Question 1

Describe how helioseismologists measure the opacity of the solar interior.

Accepted Answer

Helioseismologists measure Doppler shift

Question 2

If the Sun went through a period where there were many sunspots for several decades straight, what would be the possible impact(s) on the Earth?

Accepted Answer

Because the luminosity of the Sun increa

Question 3

If a sunspot is half as bright as the surrounding photosphere of the Sun, what is the approximate temperature of the gas in the sunspot if the photosphere's average temperature is 5800 K?

Accepted Answer

Using the Stefan-Boltzmann law

Question 4

If the core of the Sun were hotter than it is now, how would the Sun's energy production change?

Accepted Answer

A)  It would produce less energy per second than it does now. 
B)  It would produce more energy per second than it does now. 
C)  Its energy production would vary more than it does now. 
D)  Its energy production would be more stable than it is now. 
E)  The Sun's energy production would not change. 
A)  It would produce less energy per second than it does now. 
B)  It would produce more energy per second than it does now. 
C)  Its energy production would vary more than it does now. 
D)  Its energy production would be more stable than it is now. 
E)  The Sun's energy production would not change.

Question 5

Solar wind particles hit the surface of the Moon, but they don't make it to the surface of the Earth because the Earth

Accepted Answer

A)  is larger than the Moon. 
B)  is warmer than the Moon. 
C)  is shielded by the Moon. 
D)  has a magnetic field while the Moon does not. 
E)  is farther from the Sun than the Moon is. 
A)  is larger than the Moon. 
B)  is warmer than the Moon. 
C)  is shielded by the Moon. 
D)  has a magnetic field while the Moon does not. 
E)  is farther from the Sun than the Moon is.

Question 6

The balance of energy in the solar interior means that

Accepted Answer

A)  the energy production rate in the core equals the rate of radiation escaping the Sun's surface. 
B)  the source of energy in the core is stable and will sustain the Sun for millions of years. 
C)  the outer layers of the Sun absorb and re-emit the radiation from the core at increasingly shorter wavelengths. 
D)  radiation pressure does not contribute to supporting the weight of the overlying solar layers. 
E)  the core of the Sun has pressure that is lower than that of the outer layers. 
A)  the energy production rate in the core equals the rate of radiation escaping the Sun's surface. 
B)  the source of energy in the core is stable and will sustain the Sun for millions of years. 
C)  the outer layers of the Sun absorb and re-emit the radiation from the core at increasingly shorter wavelengths. 
D)  radiation pressure does not contribute to supporting the weight of the overlying solar layers. 
E)  the core of the Sun has pressure that is lower than that of the outer layers.

Question 7

We know the Sun's corona is very hot because

Accepted Answer

A)  we observe it emitting radiation at visible wavelengths. 
B)  the chromosphere and the photosphere are that hot, too. 
C)  we observe absorption from highly ionized atoms of iron and calcium in its spectrum. 
D)  the gas emits most of its radiation at radio wavelengths. 
E)  all of the above 
A)  we observe it emitting radiation at visible wavelengths. 
B)  the chromosphere and the photosphere are that hot, too. 
C)  we observe absorption from highly ionized atoms of iron and calcium in its spectrum. 
D)  the gas emits most of its radiation at radio wavelengths. 
E)  all of the above

Question 8

In the proton-proton chain, pictured in the figure below, what happens to the emitted gamma rays?

Accepted Answer

A)  They quickly pass through the Sun's outer layers and are emitted into space. 
B)  They recombine to form electrons. 
C)  They eventually turn into neutrinos. 
D)  They are absorbed by other atoms, heating the Sun's core. 
E)  They are reflected around inside the Sun forever. 
A)  They quickly pass through the Sun's outer layers and are emitted into space. 
B)  They recombine to form electrons. 
C)  They eventually turn into neutrinos. 
D)  They are absorbed by other atoms, heating the Sun's core. 
E)  They are reflected around inside the Sun forever.

Question 9

What makes neutrinos so different from other particles of matter?

Accepted Answer

A)  They interact very weakly with other particles. 
B)  They interact very strongly with other particles. 
C)  They are the only particles that move quickly. 
D)  They move very slowly. 
E)  They can only be found in atomic nuclei. 
A)  They interact very weakly with other particles. 
B)  They interact very strongly with other particles. 
C)  They are the only particles that move quickly. 
D)  They move very slowly. 
E)  They can only be found in atomic nuclei.

Question 10

The Sun's internal magnetic field becomes tangled over time because of

Accepted Answer

A)  coronal holes. 
B)  coronal mass ejections. 
C)  differential rotation. 
D)  temperature changes in the Sun's core. 
E)  all of these phenomena contribute. 
A)  coronal holes. 
B)  coronal mass ejections. 
C)  differential rotation. 
D)  temperature changes in the Sun's core. 
E)  all of these phenomena contribute.

Question 11

The figure shown below, taken at visible wavelengths, shows a section of the Sun with sunspots visible.Which of the labeled regions is the lowest temperature?

