Question 1

Which of these phenomena on the Sun does NOT appear to be a source of particles traveling out into the solar system from the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  spicules 
B)  eruptive prominences 
C)  coronal holes 
D)  flares 
A)  spicules 
B)  eruptive prominences 
C)  coronal holes 
D)  flares

Question 2

Over the course of a sunspot cycle of about 11 years, the regions of sunspot occurrence on the Sun move

Accepted Answer

A)  from the northern to the southern hemisphere or vice versa, across the equator, within the range of ±30° latitude. 
B)  from the poles to the equator. 
C)  poleward, moving from 10° to 30° latitude. 
D)  toward the equator, moving from 30° to near zero latitude. 
A)  from the northern to the southern hemisphere or vice versa, across the equator, within the range of ±30° latitude. 
B)  from the poles to the equator. 
C)  poleward, moving from 10° to 30° latitude. 
D)  toward the equator, moving from 30° to near zero latitude.

Question 3

Solar magnetic activity at the present time in history seems to vary almost periodically with a time scale of

Accepted Answer

A)  100 years. 
B)  5 minutes. 
C)  22 years. 
D)  2 years. 
A)  100 years. 
B)  5 minutes. 
C)  22 years. 
D)  2 years.

Question 4

How are spicules formed in the Sun's chromosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  Spicules are formed from material on the tops of granules "tossed" to higher altitudes by the oscillations of the Sun's surface. 
B)  Spicules are formed from gas carried upward along with the magnetic field lines at the edges of supergranules. 
C)  Spicules form where the Sun's twisted magnetic field lines break through the photosphere. 
D)  Spicules are the remnants or "stumps" of solar prominences that have broken free of the magnetic fields that confine them and have erupted out into space. 
A)  Spicules are formed from material on the tops of granules "tossed" to higher altitudes by the oscillations of the Sun's surface. 
B)  Spicules are formed from gas carried upward along with the magnetic field lines at the edges of supergranules. 
C)  Spicules form where the Sun's twisted magnetic field lines break through the photosphere. 
D)  Spicules are the remnants or "stumps" of solar prominences that have broken free of the magnetic fields that confine them and have erupted out into space.

Question 5

What is a spicule on the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  bright arc of gas suspended above the edge of the visible disk of the Sun 
B)  long, thin, curved line of bright gas in the corona 
C)  small, bright cell in the photosphere 
D)  jet of rising gas in the chromosphere 
A)  bright arc of gas suspended above the edge of the visible disk of the Sun 
B)  long, thin, curved line of bright gas in the corona 
C)  small, bright cell in the photosphere 
D)  jet of rising gas in the chromosphere

Question 6

If the solar wind particles have speeds of 3 *106 km/h, how long will it take for them to travel from the Sun to Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  50,000 hours, or 2000 days 
B)  5 hours, or less than 1/4 day 
C)  0.5 hour, or about 30 minutes 
D)  50 hours, or about 2 days 
A)  50,000 hours, or 2000 days 
B)  5 hours, or less than 1/4 day 
C)  0.5 hour, or about 30 minutes 
D)  50 hours, or about 2 days

Question 7

What is the lifetime of a typical sunspot?

Accepted Answer

A)  two months 
B)  an hour 
C)  11 years 
D)  from a few years to a few decades 
A)  two months 
B)  an hour 
C)  11 years 
D)  from a few years to a few decades

Question 8

Which of these does NOT help to explain why the photosphere is called the visible surface of the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  The photosphere marks an abrupt change in the Sun's density, which increases dramatically just below it. 
B)  Most of the visible light seen from the Sun originates within the photosphere. 
C)  Because of increased density below the photosphere, light originating there is unlikely to survive the journey out of the Sun. 
D)  The gas above the photosphere is too rarified to produce a significant amount of light. 
A)  The photosphere marks an abrupt change in the Sun's density, which increases dramatically just below it. 
B)  Most of the visible light seen from the Sun originates within the photosphere. 
C)  Because of increased density below the photosphere, light originating there is unlikely to survive the journey out of the Sun. 
D)  The gas above the photosphere is too rarified to produce a significant amount of light.

Question 9

How does the Sun's overall magnetic field behave?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Sun does not have an overall coherent field but magnetic fields, and their polarity is centered on sunspots and randomly distributed over the Sun. 
B)  The northern and southern hemispheres have the same magnetic polarity, which reverses every 11 years. 
C)  The northern and southern hemispheres have opposite magnetic polarity, which reverses every 11 years. 
D)  The poles of the Sun have the opposite magnetic polarity from the equator, which reverses every 11 years. 
A)  The Sun does not have an overall coherent field but magnetic fields, and their polarity is centered on sunspots and randomly distributed over the Sun. 
B)  The northern and southern hemispheres have the same magnetic polarity, which reverses every 11 years. 
C)  The northern and southern hemispheres have opposite magnetic polarity, which reverses every 11 years. 
D)  The poles of the Sun have the opposite magnetic polarity from the equator, which reverses every 11 years.

