Question 1

Which occurrence led astronomers to the conclusion that the temperature of the gases in the solar corona is very high?

Accepted Answer

A)  detection of emission lines from highly ionized elements like iron 
B)  measurement of the brightness and spectrum of the continuum visible light from the corona during eclipses 
C)  direct measurements using space probes exploring the corona 
D)  observation of the effect of these gases on the planets Mercury and Venus 
A)  detection of emission lines from highly ionized elements like iron 
B)  measurement of the brightness and spectrum of the continuum visible light from the corona during eclipses 
C)  direct measurements using space probes exploring the corona 
D)  observation of the effect of these gases on the planets Mercury and Venus

Question 2

Intense magnetic fields have been found to exist in sunspots by the observation of what specific physical effect?

Accepted Answer

A)  Zeeman effect, the splitting of spectral absorption lines 
B)  Doppler shift of light from sunspots 
C)  observation of ionized atoms in the region of the sunspots 
D)  measurement of the relative strengths of spectral absorption lines of gases in the sunspot 
A)  Zeeman effect, the splitting of spectral absorption lines 
B)  Doppler shift of light from sunspots 
C)  observation of ionized atoms in the region of the sunspots 
D)  measurement of the relative strengths of spectral absorption lines of gases in the sunspot

Question 3

Which recently discovered fact about the Sun might have some bearing on climate changes and the weather on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Sun's surface is oscillating up and down every 5 minutes. 
B)  There are far fewer neutrinos emitted from the Sun than predicted. 
C)  Solar wind seems to originate in cooler regions of the corona-the coronal holes-and their number varies month by month. 
D)  The Sun's overall energy output depends on the 11-year sunspot cycle. 
A)  The Sun's surface is oscillating up and down every 5 minutes. 
B)  There are far fewer neutrinos emitted from the Sun than predicted. 
C)  Solar wind seems to originate in cooler regions of the corona-the coronal holes-and their number varies month by month. 
D)  The Sun's overall energy output depends on the 11-year sunspot cycle.

Question 4

X-ray observations of the corona reveal lighter and darker spots, the latter indicating where the corona is cooler. These darker spots are the source of

Accepted Answer

A)  granules. 
B)  spicules. 
C)  sunspots. 
D)  high-speed jets of gas flowing out of the Sun. 
A)  granules. 
B)  spicules. 
C)  sunspots. 
D)  high-speed jets of gas flowing out of the Sun.

Question 5

Granulation, or the mottled appearance of the whole solar surface, is an indication of what physical process at work in the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  outflow of neutrinos from the interior 
B)  rapid rotation of the Sun 
C)  thermonuclear fusion of hydrogen in the Sun's surface layers 
D)  convective motion of gases in the upper portion of the Sun's interior 
A)  outflow of neutrinos from the interior 
B)  rapid rotation of the Sun 
C)  thermonuclear fusion of hydrogen in the Sun's surface layers 
D)  convective motion of gases in the upper portion of the Sun's interior

Question 6

The visible corona of the Sun is MOST effectively photographed

Accepted Answer

A)  during lunar eclipses, when the sky is darker. 
B)  during solar eclipses. 
C)  over a period of a few years around times of maximum solar activity. 
D)  in spring and fall seasons because of the tilt of the spin axis of the Sun. 
A)  during lunar eclipses, when the sky is darker. 
B)  during solar eclipses. 
C)  over a period of a few years around times of maximum solar activity. 
D)  in spring and fall seasons because of the tilt of the spin axis of the Sun.

Question 7

What name is given to a brighter region in the chromosphere, often in association with a sunspot?

Accepted Answer

A)  filament 
B)  plage 
C)  granule 
D)  prominence 
A)  filament 
B)  plage 
C)  granule 
D)  prominence

Question 8

One particular feature of the solar corona is its

Accepted Answer

A)  variation with time over periods of a few minutes. 
B)  very high temperature. 
C)  very uniform density and structure. 
D)  very cold temperature. 
A)  variation with time over periods of a few minutes. 
B)  very high temperature. 
C)  very uniform density and structure. 
D)  very cold temperature.

Question 9

What are the names of the three layers in the Sun's atmosphere, in order from lowest to highest distance from the center of the Sun?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 10

A solar plage is a

Accepted Answer

A)  cooler region of the photosphere surrounding the very cold central region of a sunspot. 
B)  brightening of a portion of the Sun in light from hydrogen and other atomic species, appearing just before sunspots. 
C)  "hole" in the hot corona through which solar wind escapes into interplanetary space. 
D)  gigantic loop of gas, lifted by magnetic fields above the solar surface, appearing dark against the photosphere and bright against dark space. 
A)  cooler region of the photosphere surrounding the very cold central region of a sunspot. 
B)  brightening of a portion of the Sun in light from hydrogen and other atomic species, appearing just before sunspots. 
C)  "hole" in the hot corona through which solar wind escapes into interplanetary space. 
D)  gigantic loop of gas, lifted by magnetic fields above the solar surface, appearing dark against the photosphere and bright against dark space.

