Question 1

Suppose coronal holes covered a larger fraction of the Sun's surface than they currently do. Which of the following consequences would result?

Accepted Answer

A)  The solar wind would contain a higher density of particles. 
B)  The solar wind would become hotter. 
C)  The solar wind would move faster. 
D)  The composition of the solar wind would change. 
E)  Nothing would change. 
A)  The solar wind would contain a higher density of particles. 
B)  The solar wind would become hotter. 
C)  The solar wind would move faster. 
D)  The composition of the solar wind would change. 
E)  Nothing would change.

Question 2

Density, temperature, and pressure increase as you move inward in the interior of the Sun.This means that the weight of the star pushing inward at a given radius ________ as you move toward the core.

Accepted Answer

A)  increases 
B)  decreases 
C)  stays the same 
D)  increases, and then decreases 
E)  There is not enough information to answer. 
A)  increases 
B)  decreases 
C)  stays the same 
D)  increases, and then decreases 
E)  There is not enough information to answer.

Question 3

Explain why the radiative zone in the solar interior gives way to a convective zone approximately two-thirds of the way to the surface.

Accepted Answer

The temperature of the solar interior dr

Question 4

In a sunspot, the umbra is

Accepted Answer

A)  hotter than the penumbra. 
B)  cooler than the penumbra. 
C)  the same temperature as the penumbra. 
D)  brighter than the penumbra. 
E)  made of a different material than the rest of the surface. 
A)  hotter than the penumbra. 
B)  cooler than the penumbra. 
C)  the same temperature as the penumbra. 
D)  brighter than the penumbra. 
E)  made of a different material than the rest of the surface.

Question 5

The net effect of the proton-proton chain is that four hydrogen nuclei are converted to one helium nucleus and ________ are released.

Accepted Answer

A)  visible wavelength photons 
B)  gamma ray photons, positrons, and neutrinos 
C)  ultraviolet photons and neutrinos 
D)  X-ray photons, electrons, and neutrinos 
E)  infrared photons and positrons 
A)  visible wavelength photons 
B)  gamma ray photons, positrons, and neutrinos 
C)  ultraviolet photons and neutrinos 
D)  X-ray photons, electrons, and neutrinos 
E)  infrared photons and positrons

Question 6

What is "limb darkening"? Explain why limb darkening occurs in the Sun.

Accepted Answer

Limb darkening means that the edges of t

Question 7

How do periods of strong solar activity affect near-Earth-orbiting spacecraft?

Accepted Answer

At solar maxima,the amount of extreme ul

Question 8

The region of dominance of the solar wind over the interstellar medium is called the

Accepted Answer

A)  sunspot. 
B)  corona. 
C)  Kuiper belt. 
D)  heliosphere. 
E)  solar shock. 
A)  sunspot. 
B)  corona. 
C)  Kuiper belt. 
D)  heliosphere. 
E)  solar shock.

Question 9

Because the Sun is in hydrostatic equilibrium, the correct order of the inner layers by density, from most dense to least dense, is

Accepted Answer

A)  core, convective zone, radiative zone. 
B)  convective zone, radiative zone, core. 
C)  radiative zone, convective zone, core. 
D)  radiative zone, core, convective zone. 
E)  core, radiative zone, convective zone. 
A)  core, convective zone, radiative zone. 
B)  convective zone, radiative zone, core. 
C)  radiative zone, convective zone, core. 
D)  radiative zone, core, convective zone. 
E)  core, radiative zone, convective zone.

Question 10

Which of these can travel directly from the center of the Sun to Earth in about 8 minutes?

Accepted Answer

A)  photons 
B)  electrons 
C)  protons 
D)  neutrons 
E)  neutrinos 
A)  photons 
B)  electrons 
C)  protons 
D)  neutrons 
E)  neutrinos

Question 11

In the figure below, one can see that the Sun's surface appears darker towards the edges or "limbs" of the disk of the Sun.Why does this happen?

Accepted Answer

A)  the chromosphere casts shadows on the edges of the Sun from our perspective. 
B)  the corona casts shadows on the edges of the Sun from our perspective. 
C)  the Sun is a higher temperature at the edges of the disk. 
D)  the viewing angle and lower temperature of the Sun's outer layers results in a dimming effect. 
E)  sunspots look much bigger when viewed edge-on. 
A)  the chromosphere casts shadows on the edges of the Sun from our perspective. 
B)  the corona casts shadows on the edges of the Sun from our perspective. 
C)  the Sun is a higher temperature at the edges of the disk. 
D)  the viewing angle and lower temperature of the Sun's outer layers results in a dimming effect. 
E)  sunspots look much bigger when viewed edge-on.

