Question 1

Filaments and solar prominences are part of the

Accepted Answer

A)  convection zone. 
B)  photosphere. 
C)  chromosphere. 
D)  corona. 
A)  convection zone. 
B)  photosphere. 
C)  chromosphere. 
D)  corona.

Question 2

What is the cause of the sunspot cycle on the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  Comets crashing into the Sun cool the photosphere and create sunspots. The 11-year sunspot cycle is the result of an 11-year periodicity in the flux of comets. 
B)  Subsurface magnetic fields are twisted by the Sun's differential rotation and break through the surface as sunspots, then gradually cancel each other and return below the surface. 
C)  Differential rotation on the Sun creates eddies, or vortices, that cool the photosphere and create sunspots, then the eddies gradually cancel each other out and the cycle starts over. 
D)  Subsurface magnetic fields are concentrated by the Sun's differential rotation. These fields remain under the surface and prevent heat from reaching the photosphere, creating sunspots. The concentrated fields gradually cancel each other out, and the cycle starts over. 
A)  Comets crashing into the Sun cool the photosphere and create sunspots. The 11-year sunspot cycle is the result of an 11-year periodicity in the flux of comets. 
B)  Subsurface magnetic fields are twisted by the Sun's differential rotation and break through the surface as sunspots, then gradually cancel each other and return below the surface. 
C)  Differential rotation on the Sun creates eddies, or vortices, that cool the photosphere and create sunspots, then the eddies gradually cancel each other out and the cycle starts over. 
D)  Subsurface magnetic fields are concentrated by the Sun's differential rotation. These fields remain under the surface and prevent heat from reaching the photosphere, creating sunspots. The concentrated fields gradually cancel each other out, and the cycle starts over.

Question 3

The temperature at the center of the Sun, where thermonuclear processes take place, is approximately

Accepted Answer

A)  6000 K. 
B)  1.5 million K. 
C)  1.5 *107 K. 
D)  4500 K, as shown by sunspots. 
A)  6000 K. 
B)  1.5 million K. 
C)  1.5 *107 K. 
D)  4500 K, as shown by sunspots.

Question 4

The solar wind is made up primarily of

Accepted Answer

A)  electrons and He nuclei (the "ash" of nuclear fusion). 
B)  hydrogen nuclei, with very few electrons. 
C)  hydrogen nuclei and electrons, some He nuclei. 
D)  equal numbers of all light elements, up to oxygen but no electrons, because they are unable to escape the Sun's gravity. 
A)  electrons and He nuclei (the "ash" of nuclear fusion). 
B)  hydrogen nuclei, with very few electrons. 
C)  hydrogen nuclei and electrons, some He nuclei. 
D)  equal numbers of all light elements, up to oxygen but no electrons, because they are unable to escape the Sun's gravity.

Question 5

If the temperature of the solar surface is 5800 K and Wien's law for the peak wavelength of the spectrum of the Sun, assumed to be a blackbody, is given by $\lambda$max T = 2.9*106, with T in Kelvins and $\lambda$ in nanometers (nm), what is the expected peak wavelength of light from the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  600 nm 
B)  500 nm 
C)  300 nm 
D)  50 nm 
A)  600 nm 
B)  500 nm 
C)  300 nm 
D)  50 nm

Question 6

Who first postulated that the interior of the Sun is millions of Kelvin?

Accepted Answer

A)  Stephen Hawking 
B)  Albert Einstein 
C)  George Gamow 
D)  Arthur Eddington 
A)  Stephen Hawking 
B)  Albert Einstein 
C)  George Gamow 
D)  Arthur Eddington

Question 7

The equatorial regions of the Sun are seen to rotate with an approximate period of about

Accepted Answer

A)  1 year. 
B)  15 days. 
C)  33 days. 
D)  25 days. 
A)  1 year. 
B)  15 days. 
C)  33 days. 
D)  25 days.

Question 8

What is the dominant mechanism by which energy is transported through the outer regions of the solar interior?

Accepted Answer

A)  highly penetrating neutrinos streaming outward through the Sun's material-particle transport of energy 
B)  photons transferring between nuclei and atoms-radiative transport of energy 
C)  collisions of faster-moving particles with slower-moving particles-conductive transport of energy 
D)  hotter gas rising and cooler gas falling-convective transport of energy 
A)  highly penetrating neutrinos streaming outward through the Sun's material-particle transport of energy 
B)  photons transferring between nuclei and atoms-radiative transport of energy 
C)  collisions of faster-moving particles with slower-moving particles-conductive transport of energy 
D)  hotter gas rising and cooler gas falling-convective transport of energy

Question 9

What is the explanation for the bright cells of photospheric gases that make up the cellular granulation pattern seen on the visible surface of the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  The cells are the base of a circulation pattern that extends from the photosphere to the outer corona. 
B)  The cells are regions of nuclear energy generation in the Sun's photosphere. 
C)  Each cell is a region of strong magnetic field, which compresses and heats the gas within it. 
D)  The cells are the tops of blobs of hot gas that have risen from the Sun's convective zone. 
A)  The cells are the base of a circulation pattern that extends from the photosphere to the outer corona. 
B)  The cells are regions of nuclear energy generation in the Sun's photosphere. 
C)  Each cell is a region of strong magnetic field, which compresses and heats the gas within it. 
D)  The cells are the tops of blobs of hot gas that have risen from the Sun's convective zone.