Accepted Answer

A)  region A 
B)  region B 
C)  region C 
D)  They are all the same temperature. 
E)  We would also need an X-ray image to determine relative temperatures. 
A)  region A 
B)  region B 
C)  region C 
D)  They are all the same temperature. 
E)  We would also need an X-ray image to determine relative temperatures.

Question 12

Explain why magnetic fields trap coronal gas over much of the solar surface but allow it to escape in coronal holes.

Accepted Answer

Most of the solar magnetic field consist

Question 13

What is the origin of the absorption lines in the Sun's spectrum?

Accepted Answer

As light from the Sun's interior is abso

Question 14

What is the heliosphere, and how does it help protect life on Earth?

Accepted Answer

The heliosphere is the area around the S

Question 15

The majority of the Sun's energy comes from

Accepted Answer

A)  gravitational contraction. 
B)  nuclear fission of uranium. 
C)  hydrogen fusion. 
D)  helium burning. 
E)  burning material as in a fire. 
A)  gravitational contraction. 
B)  nuclear fission of uranium. 
C)  hydrogen fusion. 
D)  helium burning. 
E)  burning material as in a fire.

Question 16

Calculate the amount of energy released by converting four hydrogen atoms into one helium atom.The mass of a hydrogen atom is 1.67 * 10-27 kg; the mass of a helium atom is
6.65 * 10-27 kg.The speed of light is 3 * 108 m/s.

Accepted Answer

First,we need to calculate the

Question 17

Some restaurants place food under infrared heat lamps so that it stays warm after it has been cooked.This is an example of energy being transported by

Accepted Answer

A)  radiation. 
B)  convection. 
C)  conduction. 
D)  convection and conduction. 
E)  radiation and conduction. 
A)  radiation. 
B)  convection. 
C)  conduction. 
D)  convection and conduction. 
E)  radiation and conduction.

Question 18

If neutrinos oscillated between five different types of neutrino with equal probability during their transit from the Sun to Earth, and we could only detect one type of neutrino, then how many neutrinos would we have detected compared with what was emitted by the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  one-half as many 
B)  one-third as many 
C)  one-fourth as many 
D)  one-fifth as many 
E)  We would detect no neutrinos. 
A)  one-half as many 
B)  one-third as many 
C)  one-fourth as many 
D)  one-fifth as many 
E)  We would detect no neutrinos.

Question 19

The figure below illustrates the proton-proton chain.How many gamma rays are produced for each helium (4He) nucleus created?

Accepted Answer

A)  None 
B)  2 
C)  4 
D)  6 
E)  12 
A)  None 
B)  2 
C)  4 
D)  6 
E)  12

Question 20

What makes the chromosphere appear so red?

Accepted Answer

The gas in the solar chromosphere is coo

Exam 14: Our Starthe Sun

Describe how helioseismologists measure the opacity of the solar interior.

If the Sun went through a period where there were many sunspots for several decades straight, what would be the possible impact(s) on the Earth?

If a sunspot is half as bright as the surrounding photosphere of the Sun, what is the approximate temperature of the gas in the sunspot if the photosphere's average temperature is 5800 K?

If the core of the Sun were hotter than it is now, how would the Sun's energy production change?

Solar wind particles hit the surface of the Moon, but they don't make it to the surface of the Earth because the Earth

The balance of energy in the solar interior means that

We know the Sun's corona is very hot because

In the proton-proton chain, pictured in the figure below, what happens to the emitted gamma rays?

What makes neutrinos so different from other particles of matter?

The Sun's internal magnetic field becomes tangled over time because of

The figure shown below, taken at visible wavelengths, shows a section of the Sun with sunspots visible.Which of the labeled regions is the lowest temperature?

Explain why magnetic fields trap coronal gas over much of the solar surface but allow it to escape in coronal holes.

What is the origin of the absorption lines in the Sun's spectrum?

What is the heliosphere, and how does it help protect life on Earth?

The majority of the Sun's energy comes from

Calculate the amount of energy released by converting four hydrogen atoms into one helium atom.The mass of a hydrogen atom is 1.67 * 10-27 kg; the mass of a helium atom is 6.65 * 10-27 kg.The speed of light is 3 * 108 m/s.

Some restaurants place food under infrared heat lamps so that it stays warm after it has been cooked.This is an example of energy being transported by

If neutrinos oscillated between five different types of neutrino with equal probability during their transit from the Sun to Earth, and we could only detect one type of neutrino, then how many neutrinos would we have detected compared with what was emitted by the Sun?

The figure below illustrates the proton-proton chain.How many gamma rays are produced for each helium (4He) nucleus created?

What makes the chromosphere appear so red?

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

Calculate the amount of energy released by converting four hydrogen atoms into one helium atom.The mass of a hydrogen atom is 1.67 * 10^-²⁷kg; the mass of a helium atom is 6.65 * 10^-²⁷ kg.The speed of light is 3 * 10⁸ m/s.

The figure below illustrates the proton-proton chain.How many gamma rays are produced for each helium (⁴He) nucleus created?