from the surface of the Sun 
A) the wind that causes huge arcs of gas to rise above the Sun's surface 
B) the strong wind that blows sunspots around on the surface of the Sun 
C) the uppermost layer of the Sun, lying just above the corona 
D) a stream of charged particles flowing outward from the surface of the Sun

Question 7

It takes years for the sun to progress through one sunspot cycle, wherein sunspots appear at high latitudes, shift to lower and lower latitude, then return to high latitudes. Refer to the graph above.

Accepted Answer

A) about 10 years 
B) about 110 years 
C) about 1 year 
D) This figure cannot be used to answer this question. 
A) about 10 years 
B) about 110 years 
C) about 1 year 
D) This figure cannot be used to answer this question.

Question 8

What would happen in the Sun if the temperature of the core decreased?

Accepted Answer

A) The fusion rate decreases, then the core expands and heats. 
B) The fusion rate decreases, then the core shrinks and heats. 
C) The fusion rate increases, then the core expands and cools. 
D) The fusion rate increases, then the core shrinks and heats. 
A) The fusion rate decreases, then the core expands and heats. 
B) The fusion rate decreases, then the core shrinks and heats. 
C) The fusion rate increases, then the core expands and cools. 
D) The fusion rate increases, then the core shrinks and heats.

Question 9

The source of energy that keeps the Sun shining today is .

Accepted Answer

A) gravitational contraction 
B) nuclear fission 
C) nuclear fusion 
D) chemical reactions 
A) gravitational contraction 
B) nuclear fission 
C) nuclear fusion 
D) chemical reactions

Question 10

Why does the Sun emit neutrinos?

Accepted Answer

A) Fusion in the Sun's core creates neutrinos. 
B) The Sun was born with a supply of neutrinos that it gradually emits into space. 
C) Solar flares create neutrinos with magnetic fields. 
D) Convection releases neutrinos, which random walk through the radiation zone. 
E) The Sun does not emit neutrinos. 
A) Fusion in the Sun's core creates neutrinos. 
B) The Sun was born with a supply of neutrinos that it gradually emits into space. 
C) Solar flares create neutrinos with magnetic fields. 
D) Convection releases neutrinos, which random walk through the radiation zone. 
E) The Sun does not emit neutrinos.

Question 11

Which of the following statements about the sunspot cycle is not true?

Accepted Answer

A) The magnetic polarity of the Sun reverses approximately every 11 years. 
B) The rate of nuclear fusion in the Sun peaks about every 11 years. 
C) At solar minimum, the first sunspots form at mid- latitudes on the Sun. 
D) The number of solar flares peaks about every 11 years. 
E) The number of sunspots peaks approximately every 11 years. 
A) The magnetic polarity of the Sun reverses approximately every 11 years. 
B) The rate of nuclear fusion in the Sun peaks about every 11 years. 
C) At solar minimum, the first sunspots form at mid- latitudes on the Sun. 
D) The number of solar flares peaks about every 11 years. 
E) The number of sunspots peaks approximately every 11 years.

Question 12

The proton- proton chain converts four hydrogen nuclei into one helium nucleus plus energy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Imagine nuclear fusion suddenly ceases in the Sun's core. How long would it take for us to discover the problem, and how could we discover it? How long would it take for us experience the negative consequences of this change, and why?

Accepted Answer

We could discover the problem within a f

Question 14

How much mass does the Sun lose through nuclear fusion per second?

Accepted Answer

A) 4 tons 
B) 600 tons 
C) 4 million tons 
D) 600 million tons 
E) Nothing; mass- energy is conserved. 
A) 4 tons 
B) 600 tons 
C) 4 million tons 
D) 600 million tons 
E) Nothing; mass- energy is conserved.

Question 15

Which of the following is the best answer to the question, "Why does the Sun shine?"

Accepted Answer

A) As the Sun was forming, gravitational contraction increased the Sun's temperature until the core became hot enough for nuclear fusion, which ever since has generated the heat that makes the Sun shine. 
B) The Sun initially began generating energy through nuclear fusion as it formed, but today it generates energy primarily through the sunspot cycle. 
C) As the Sun was forming, nuclear fusion reactions in the shrinking clouds of gas slowly became stronger and stronger, until the Sun reached its current luminosity. 
D) The Sun initially began making energy through chemical reactions. These heated the interior enough to allow gravitational contraction and nuclear fusion to occur. 
A) As the Sun was forming, gravitational contraction increased the Sun's temperature until the core became hot enough for nuclear fusion, which ever since has generated the heat that makes the Sun shine. 
B) The Sun initially began generating energy through nuclear fusion as it formed, but today it generates energy primarily through the sunspot cycle. 
C) As the Sun was forming, nuclear fusion reactions in the shrinking clouds of gas slowly became stronger and stronger, until the Sun reached its current luminosity. 
D) The Sun initially began making energy through chemical reactions. These heated the interior enough to allow gravitational contraction and nuclear fusion to occur.