Question 10

If sunspots are cooler than the photosphere (by as much as 1500 K), what would be the peak wavelength in a sunspot spectrum compared with the peak wavelength of the photospheric spectrum?

Accepted Answer

A)  shorter 
B)  either shorter or longer, depending on the magnetic field strength in the sunspot 
C)  same because the chemical composition is the same (hydrogen and helium) 
D)  longer 
A)  shorter 
B)  either shorter or longer, depending on the magnetic field strength in the sunspot 
C)  same because the chemical composition is the same (hydrogen and helium) 
D)  longer

Question 11

What is the average length of time from one maximum in the number of sunspots on the Sun to the next maximum?

Accepted Answer

A)  22 years 
B)  7 years 
C)  11 years 
D)  4 $1 / 2$ years 
A)  22 years 
B)  7 years 
C)  11 years 
D)  4 $1 / 2$ years

Question 12

The Sun's source of energy at the present time is

Accepted Answer

A)  thermonuclear fission (splitting) of heavy elements into hydrogen. 
B)  thermonuclear fusion (combination) of hydrogen atoms. 
C)  the chemical burning of hydrogen gas with oxygen. 
D)  gravitational contraction. 
A)  thermonuclear fission (splitting) of heavy elements into hydrogen. 
B)  thermonuclear fusion (combination) of hydrogen atoms. 
C)  the chemical burning of hydrogen gas with oxygen. 
D)  gravitational contraction.

Question 13

What is the energy source for the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  thermonuclear fusion in the core 
B)  radioactive decay of the nuclei of heavy elements 
C)  primordial heat, left behind from when the Sun first formed 
D)  heat released by gravitational contraction as the Sun slowly shrinks 
A)  thermonuclear fusion in the core 
B)  radioactive decay of the nuclei of heavy elements 
C)  primordial heat, left behind from when the Sun first formed 
D)  heat released by gravitational contraction as the Sun slowly shrinks

Question 14

Until recent times, astronomers had to await a total solar eclipse to study the chromosphere. Why couldn't an observer hold a coin in front of them to cover the solar disk and create an artificial "eclipse" that would permit them to study the chromosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  Refraction of light around the coin will cause light from the photosphere to enter the observer's eye along with light from the chromosphere. 
B)  Light from the very rarified chromosphere is too weak to penetrate Earth's atmosphere. 
C)  Scattering by Earth's atmosphere will allow light from the photosphere to pass around the coin and enter the observer's eye. 
D)  Even with electronic equipment, it is not possible to hold the coin steady enough against the apparent motion of the Sun to view only the thin chromosphere. 
A)  Refraction of light around the coin will cause light from the photosphere to enter the observer's eye along with light from the chromosphere. 
B)  Light from the very rarified chromosphere is too weak to penetrate Earth's atmosphere. 
C)  Scattering by Earth's atmosphere will allow light from the photosphere to pass around the coin and enter the observer's eye. 
D)  Even with electronic equipment, it is not possible to hold the coin steady enough against the apparent motion of the Sun to view only the thin chromosphere.

Question 15

Is there a connection between plages and sunspots?

Accepted Answer

A)  No. Sunspots are a photospheric phenomenon, while plages occur in the chromosphere. 
B)  Yes. The magnetic fields that result in sunspots in the photosphere continue on up through the chromosphere where they produce plages. 
C)  Yes. The magnetic fields that result in sunspots in the photosphere compress the gases above the photosphere, and this pressure creates plages in the chromosphere. 
D)  Yes. The 5- minute oscillations of the photosphere push the sunspots up into the chromosphere every 5 minutes and thus results in plages. 
A)  No. Sunspots are a photospheric phenomenon, while plages occur in the chromosphere. 
B)  Yes. The magnetic fields that result in sunspots in the photosphere continue on up through the chromosphere where they produce plages. 
C)  Yes. The magnetic fields that result in sunspots in the photosphere compress the gases above the photosphere, and this pressure creates plages in the chromosphere. 
D)  Yes. The 5- minute oscillations of the photosphere push the sunspots up into the chromosphere every 5 minutes and thus results in plages.

Question 16

Sunspots are caused by

Accepted Answer

A)  the impact of meteoroids and comets on the solar surface. 
B)  differential rotation and its effect on magnetic fields just under the solar surface. 
C)  dark, absorbing clouds hanging over the surface, above the magnetic field regions. 
D)  coronal holes, which darken the surface. 
A)  the impact of meteoroids and comets on the solar surface. 
B)  differential rotation and its effect on magnetic fields just under the solar surface. 
C)  dark, absorbing clouds hanging over the surface, above the magnetic field regions. 
D)  coronal holes, which darken the surface.

