Question 1

The solar magnetic field

Accepted Answer

A)  returns to the same polarity every 11 years. 
B)  switches polarity every 22 years. 
C)  switches polarity every 11 years. 
D)  never changes polarity. 
E)  switches polarity every year. 
A)  returns to the same polarity every 11 years. 
B)  switches polarity every 22 years. 
C)  switches polarity every 11 years. 
D)  never changes polarity. 
E)  switches polarity every year.

Question 2

If a sunspot appears one-quarter as bright as the surrounding photosphere, and the average temperature of the photosphere is 5800 K, what is the temperature of the gas in this sunspot?

Accepted Answer

A)  3625 K 
B)  4100 K 
C)  4500 K 
D)  5200 K 
E)  5500 K 
A)  3625 K 
B)  4100 K 
C)  4500 K 
D)  5200 K 
E)  5500 K

Question 3

If the Sun converts 5 * 1011 kg of H to He per second and the mass of a single hydrogen nucleus is 1.7 * 10-27 kg, how many net proton-proton reactions go on per second in the Sun? What is the luminosity produced if the mass difference between a single helium nucleus and four hydrogen nuclei is 4 *10-29 kg? Note that 1 watt =1 m2 kg/s3.

Accepted Answer

A)  7 *1037 reactions per second; 3 *1026 watts 
B)  3 * 1038 reactions per second; 1027 watts 
C)  3*1038 reactions per second; 4 * 1026 watts 
D)  7 *1037 reactions per second; 5 * 1025 watts 
E)  3 * 1037 reactions per second; 6 * 1024 watts 
A)  7 *1037 reactions per second; 3 *1026 watts 
B)  3 * 1038 reactions per second; 1027 watts 
C)  3*1038 reactions per second; 4 * 1026 watts 
D)  7 *1037 reactions per second; 5 * 1025 watts 
E)  3 * 1037 reactions per second; 6 * 1024 watts

Question 4

The darkest part of a sunspot is called the

Accepted Answer

A)  penumbra. 
B)  umbra. 
C)  granule. 
D)  photosphere. 
E)  magnetic field. 
A)  penumbra. 
B)  umbra. 
C)  granule. 
D)  photosphere. 
E)  magnetic field.

Question 5

Why is hydrogen burning the main energy source for main-sequence stars?

Accepted Answer

A)  Hydrogen is the most common element in stars. 
B)  Hydrogen nuclei have the smallest positive charge. 
C)  Hydrogen burning is the most efficient of all fusion or fission reactions. 
D)  Hydrogen can fuse at temperatures lower than other elements. 
E)  All these are valid reasons. 
A)  Hydrogen is the most common element in stars. 
B)  Hydrogen nuclei have the smallest positive charge. 
C)  Hydrogen burning is the most efficient of all fusion or fission reactions. 
D)  Hydrogen can fuse at temperatures lower than other elements. 
E)  All these are valid reasons.

Question 6

What changes in the Sun's interior conditions could be noticed from the Earth, and how?

Accepted Answer

If the fusion rate of the Sun were to ch

Question 7

Which of the following are created by solar magnetic activity?

Accepted Answer

A)  sunspots 
B)  prominences 
C)  coronal mass ejections 
D)  solar flares 
E)  all of these 
A)  sunspots 
B)  prominences 
C)  coronal mass ejections 
D)  solar flares 
E)  all of these

Question 8

If the rate of nuclear fusion in the Sun's core were to change, how long would it take for the Sun's luminosity to change?

Accepted Answer

A)  months 
B)  a few hours 
C)  seconds 
D)  about 100,000 years 
E)  more than a million years. 
A)  months 
B)  a few hours 
C)  seconds 
D)  about 100,000 years 
E)  more than a million years.

Question 9

When two atomic nuclei come together to form a new species of atom, this is called

Accepted Answer

A)  nuclear fission. 
B)  nuclear recombination. 
C)  nuclear splitting. 
D)  nuclear fusion. 
E)  ionization. 
A)  nuclear fission. 
B)  nuclear recombination. 
C)  nuclear splitting. 
D)  nuclear fusion. 
E)  ionization.

Question 10

The figure below shows a diagram of the Sun with zones labeled A, B, and C.Name each layer,
and describe the unique properties of each.

Accepted Answer

Layer A is the photosphere,where the sun

Question 11

Why is there increased drag on spacecraft orbiting the Earth during periods of increased solar activity?

Accepted Answer

During heightened solar activity,the Sun

Question 12

What do astronomers mean when they say that the Sun makes energy by hydrogen burning?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Sun is combusting hydrogen in a fire and releasing energy. 
B)  The Sun is fusing hydrogen into uranium and releasing energy. 
C)  The Sun is creating hydrogen at very high temperatures. 
D)  The Sun is fusing hydrogen into helium and releasing energy. 
E)  The Sun is accumulating hydrogen from the solar wind and releasing energy. 
A)  The Sun is combusting hydrogen in a fire and releasing energy. 
B)  The Sun is fusing hydrogen into uranium and releasing energy. 
C)  The Sun is creating hydrogen at very high temperatures. 
D)  The Sun is fusing hydrogen into helium and releasing energy. 
E)  The Sun is accumulating hydrogen from the solar wind and releasing energy.

