Question 1

Approximately how many neutrinos pass through your body each second?

Accepted Answer

A) about 1023 
B) about one thousand 
C) about a thousand trillion 
D) None; they are blocked by the Earth's atmosphere. 
A) about 1023 
B) about one thousand 
C) about a thousand trillion 
D) None; they are blocked by the Earth's atmosphere.

Question 2

The Sun's surface, as we see it with our eyes, is called the .

Accepted Answer

A) chromosphere 
B) core 
C) corona 
D) photosphere 
A) chromosphere 
B) core 
C) corona 
D) photosphere

Question 3

Which of the following processes is involved in the sunspot cycle?

Accepted Answer

A) an imbalance in the operation of the solar thermostat 
B) small variations in the rate of nuclear energy generation in the solar interior 
C) a large change in the amount of visible light emitted by the Sun 
D) a slight gravitational contraction of the Sun 
E) the winding of magnetic field lines due to the Sun's rotation 
A) an imbalance in the operation of the solar thermostat 
B) small variations in the rate of nuclear energy generation in the solar interior 
C) a large change in the amount of visible light emitted by the Sun 
D) a slight gravitational contraction of the Sun 
E) the winding of magnetic field lines due to the Sun's rotation

Question 4

How do we test our computer models for the interior of the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A) monitoring the helium content of the surface of the Sun 
B) comparing model predictions to how the Sun actually vibrates 
C) taking movies of the solar prominences and flares 
D) sending a probe to the Sun to plunge into its interior 
A) monitoring the helium content of the surface of the Sun 
B) comparing model predictions to how the Sun actually vibrates 
C) taking movies of the solar prominences and flares 
D) sending a probe to the Sun to plunge into its interior

Question 5

In the late 1800s, Kelvin and Helmholtz suggested that the Sun stayed hot due to gravitational contraction. What was the major drawback to this idea?

Accepted Answer

A) It predicted that Earth would also shrink in size with time, which would make it impossible to have stable geology on our planet. 
B) It predicted that the Sun could shine for about 25 million years, but geologists had already found that Earth is much older than this. 
C) It predicted that the Sun would shrink noticeably as we watched it, but the Sun appears to be stable in size. 
D) It is physically impossible to generate heat simply by making a star shrink in size. 
A) It predicted that Earth would also shrink in size with time, which would make it impossible to have stable geology on our planet. 
B) It predicted that the Sun could shine for about 25 million years, but geologists had already found that Earth is much older than this. 
C) It predicted that the Sun would shrink noticeably as we watched it, but the Sun appears to be stable in size. 
D) It is physically impossible to generate heat simply by making a star shrink in size.

Question 6

When is/was gravitational contraction an important energy generation mechanism for the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A) It was important when the Sun was forming from a shrinking interstellar cloud of gas. 
B) It has played a role throughout the Sun's history, but it was most important right after nuclear fusion began in the Sun's core. 
C) It is important during periods when the Sun is going from solar maximum to solar minimum. 
D) It is the primary energy generation mechanism in the Sun today. 
A) It was important when the Sun was forming from a shrinking interstellar cloud of gas. 
B) It has played a role throughout the Sun's history, but it was most important right after nuclear fusion began in the Sun's core. 
C) It is important during periods when the Sun is going from solar maximum to solar minimum. 
D) It is the primary energy generation mechanism in the Sun today.

Question 7

Imagine that you are trying to stop neutrinos with a lead shield. How thick would you need to make this shield to ensure that it can stop a neutrino?

Accepted Answer

A) about 150 million kilometers (the size of an astronomical unit) 
B) about 700,000 kilometers (the radius of the Sun) 
C) about one meter 
D) about 14 billion light years (the size of the observable universe) 
E) about one light year 
A) about 150 million kilometers (the size of an astronomical unit) 
B) about 700,000 kilometers (the radius of the Sun) 
C) about one meter 
D) about 14 billion light years (the size of the observable universe) 
E) about one light year

Question 8

List at least two ways the sunspot cycle affects us on the Earth.