Question 10

An arching column of gas suspended over a sunspot group is called a

Accepted Answer

A)  coronal hole. 
B)  flare. 
C)  spicule. 
D)  prominence. 
A)  coronal hole. 
B)  flare. 
C)  spicule. 
D)  prominence.

Question 11

The temperature of the corona of the Sun is

Accepted Answer

A)  very hot, about 106 K. 
B)  about twice as hot as the photosphere, 12,000 K. 
C)  very cool because it is the farthest part of the Sun from the heat source. 
D)  about the same as that of the photosphere, 5800 K. 
A)  very hot, about 106 K. 
B)  about twice as hot as the photosphere, 12,000 K. 
C)  very cool because it is the farthest part of the Sun from the heat source. 
D)  about the same as that of the photosphere, 5800 K.

Question 12

Which of these is MOST directly responsible for the slow increase of the Sun's luminosity over time?

Accepted Answer

A)  The increasing concentration of heavy elements in the Sun's convective zone. 
B)  The slow contraction of the Sun. 
C)  The gradual transformation of positively charged particles to neutral particles in the Sun's core. 
D)  The gradual increase of the Sun's magnetic field. 
A)  The increasing concentration of heavy elements in the Sun's convective zone. 
B)  The slow contraction of the Sun. 
C)  The gradual transformation of positively charged particles to neutral particles in the Sun's core. 
D)  The gradual increase of the Sun's magnetic field.

Question 13

What is the dominant mechanism by which energy is transported through the inner regions of the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  hotter gas rising and cooler gas falling-convective transport of energy 
B)  photons transferring between nuclei and atoms-radiative transport of energy 
C)  neutrinos streaming outward through the Sun's material-particle transport of energy 
D)  collisions of faster-moving particles with slower-moving particles-conductive transport of energy 
A)  hotter gas rising and cooler gas falling-convective transport of energy 
B)  photons transferring between nuclei and atoms-radiative transport of energy 
C)  neutrinos streaming outward through the Sun's material-particle transport of energy 
D)  collisions of faster-moving particles with slower-moving particles-conductive transport of energy

Question 14

A coronal hole shows up MOST prominently on what kind of photograph?

Accepted Answer

A)  red light of the first Balmer line of hydrogen, H $\alpha$ , at 656.3 nm 
B)  radio wavelengths 
C)  any wavelength of visible light 
D)  X-ray 
A)  red light of the first Balmer line of hydrogen, H $\alpha$ , at 656.3 nm 
B)  radio wavelengths 
C)  any wavelength of visible light 
D)  X-ray

Question 15

The extremely high gas temperatures in the solar corona mean that this region is BEST observed at wavelengths of

Accepted Answer

A)  X-rays. 
B)  visible light. 
C)  Balmer H $\alpha$  light from hydrogen gas. 
D)  infrared light. 
A)  X-rays. 
B)  visible light. 
C)  Balmer H $\alpha$  light from hydrogen gas. 
D)  infrared light.

Question 16

To what does the symbol Fe XIV refer?

Accepted Answer

A)  compound of iron, xenon, iodine, and vanadium 
B)  iron atoms that have lost 15 electrons 
C)  iron atoms that have lost 14 electrons 
D)  iron atoms that have lost 13 electrons 
A)  compound of iron, xenon, iodine, and vanadium 
B)  iron atoms that have lost 15 electrons 
C)  iron atoms that have lost 14 electrons 
D)  iron atoms that have lost 13 electrons

Question 17

The average time taken for energy generated by thermonuclear fusion in the center of the Sun to reach the surface layers and escape is calculated to be

Accepted Answer

A)  about 200,000 years. 
B)  about 1 year. 
C)  only a few seconds. 
D)  about 10 million years. 
A)  about 200,000 years. 
B)  about 1 year. 
C)  only a few seconds. 
D)  about 10 million years.

Question 18

The net hydrogen fusion reaction in the Sun is 4 1H $\rightarrow$ 1 4He + neutrinos + energy. What forms does this energy take?

Accepted Answer

A)  kinetic energy associated with the motion of the four protons 
B)  kinetic energy associated with the motion of the helium, protons, and gamma-ray photons 
C)  chemical energy associated with the electrons in orbit around the helium nucleus 
D)  gravitational energy associated with the attraction of the particles at close range 
A)  kinetic energy associated with the motion of the four protons 
B)  kinetic energy associated with the motion of the helium, protons, and gamma-ray photons 
C)  chemical energy associated with the electrons in orbit around the helium nucleus 
D)  gravitational energy associated with the attraction of the particles at close range

Question 19

What is a positron?