Question 13

The Maunder Minimum was a 60-year period when

Accepted Answer

A)  debris from a comet collision blanketed the Sun. 
B)  almost no sunspots occurred on the Sun. 
C)  the Voyager 2 spacecraft traversed the heliopause. 
D)  very few dust storms occurred on Mars. 
E)  very few volcanic eruptions occurred on Mars. 
A)  debris from a comet collision blanketed the Sun. 
B)  almost no sunspots occurred on the Sun. 
C)  the Voyager 2 spacecraft traversed the heliopause. 
D)  very few dust storms occurred on Mars. 
E)  very few volcanic eruptions occurred on Mars.

Question 14

List three methods of energy transport in nature and explain how the energy is being transferred in each of those methods.Which two are means by which energy is transported inside the Sun?

Accepted Answer

The methods of energy transport are radi

Question 15

Which of the layers of the Sun is located the farthest from the center of the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  chromosphere 
B)  photosphere 
C)  radiative zone 
D)  convective zone 
E)  corona 
A)  chromosphere 
B)  photosphere 
C)  radiative zone 
D)  convective zone 
E)  corona

Question 16

In the proton-proton chain, the net reaction is that four protons are converted into one helium nucleus.What other by-products are released in this reaction, and why?

Accepted Answer

Energy is released in the form of gamma

Question 17

What are sunspots, and how do they form?

Accepted Answer

A sunspot is a cooler region of the Sun'

Question 18

When gas in a sunspot cools, it does not sink into the solar interior as one would expect of material in an atmosphere.Why?

Accepted Answer

Strong magnetic fields hold th

Question 19

Which of the following layers of the Sun makes up the majority of its interior?

Accepted Answer

A)  the core 
B)  the radiative zone 
C)  the convective zone 
D)  the photosphere 
E)  the chromosphere 
A)  the core 
B)  the radiative zone 
C)  the convective zone 
D)  the photosphere 
E)  the chromosphere

Question 20

Sunspots appear dark because they have ________ than those of the surrounding gases.

Accepted Answer

A)  densities that are higher 
B)  densities that are lower 
C)  pressures that are higher 
D)  temperatures that are lower 
E)  temperatures that are higher 
A)  densities that are higher 
B)  densities that are lower 
C)  pressures that are higher 
D)  temperatures that are lower 
E)  temperatures that are higher

Exam 14: Our Starthe Sun

The solar magnetic field

If a sunspot appears one-quarter as bright as the surrounding photosphere, and the average temperature of the photosphere is 5800 K, what is the temperature of the gas in this sunspot?

The darkest part of a sunspot is called the

Why is hydrogen burning the main energy source for main-sequence stars?

What changes in the Sun's interior conditions could be noticed from the Earth, and how?

Which of the following are created by solar magnetic activity?

If the rate of nuclear fusion in the Sun's core were to change, how long would it take for the Sun's luminosity to change?

When two atomic nuclei come together to form a new species of atom, this is called

The figure below shows a diagram of the Sun with zones labeled A, B, and C.Name each layer, and describe the unique properties of each.

Why is there increased drag on spacecraft orbiting the Earth during periods of increased solar activity?

What do astronomers mean when they say that the Sun makes energy by hydrogen burning?

The Maunder Minimum was a 60-year period when

List three methods of energy transport in nature and explain how the energy is being transferred in each of those methods.Which two are means by which energy is transported inside the Sun?

Which of the layers of the Sun is located the farthest from the center of the Sun?

In the proton-proton chain, the net reaction is that four protons are converted into one helium nucleus.What other by-products are released in this reaction, and why?

What are sunspots, and how do they form?

When gas in a sunspot cools, it does not sink into the solar interior as one would expect of material in an atmosphere.Why?

Which of the following layers of the Sun makes up the majority of its interior?

Sunspots appear dark because they have ________ than those of the surrounding gases.

Thinking Like an Astronomer

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth and the Moon

Motion of Astronomical Bodies

Gravity and Orbits

Light

The Tools of the Astronomer

The Formation of Planetary Systems

The Terrestrial Planets and Earths Moon

Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets

Worlds of Gas and Liquidthe Giant Planets

Planetary Moons and Rings

Dwarf Planets and Small Solar System Bodies

Taking the Measure of Stars

The Interstellar Medium and Star Formation

Evolution of Low-Mass Stars

Evolution of High-Mass Stars

Relativity and Black Holes

Galaxies

The Milky Waya Normal Spiral Galaxy

The Expanding Universe

Cosmology

Large-Scale Structure in the Universe

Life

Filters