Question 11

The heliosphere

Accepted Answer

A)  is spherical. 
B)  is mostly within the orbit of Mercury. 
C)  is the limit for solar wind gases moving out beyond the Sun. 
D)  is defined by the solar wind and the solar magnetic field. 
A)  is spherical. 
B)  is mostly within the orbit of Mercury. 
C)  is the limit for solar wind gases moving out beyond the Sun. 
D)  is defined by the solar wind and the solar magnetic field.

Question 12

How would one describe the Sun's rotation?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Sun rotates as a solid body, just like Earth. 
B)  The entire Sun experiences differential rotation, with the core rotating more slowly than the surface. 
C)  The entire Sun experiences differential rotation, with the core rotating more rapidly than the surface. 
D)  The outer layers of the Sun experience differential rotation, but the inner regions rotate as a solid body. 
A)  The Sun rotates as a solid body, just like Earth. 
B)  The entire Sun experiences differential rotation, with the core rotating more slowly than the surface. 
C)  The entire Sun experiences differential rotation, with the core rotating more rapidly than the surface. 
D)  The outer layers of the Sun experience differential rotation, but the inner regions rotate as a solid body.

Question 13

Which of these events is NOT a consequence of a coronal mass ejection event from the Sun that is aimed toward Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  major health hazard for astronauts in orbit around Earth, particularly on the Moon 
B)  major hurricane 
C)  damage to and even destruction of satellite electronics and power systems 
D)  disruption to radio transmission and electrical power systems on Earth 
A)  major health hazard for astronauts in orbit around Earth, particularly on the Moon 
B)  major hurricane 
C)  damage to and even destruction of satellite electronics and power systems 
D)  disruption to radio transmission and electrical power systems on Earth

Question 14

The solar wind is ionized gas flowing outward

Accepted Answer

A)  from the Sun's magnetic poles, where magnetic forces on the ionized plasma is lowest. 
B)  from sunspots. 
C)  more or less uniformly from the entire solar surface. 
D)  primarily through coronal holes. 
A)  from the Sun's magnetic poles, where magnetic forces on the ionized plasma is lowest. 
B)  from sunspots. 
C)  more or less uniformly from the entire solar surface. 
D)  primarily through coronal holes.

Question 15

Sunspots are cooler than the rest of the Sun's surface, sometimes by as much as 1500 K. What would be the peak wavelength of the radiation from the sunspot compared with that from the rest of the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  The peak wavelength of the radiation from the sunspot would be longer than that from the rest of the Sun. 
B)  The peak wavelength of the radiation from the sunspot would be the same because the light still originates at the Sun. 
C)  The peak wavelength of the radiation from the sunspot would be shorter or longer than that from the rest of the Sun, depending on the position and motion of the spot. 
D)  The peak wavelength of the radiation from the sunspot would be shorter than that from the rest of the Sun. 
A)  The peak wavelength of the radiation from the sunspot would be longer than that from the rest of the Sun. 
B)  The peak wavelength of the radiation from the sunspot would be the same because the light still originates at the Sun. 
C)  The peak wavelength of the radiation from the sunspot would be shorter or longer than that from the rest of the Sun, depending on the position and motion of the spot. 
D)  The peak wavelength of the radiation from the sunspot would be shorter than that from the rest of the Sun.

Question 16

What is the solar wind?

Accepted Answer

A)  constant flux of photons from the Sun's visible surface 
B)  material from the corona, accelerated out into space 
C)  storm of waves and vortices on the Sun's surface generated by a solar flare 
D)  circulation of gases in the chromosphere, between the equator and the poles of the Sun 
A)  constant flux of photons from the Sun's visible surface 
B)  material from the corona, accelerated out into space 
C)  storm of waves and vortices on the Sun's surface generated by a solar flare 
D)  circulation of gases in the chromosphere, between the equator and the poles of the Sun

Question 17

What is the "faint young Sun paradox"?

Accepted Answer

A)  By observing other stellar nebula similar to what astronomers believe our solar nebula looked like, it was determined that those stars were much brighter much earlier than predictions for the Sun. 
B)  Theories predict that the young Sun was faint. This would have allowed many comets to escape being vaporized at perihelion, and the impact rate on the Moon and similar bodies would have been much heavier than it was. 
C)  The Sun has become more luminous over time, but its temperature has remained relatively constant. 
D)  Earth has evidence of liquid surface water dating back 4.2 billion years, but the young Sun at that time was not luminous enough to have heated Earth sufficiently to prevent water from freezing. 
A)  By observing other stellar nebula similar to what astronomers believe our solar nebula looked like, it was determined that those stars were much brighter much earlier than predictions for the Sun. 
B)  Theories predict that the young Sun was faint. This would have allowed many comets to escape being vaporized at perihelion, and the impact rate on the Moon and similar bodies would have been much heavier than it was. 
C)  The Sun has become more luminous over time, but its temperature has remained relatively constant. 
D)  Earth has evidence of liquid surface water dating back 4.2 billion years, but the young Sun at that time was not luminous enough to have heated Earth sufficiently to prevent water from freezing.