Question 12

Hydrostatic equilibrium is a balance between

Accepted Answer

A)  heat and centrifugal force. 
B)  core temperature and surface temperature. 
C)  pressure and gravity. 
D)  radiation and heat. 
E)  centrifugal force and gravity. 
A)  heat and centrifugal force. 
B)  core temperature and surface temperature. 
C)  pressure and gravity. 
D)  radiation and heat. 
E)  centrifugal force and gravity.

Question 13

The figure below shows a diagram of the Sun with zones labeled A, B, and C.Explain how energy is being transferred in each of the three regions.

Accepted Answer

Region A is the radiative zone,where ene

Question 14

Boiling water is an example of energy transport through

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 15

The solar spectrum is an example of a(n) ________ spectrum.

Accepted Answer

A)  emission 
B)  absorption 
C)  continuum 
D)  blackbody 
E)  X-ray 
A)  emission 
B)  absorption 
C)  continuum 
D)  blackbody 
E)  X-ray

Question 16

The figure below shows the Sun during a solar eclipse at visible wavelengths.Which part of the Sun is visible around the shadow of the Moon?

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 17

Suppose by some mysterious process the nuclear fusion rate in the core of the Sun were to increase.What would certainly happen to the appearance of the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  It would shrink in size. 
B)  It would become more luminous. 
C)  It would greatly increase in size. 
D)  It would become less luminous. 
E)  It would not change. 
A)  It would shrink in size. 
B)  It would become more luminous. 
C)  It would greatly increase in size. 
D)  It would become less luminous. 
E)  It would not change.

Question 18

Through hydrogen fusion, the Sun loses approximately 4 million metric tons of mass each second.
If it burns hydrogen at this rate for 10 billion years, what percentage of its original mass will it
lose in all? (Note: The mass of the Sun is 1.99*1030 kg, and 1 metric ton=1,000 kg.)

Accepted Answer

The total amount of mass lost is: 4,000

Question 19

In the figure labeled below, which solar layer is the chromosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
E)  E 
A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
E)  E

Question 20

The solar neutrino problem was solved by postulating that

Accepted Answer

A)  neutrinos have a very large mass. 
B)  neutrinos oscillate between three different types. 
C)  some neutrinos become photons during their journey. 
D)  some neutrinos interact more strongly with matter such that they are absorbed locally inside the Sun. 
E)  neutrinos have zero mass like photons. 
A)  neutrinos have a very large mass. 
B)  neutrinos oscillate between three different types. 
C)  some neutrinos become photons during their journey. 
D)  some neutrinos interact more strongly with matter such that they are absorbed locally inside the Sun. 
E)  neutrinos have zero mass like photons.

Exam 14: Our Starthe Sun

Suppose coronal holes covered a larger fraction of the Sun's surface than they currently do. Which of the following consequences would result?

Density, temperature, and pressure increase as you move inward in the interior of the Sun.This means that the weight of the star pushing inward at a given radius ________ as you move toward the core.

Explain why the radiative zone in the solar interior gives way to a convective zone approximately two-thirds of the way to the surface.

In a sunspot, the umbra is

The net effect of the proton-proton chain is that four hydrogen nuclei are converted to one helium nucleus and ________ are released.

What is "limb darkening"? Explain why limb darkening occurs in the Sun.

How do periods of strong solar activity affect near-Earth-orbiting spacecraft?

The region of dominance of the solar wind over the interstellar medium is called the

Because the Sun is in hydrostatic equilibrium, the correct order of the inner layers by density, from most dense to least dense, is

Which of these can travel directly from the center of the Sun to Earth in about 8 minutes?

In the figure below, one can see that the Sun's surface appears darker towards the edges or "limbs" of the disk of the Sun.Why does this happen?

Hydrostatic equilibrium is a balance between

The figure below shows a diagram of the Sun with zones labeled A, B, and C.Explain how energy is being transferred in each of the three regions.

Boiling water is an example of energy transport through

The solar spectrum is an example of a(n) ________ spectrum.

The figure below shows the Sun during a solar eclipse at visible wavelengths.Which part of the Sun is visible around the shadow of the Moon?

Suppose by some mysterious process the nuclear fusion rate in the core of the Sun were to increase.What would certainly happen to the appearance of the Sun?

Through hydrogen fusion, the Sun loses approximately 4 million metric tons of mass each second. If it burns hydrogen at this rate for 10 billion years, what percentage of its original mass will it lose in all? (Note: The mass of the Sun is 1.99*1030 kg, and 1 metric ton=1,000 kg.)

In the figure labeled below, which solar layer is the chromosphere?

The solar neutrino problem was solved by postulating that

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

Through hydrogen fusion, the Sun loses approximately 4 million metric tons of mass each second. If it burns hydrogen at this rate for 10 billion years, what percentage of its original mass will it lose in all? (Note: The mass of the Sun is 1.99*10³⁰ kg, and 1 metric ton=1,000 kg.)