Accepted Answer

A)  chargeless and almost massless particle 
B)  nucleus of a helium atom 
C)  positively charged particle otherwise similar to an electron 
D)  nucleus of a hydrogen atom 
A)  chargeless and almost massless particle 
B)  nucleus of a helium atom 
C)  positively charged particle otherwise similar to an electron 
D)  nucleus of a hydrogen atom

Question 20

Any object will collapse under its own weight unless something stops it. In an ordinary star like the Sun, this collapse is prevented by

Accepted Answer

A)  turbulence and upwelling in the atmosphere of the star. 
B)  the rotation of the star, generating centrifugal force. 
C)  gas pressure inside the star. 
D)  the star's solid core. 
A)  turbulence and upwelling in the atmosphere of the star. 
B)  the rotation of the star, generating centrifugal force. 
C)  gas pressure inside the star. 
D)  the star's solid core.

Filaments and solar prominences are part of the

What is the cause of the sunspot cycle on the Sun?

The temperature at the center of the Sun, where thermonuclear processes take place, is approximately

The solar wind is made up primarily of

If the temperature of the solar surface is 5800 K and Wien's law for the peak wavelength of the spectrum of the Sun, assumed to be a blackbody, is given by $\lambda$ _max T = 2.9*10⁶, with T in Kelvins and $\lambda$ in nanometers (nm), what is the expected peak wavelength of light from the Sun?

Who first postulated that the interior of the Sun is millions of Kelvin?

The equatorial regions of the Sun are seen to rotate with an approximate period of about

What is the dominant mechanism by which energy is transported through the outer regions of the solar interior?

What is the explanation for the bright cells of photospheric gases that make up the cellular granulation pattern seen on the visible surface of the Sun?

An arching column of gas suspended over a sunspot group is called a

The temperature of the corona of the Sun is

Which of these is MOST directly responsible for the slow increase of the Sun's luminosity over time?

What is the dominant mechanism by which energy is transported through the inner regions of the Sun?

A coronal hole shows up MOST prominently on what kind of photograph?

The extremely high gas temperatures in the solar corona mean that this region is BEST observed at wavelengths of

To what does the symbol Fe XIV refer?

The average time taken for energy generated by thermonuclear fusion in the center of the Sun to reach the surface layers and escape is calculated to be

The net hydrogen fusion reaction in the Sun is 4 ¹H $\rightarrow$ 1 ⁴He + neutrinos + energy. What forms does this energy take?

What is a positron?

Any object will collapse under its own weight unless something stops it. In an ordinary star like the Sun, this collapse is prevented by

Discovering the Night Sky

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Exam 11: The Sun: Our Extraordinary Star

Filaments and solar prominences are part of the

What is the cause of the sunspot cycle on the Sun?

The temperature at the center of the Sun, where thermonuclear processes take place, is approximately

The solar wind is made up primarily of

If the temperature of the solar surface is 5800 K and Wien's law for the peak wavelength of the spectrum of the Sun, assumed to be a blackbody, is given by λ\lambdaλ max T = 2.9*106, with T in Kelvins and λ\lambdaλ in nanometers (nm), what is the expected peak wavelength of light from the Sun?

Who first postulated that the interior of the Sun is millions of Kelvin?

The equatorial regions of the Sun are seen to rotate with an approximate period of about

What is the dominant mechanism by which energy is transported through the outer regions of the solar interior?

What is the explanation for the bright cells of photospheric gases that make up the cellular granulation pattern seen on the visible surface of the Sun?

An arching column of gas suspended over a sunspot group is called a

The temperature of the corona of the Sun is

Which of these is MOST directly responsible for the slow increase of the Sun's luminosity over time?

What is the dominant mechanism by which energy is transported through the inner regions of the Sun?

A coronal hole shows up MOST prominently on what kind of photograph?

The extremely high gas temperatures in the solar corona mean that this region is BEST observed at wavelengths of

To what does the symbol Fe XIV refer?

The average time taken for energy generated by thermonuclear fusion in the center of the Sun to reach the surface layers and escape is calculated to be

The net hydrogen fusion reaction in the Sun is 4 1H →\rightarrow→ 1 4He + neutrinos + energy. What forms does this energy take?

What is a positron?

Any object will collapse under its own weight unless something stops it. In an ordinary star like the Sun, this collapse is prevented 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 temperature of the solar surface is 5800 K and Wien's law for the peak wavelength of the spectrum of the Sun, assumed to be a blackbody, is given by $\lambda$ _max T = 2.9*10⁶, with T in Kelvins and $\lambda$ in nanometers (nm), what is the expected peak wavelength of light from the Sun?

The net hydrogen fusion reaction in the Sun is 4 ¹H $\rightarrow$ 1 ⁴He + neutrinos + energy. What forms does this energy take?