Question 1

In the radiative zone inside the Sun, photons are transported from the core to the convective zone over a time of

Accepted Answer

A)  many thousands of years. 
B)  many millions of years. 
C)  seconds. 
D)  a few hours. 
E)  months. 
A)  many thousands of years. 
B)  many millions of years. 
C)  seconds. 
D)  a few hours. 
E)  months.

Question 2

Describe the solar neutrino problem and its solution.

Accepted Answer

Based on the known physics of nuclear fu

Question 3

Approximately how long does it take the photons released in nuclear reactions in the core of the Sun to exit the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  8 minutes 
B)  16 hours 
C)  1,000 years 
D)  100,000 years 
E)  4.6 billion years 
A)  8 minutes 
B)  16 hours 
C)  1,000 years 
D)  100,000 years 
E)  4.6 billion years

Question 4

Each helium atom created through the proton-proton chain, illustrated in the figure below, is made up of two protons and two neutrons.How many neutrons and protons are required as inputs to the proton-proton chain?

Accepted Answer

A)  2 neutrons, 2 protons 
B)  0 neutrons, 6 protons 
C)  6 neutrons, 0 protons 
D)  4 neutrons, 0 protons 
E)  3 neutrons, 3 protons 
A)  2 neutrons, 2 protons 
B)  0 neutrons, 6 protons 
C)  6 neutrons, 0 protons 
D)  4 neutrons, 0 protons 
E)  3 neutrons, 3 protons

Question 5

Explain why hydrostatic equilibrium results in the center of the Sun having the highest pressure and temperature.

Accepted Answer

Hydrostatic equilibrium means that,at an

Question 6

The detection of solar neutrinos confirms that

Accepted Answer

A)  the Sun's core is powered by proton-proton fusion. 
B)  energy transport by radiation occurs throughout much of the solar interior. 
C)  magnetic fields are responsible for surface activity on the Sun. 
D)  convection churns the base of the solar atmosphere. 
E)  sunspots are cooler than the rest of the photosphere. 
A)  the Sun's core is powered by proton-proton fusion. 
B)  energy transport by radiation occurs throughout much of the solar interior. 
C)  magnetic fields are responsible for surface activity on the Sun. 
D)  convection churns the base of the solar atmosphere. 
E)  sunspots are cooler than the rest of the photosphere.

Question 7

How does the fact that the surface of the Sun rings like a bell help us better understand the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  It tells us how quickly the Sun is expanding with time. 
B)  It helps us understand the solar interior better. 
C)  It reveals how rapidly the Sun's magnetic field is changing. 
D)  It helps us determine the surface temperature of the Sun. 
E)  It shows the relative gravitational strength of the orbiting planets. 
A)  It tells us how quickly the Sun is expanding with time. 
B)  It helps us understand the solar interior better. 
C)  It reveals how rapidly the Sun's magnetic field is changing. 
D)  It helps us determine the surface temperature of the Sun. 
E)  It shows the relative gravitational strength of the orbiting planets.

Question 8

What force shapes the Sun's corona?

Accepted Answer

A)  gravity 
B)  strong nuclear force 
C)  the Sun's magnetic field 
D)  the solar wind 
E)  sunspots 
A)  gravity 
B)  strong nuclear force 
C)  the Sun's magnetic field 
D)  the solar wind 
E)  sunspots

Question 9

In addition to the laws of physics and chemistry, what information do we need to know about our
Sun to calculate its internal structure and radius?

Accepted Answer

We need to know its

Question 10

If a coronal mass ejection occurs on the Sun that expels material at a speed of 800 km/s, how long will it take these charged particles to reach the Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  about 8 minutes 
B)  several hours 
C)  about 2 days 
D)  about 1 week 
E)  around 1 month 
A)  about 8 minutes 
B)  several hours 
C)  about 2 days 
D)  about 1 week 
E)  around 1 month

Question 11

If a coronal mass ejection occurred on the Sun and ejected particles toward the Earth that traveled at the speed of 1,000 km/s, how long would it take them to reach Earth?

Accepted Answer

Using @#IMG-DLM& the time it w

Question 12

The layers of the Sun's atmosphere, from innermost to outermost, are

Accepted Answer

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

Question 13

If the Sun converts 5 * 1011 kg of H to He per second and 10 percent of the Sun's total mass is available for nuclear burning, how long might we expect the Sun to live?

Accepted Answer

A)  104 years 
B)  108 years 
C)  1010 years 
D)  1011 years 
E)  1014 years 
A)  104 years 
B)  108 years 
C)  1010 years 
D)  1011 years 
E)  1014 years

Question 14

Why are neutrino detectors located deep underground?