Question 18

Just before a sunspot forms on the photosphere, one will often see at that location

Accepted Answer

A)  plages. 
B)  filaments. 
C)  prominences. 
D)  solar flares. 
A)  plages. 
B)  filaments. 
C)  prominences. 
D)  solar flares.

Question 19

Spicules in the chromosphere rise up from

Accepted Answer

A)  the centers of sunspots. 
B)  the edges of granules. 
C)  the edges of supergranules. 
D)  random, constantly shifting locations on the photosphere. 
A)  the centers of sunspots. 
B)  the edges of granules. 
C)  the edges of supergranules. 
D)  random, constantly shifting locations on the photosphere.

Question 20

Other stars

Accepted Answer

A)  have never been detected producing a solar wind. 
B)  produce their own stellar winds, but these are too weak to reach the vicinity of the solar system. 
C)  produce their own stellar winds, but most are prevented by the Sun's heliosphere from reaching the planetary region of the solar system. 
D)  produce their own stellar winds, and these galactic cosmic rays contribute the bulk of the cosmic ray flux Earth receives. 
A)  have never been detected producing a solar wind. 
B)  produce their own stellar winds, but these are too weak to reach the vicinity of the solar system. 
C)  produce their own stellar winds, but most are prevented by the Sun's heliosphere from reaching the planetary region of the solar system. 
D)  produce their own stellar winds, and these galactic cosmic rays contribute the bulk of the cosmic ray flux Earth receives.

Which occurrence led astronomers to the conclusion that the temperature of the gases in the solar corona is very high?

Intense magnetic fields have been found to exist in sunspots by the observation of what specific physical effect?

Which recently discovered fact about the Sun might have some bearing on climate changes and the weather on Earth?

X-ray observations of the corona reveal lighter and darker spots, the latter indicating where the corona is cooler. These darker spots are the source of

Granulation, or the mottled appearance of the whole solar surface, is an indication of what physical process at work in the Sun?

The visible corona of the Sun is MOST effectively photographed

What name is given to a brighter region in the chromosphere, often in association with a sunspot?

One particular feature of the solar corona is its

What are the names of the three layers in the Sun's atmosphere, in order from lowest to highest distance from the center of the Sun?

A solar plage is a

The heliosphere

How would one describe the Sun's rotation?

Which of these events is NOT a consequence of a coronal mass ejection event from the Sun that is aimed toward Earth?

The solar wind is ionized gas flowing outward

Sunspots are cooler than the rest of the Sun's surface, sometimes by as much as 1500 K. What would be the peak wavelength of the radiation from the sunspot compared with that from the rest of the Sun?

What is the solar wind?

What is the "faint young Sun paradox"?

Just before a sunspot forms on the photosphere, one will often see at that location

Spicules in the chromosphere rise up from

Other stars

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

Exam 11: The Sun: Our Extraordinary Star

Which occurrence led astronomers to the conclusion that the temperature of the gases in the solar corona is very high?

Intense magnetic fields have been found to exist in sunspots by the observation of what specific physical effect?

Which recently discovered fact about the Sun might have some bearing on climate changes and the weather on Earth?

X-ray observations of the corona reveal lighter and darker spots, the latter indicating where the corona is cooler. These darker spots are the source of

Granulation, or the mottled appearance of the whole solar surface, is an indication of what physical process at work in the Sun?

The visible corona of the Sun is MOST effectively photographed

What name is given to a brighter region in the chromosphere, often in association with a sunspot?

One particular feature of the solar corona is its

What are the names of the three layers in the Sun's atmosphere, in order from lowest to highest distance from the center of the Sun?

A solar plage is a

The heliosphere

How would one describe the Sun's rotation?

Which of these events is NOT a consequence of a coronal mass ejection event from the Sun that is aimed toward Earth?

The solar wind is ionized gas flowing outward

Sunspots are cooler than the rest of the Sun's surface, sometimes by as much as 1500 K. What would be the peak wavelength of the radiation from the sunspot compared with that from the rest of the Sun?

What is the solar wind?

What is the "faint young Sun paradox"?

Just before a sunspot forms on the photosphere, one will often see at that location

Spicules in the chromosphere rise up from

Other stars

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