Accepted Answer

Finally, the increas

Question 9

Suppose you try to bring two protons close together. Because of the electromagnetic force, the two protons will

Accepted Answer

A) remain stationary. 
B) join together to form a deuterium nucleus. 
C) attract one another. 
D) repel one another. 
E) collide. 
A) remain stationary. 
B) join together to form a deuterium nucleus. 
C) attract one another. 
D) repel one another. 
E) collide.

Question 10

Describe two general ways we learn about the Sun's interior.

Accepted Answer

Another way that we can learn

Question 11

The sun's X- ray and ultraviolet light output is greater than what we would expect based on the photosphere's temperature.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Which of the following choices is not a way by which we can study the inside of the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A) We can make a computer model of the Sun's interior that allows us to predict the observable properties of the Sun. 
B) We can send a space probe into the Sun's photosphere. 
C) We can study solar neutrinos. 
D) We can probe the interior of the Sun by studying the vibrations in its photosphere. 
A) We can make a computer model of the Sun's interior that allows us to predict the observable properties of the Sun. 
B) We can send a space probe into the Sun's photosphere. 
C) We can study solar neutrinos. 
D) We can probe the interior of the Sun by studying the vibrations in its photosphere.

Question 13

The Sun's average surface (photosphere)temperature is about .

Accepted Answer

A) 1,000 K 
B) 37,000 K 
C) 1,000,000 K 
D) 5,800 K 
A) 1,000 K 
B) 37,000 K 
C) 1,000,000 K 
D) 5,800 K

Question 14

Although the Sun does not generate energy by gravitational contraction today, this energy- generation mechanism was important when the Sun was forming.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Approximately how many neutrinos pass through your body each second?

The Sun's surface, as we see it with our eyes, is called the .

Which of the following processes is involved in the sunspot cycle?

How do we test our computer models for the interior of the Sun?

In the late 1800s, Kelvin and Helmholtz suggested that the Sun stayed hot due to gravitational contraction. What was the major drawback to this idea?

When is/was gravitational contraction an important energy generation mechanism for the Sun?

Imagine that you are trying to stop neutrinos with a lead shield. How thick would you need to make this shield to ensure that it can stop a neutrino?

List at least two ways the sunspot cycle affects us on the Earth.

Suppose you try to bring two protons close together. Because of the electromagnetic force, the two protons will

Describe two general ways we learn about the Sun's interior.

The sun's X- ray and ultraviolet light output is greater than what we would expect based on the photosphere's temperature.

Which of the following choices is not a way by which we can study the inside of the Sun?

The Sun's average surface (photosphere)temperature is about .

Although the Sun does not generate energy by gravitational contraction today, this energy- generation mechanism was important when the Sun was forming.

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

Approximately how many neutrinos pass through your body each second?

The Sun's surface, as we see it with our eyes, is called the .

Which of the following processes is involved in the sunspot cycle?

How do we test our computer models for the interior of the Sun?

In the late 1800s, Kelvin and Helmholtz suggested that the Sun stayed hot due to gravitational contraction. What was the major drawback to this idea?

When is/was gravitational contraction an important energy generation mechanism for the Sun?

Imagine that you are trying to stop neutrinos with a lead shield. How thick would you need to make this shield to ensure that it can stop a neutrino?

List at least two ways the sunspot cycle affects us on the Earth.

Suppose you try to bring two protons close together. Because of the electromagnetic force, the two protons will

Describe two general ways we learn about the Sun's interior.

The sun's X- ray and ultraviolet light output is greater than what we would expect based on the photosphere's temperature.

Which of the following choices is not a way by which we can study the inside of the Sun?

The Sun's average surface (photosphere)temperature is about .

Although the Sun does not generate energy by gravitational contraction today, this energy- generation mechanism was important when the Sun was forming.

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