Accepted Answer

They are placed deep inside the Earth to

Question 15

The best wavelength to use to observe a solar prominence is

Accepted Answer

A)  550 nm, green visible light. 
B)  656 nm, a red hydrogen emission line. 
C)  16 mm, an ultraviolet emission line. 
D)  21 cm, microwave emission. 
E)  0.02 nm, X-ray emission. 
A)  550 nm, green visible light. 
B)  656 nm, a red hydrogen emission line. 
C)  16 mm, an ultraviolet emission line. 
D)  21 cm, microwave emission. 
E)  0.02 nm, X-ray emission.

Question 16

If you observe a maximum number of sunspots right now, how long would you have to wait to see the next solar maximum?

Accepted Answer

A)  24 hours 
B)  6 months 
C)  1 year 
D)  11 years 
E)  22 years 
A)  24 hours 
B)  6 months 
C)  1 year 
D)  11 years 
E)  22 years

Question 17

The solar neutrino problem was solved by

Accepted Answer

A)  adjusting the rate of hydrogen burning in solar models. 
B)  Fixing a flaw in neutrino detector design that had reduced detection efficiency. 
C)  postulating that neutrinos had mass and oscillated between three different types. 
D)  lowering the percentage of helium in models of solar composition. 
E)  correctly measuring the density of the Sun's interior. 
A)  adjusting the rate of hydrogen burning in solar models. 
B)  Fixing a flaw in neutrino detector design that had reduced detection efficiency. 
C)  postulating that neutrinos had mass and oscillated between three different types. 
D)  lowering the percentage of helium in models of solar composition. 
E)  correctly measuring the density of the Sun's interior.

Question 18

What is the approximate temperature at the center of the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  106 K 
B)  1.5 * 107 K 
C)  2.5 * 107 K 
D)  10,000 K 
E)  109 K 
A)  106 K 
B)  1.5 * 107 K 
C)  2.5 * 107 K 
D)  10,000 K 
E)  109 K

Question 19

The net result of the proton-proton chain of nuclear reactions is that four protons are converted into

Accepted Answer

A)  one helium nucleus as well as energy, electrons, and neutrinos. 
B)  one helium nucleus as well as deuterium, electrons, and energy. 
C)  one helium nucleus, as well as energy, positrons, and neutrinos. 
D)  two helium nuclei, as well as neutrinos and positrons. 
E)  pure energy. 
A)  one helium nucleus as well as energy, electrons, and neutrinos. 
B)  one helium nucleus as well as deuterium, electrons, and energy. 
C)  one helium nucleus, as well as energy, positrons, and neutrinos. 
D)  two helium nuclei, as well as neutrinos and positrons. 
E)  pure energy.

Question 20

The Sun's corona has a temperature of approximately 1 million degrees.At what wavelength and in what part of the electromagnetic spectrum does its radiation peak?

Accepted Answer

A)  550 nm, visible 
B)  2 * 10-5 m, infrared 
C)  4* 10-7 m, ultraviolet 
D)  3 *10-9 m, X-rays 
E)  6 m, radio 
A)  550 nm, visible 
B)  2 * 10-5 m, infrared 
C)  4* 10-7 m, ultraviolet 
D)  3 *10-9 m, X-rays 
E)  6 m, radio

Exam 14: Our Starthe Sun

In the radiative zone inside the Sun, photons are transported from the core to the convective zone over a time of

Describe the solar neutrino problem and its solution.

Approximately how long does it take the photons released in nuclear reactions in the core of the Sun to exit the Sun?

Each helium atom created through the proton-proton chain, illustrated in the figure below, is made up of two protons and two neutrons.How many neutrons and protons are required as inputs to the proton-proton chain?

Explain why hydrostatic equilibrium results in the center of the Sun having the highest pressure and temperature.

The detection of solar neutrinos confirms that

How does the fact that the surface of the Sun rings like a bell help us better understand the Sun?

What force shapes the Sun's corona?

In addition to the laws of physics and chemistry, what information do we need to know about our Sun to calculate its internal structure and radius?

If a coronal mass ejection occurs on the Sun that expels material at a speed of 800 km/s, how long will it take these charged particles to reach the Earth?

If a coronal mass ejection occurred on the Sun and ejected particles toward the Earth that traveled at the speed of 1,000 km/s, how long would it take them to reach Earth?

The layers of the Sun's atmosphere, from innermost to outermost, are

If the Sun converts 5 * 1011 kg of H to He per second and 10 percent of the Sun's total mass is available for nuclear burning, how long might we expect the Sun to live?

Why are neutrino detectors located deep underground?

The best wavelength to use to observe a solar prominence is

If you observe a maximum number of sunspots right now, how long would you have to wait to see the next solar maximum?

The solar neutrino problem was solved by

What is the approximate temperature at the center of the Sun?

The net result of the proton-proton chain of nuclear reactions is that four protons are converted into

The Sun's corona has a temperature of approximately 1 million degrees.At what wavelength and in what part of the electromagnetic spectrum does its radiation peak?

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

If the Sun converts 5 * 10¹¹ kg of H to He per second and 10 percent of the Sun's total mass is available for nuclear burning, how long might we expect the Sun to live?