Question 16

The chromosphere is the layer of the Sun that we see as its visible surface.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Interdisciplinary Science: Significant advancements in science often occur when several separate and distinct scientific disciplines come together to address a single question. Use the search for the Sun's energy source as a case study. Outline how astronomy and physics were driven to consider new possibilities for the Sun's energy by the fields of geology and biology.

Accepted Answer

The search for the Sun's energy source i

Question 18

Studies of solar vibrations have revealed that

Accepted Answer

A) our mathematical models of the solar interior are fairly accurate. 
B) the Sun vibrates only on the surface. 
C) they are caused by processes similar to those that create earthquakes. 
D) neutrinos from the solar core reach the solar surface easily. 
E) the Sun generates energy by nuclear fusion. 
A) our mathematical models of the solar interior are fairly accurate. 
B) the Sun vibrates only on the surface. 
C) they are caused by processes similar to those that create earthquakes. 
D) neutrinos from the solar core reach the solar surface easily. 
E) the Sun generates energy by nuclear fusion.

Question 19

The core of the Sun is

Accepted Answer

A) much hotter and much denser than its surface. 
B) at the same temperature and density as its surface. 
C) composed of iron. 
D) at the same temperature but much denser than its surface. 
E) constantly rising to the surface through convection. 
A) much hotter and much denser than its surface. 
B) at the same temperature and density as its surface. 
C) composed of iron. 
D) at the same temperature but much denser than its surface. 
E) constantly rising to the surface through convection.

Question 20

Why isn't the Sun shrinking or expanding?

Accepted Answer

A) Because the Sun is spinning so fast, the centrifugal forces keep the surface of the Sun supported against collapse. 
B) because the Sun is solid 
C) because gas pressure balances gravity in the Sun 
D) because the Sun has lived for billions of years 
A) Because the Sun is spinning so fast, the centrifugal forces keep the surface of the Sun supported against collapse. 
B) because the Sun is solid 
C) because gas pressure balances gravity in the Sun 
D) because the Sun has lived for billions of years

The temperature of the Sun's core is about 20,000 K.

Which of the following is not a method astronomers use to determine the physical conditions inside the Sun?

If the Sun's core suddenly shrank a little bit, what would happen in the Sun?

If the sun's surface cooled, how would its appearance change?

At the center of the Sun, nuclear fusion converts hydrogen into

What is the solar wind?

It takes years for the sun to progress through one sunspot cycle, wherein sunspots appear at high latitudes, shift to lower and lower latitude, then return to high latitudes. Refer to the graph above.

What would happen in the Sun if the temperature of the core decreased?

The source of energy that keeps the Sun shining today is .

Why does the Sun emit neutrinos?

Which of the following statements about the sunspot cycle is not true?

The proton- proton chain converts four hydrogen nuclei into one helium nucleus plus energy.

Imagine nuclear fusion suddenly ceases in the Sun's core. How long would it take for us to discover the problem, and how could we discover it? How long would it take for us experience the negative consequences of this change, and why?

How much mass does the Sun lose through nuclear fusion per second?

Which of the following is the best answer to the question, "Why does the Sun shine?"

The chromosphere is the layer of the Sun that we see as its visible surface.

Studies of solar vibrations have revealed that

The core of the Sun is

Why isn't the Sun shrinking or expanding?

A Modern View of the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet System

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Other Planetary Systems: the New Science of Distant Worlds

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

A Universe of Galaxies

The Birth of the Universe

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

Life in the Universe

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Exam 11: Our Star

The temperature of the Sun's core is about 20,000 K.

Which of the following is not a method astronomers use to determine the physical conditions inside the Sun?

If the Sun's core suddenly shrank a little bit, what would happen in the Sun?

If the sun's surface cooled, how would its appearance change?

At the center of the Sun, nuclear fusion converts hydrogen into

What is the solar wind?

It takes years for the sun to progress through one sunspot cycle, wherein sunspots appear at high latitudes, shift to lower and lower latitude, then return to high latitudes. Refer to the graph above.

What would happen in the Sun if the temperature of the core decreased?

The source of energy that keeps the Sun shining today is .

Why does the Sun emit neutrinos?

Which of the following statements about the sunspot cycle is not true?

The proton- proton chain converts four hydrogen nuclei into one helium nucleus plus energy.

Imagine nuclear fusion suddenly ceases in the Sun's core. How long would it take for us to discover the problem, and how could we discover it? How long would it take for us experience the negative consequences of this change, and why?

How much mass does the Sun lose through nuclear fusion per second?

Which of the following is the best answer to the question, "Why does the Sun shine?"

The chromosphere is the layer of the Sun that we see as its visible surface.

Studies of solar vibrations have revealed that

The core of the Sun is

Why isn't the Sun shrinking or expanding?

A Modern View of the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet System

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Other Planetary Systems: the New Science of Distant Worlds

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

A Universe of Galaxies

The Birth of the Universe

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

Life in the Universe

Filters