Question 17

Which of these statements describes the current understanding of the conservation of mass and energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mass is conserved; energy is not conserved. 
B)  Both mass and energy are separately conserved. 
C)  The sum of mass (times c2) and energy is conserved. 
D)  Physicists are still searching for a comprehensive conservation rule involving mass and energy. 
A)  Mass is conserved; energy is not conserved. 
B)  Both mass and energy are separately conserved. 
C)  The sum of mass (times c2) and energy is conserved. 
D)  Physicists are still searching for a comprehensive conservation rule involving mass and energy.

Question 18

What is the name of a small jet of rising gas in the chromosphere of the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  flare 
B)  spicule 
C)  prominence 
D)  granule 
A)  flare 
B)  spicule 
C)  prominence 
D)  granule

Question 19

How long does a typical flare on the Sun last?

Accepted Answer

A)  about a minute 
B)  2 months 
C)  less than an hour 
D)  5 days 
A)  about a minute 
B)  2 months 
C)  less than an hour 
D)  5 days

Question 20

Large regions of the Sun's chromosphere rise and fall vertically. These are called supergranules, and the boundaries of supergranules are marked by

Accepted Answer

A)  vents. 
B)  sunspots. 
C)  spicules. 
D)  granules. 
A)  vents. 
B)  sunspots. 
C)  spicules. 
D)  granules.

Which of these phenomena on the Sun does NOT appear to be a source of particles traveling out into the solar system from the Sun?

Over the course of a sunspot cycle of about 11 years, the regions of sunspot occurrence on the Sun move

Solar magnetic activity at the present time in history seems to vary almost periodically with a time scale of

How are spicules formed in the Sun's chromosphere?

What is a spicule on the Sun?

If the solar wind particles have speeds of 3 *10⁶ km/h, how long will it take for them to travel from the Sun to Earth?

What is the lifetime of a typical sunspot?

Which of these does NOT help to explain why the photosphere is called the visible surface of the Sun?

How does the Sun's overall magnetic field behave?

If sunspots are cooler than the photosphere (by as much as 1500 K), what would be the peak wavelength in a sunspot spectrum compared with the peak wavelength of the photospheric spectrum?

What is the average length of time from one maximum in the number of sunspots on the Sun to the next maximum?

The Sun's source of energy at the present time is

What is the energy source for the Sun?

Until recent times, astronomers had to await a total solar eclipse to study the chromosphere. Why couldn't an observer hold a coin in front of them to cover the solar disk and create an artificial "eclipse" that would permit them to study the chromosphere?

Is there a connection between plages and sunspots?

Sunspots are caused by

Which of these statements describes the current understanding of the conservation of mass and energy?

What is the name of a small jet of rising gas in the chromosphere of the Sun?

How long does a typical flare on the Sun last?

Large regions of the Sun's chromosphere rise and fall vertically. These are called supergranules, and the boundaries of supergranules are marked by

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Motion of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Atomic Physics and Spectra

Exoplanets and the Formation of Planetary Systems

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Moon

The Other Terrestrial Planets

The Outer Planets

Vagabonds of the Solar System

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Death of Stars

Black Holes: Matters of Gravity

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Quasars and Other Active Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

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Exam 11: The Sun: Our Extraordinary Star

Which of these phenomena on the Sun does NOT appear to be a source of particles traveling out into the solar system from the Sun?

Over the course of a sunspot cycle of about 11 years, the regions of sunspot occurrence on the Sun move

Solar magnetic activity at the present time in history seems to vary almost periodically with a time scale of

How are spicules formed in the Sun's chromosphere?

What is a spicule on the Sun?

If the solar wind particles have speeds of 3 *106 km/h, how long will it take for them to travel from the Sun to Earth?

What is the lifetime of a typical sunspot?

Which of these does NOT help to explain why the photosphere is called the visible surface of the Sun?

How does the Sun's overall magnetic field behave?

If sunspots are cooler than the photosphere (by as much as 1500 K), what would be the peak wavelength in a sunspot spectrum compared with the peak wavelength of the photospheric spectrum?

What is the average length of time from one maximum in the number of sunspots on the Sun to the next maximum?

The Sun's source of energy at the present time is

What is the energy source for the Sun?

Until recent times, astronomers had to await a total solar eclipse to study the chromosphere. Why couldn't an observer hold a coin in front of them to cover the solar disk and create an artificial "eclipse" that would permit them to study the chromosphere?

Is there a connection between plages and sunspots?

Sunspots are caused by

Which of these statements describes the current understanding of the conservation of mass and energy?

What is the name of a small jet of rising gas in the chromosphere of the Sun?

How long does a typical flare on the Sun last?

Large regions of the Sun's chromosphere rise and fall vertically. These are called supergranules, and the boundaries of supergranules are marked by

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Motion of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Atomic Physics and Spectra

Exoplanets and the Formation of Planetary Systems

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Moon

The Other Terrestrial Planets

The Outer Planets

Vagabonds of the Solar System

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Death of Stars

Black Holes: Matters of Gravity

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Quasars and Other Active Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters

If the solar wind particles have speeds of 3 *10⁶ km/h, how long will it take for them to travel from the Sun to Earth?