Question 1

How does the Sun's mass compare to Earth's mass?

Accepted Answer

A) The Sun's mass is about 300 times the mass of Earth. 
B) The Sun's mass is about 30 times the mass of Earth. 
C) The Sun's mass is about 300,000 times the mass of Earth. 
D) Both have approximately the same mass. 
A) The Sun's mass is about 300 times the mass of Earth. 
B) The Sun's mass is about 30 times the mass of Earth. 
C) The Sun's mass is about 300,000 times the mass of Earth. 
D) Both have approximately the same mass. C

Question 2

Studies of sunquakes,or helioseismology,have revealed that

Accepted Answer

A) the Sun vibrates only on the surface. 
B) "sunquakes" are caused by similar processes that create earthquakes on Earth. 
C) the Sun generates energy by nuclear fusion. 
D) our mathematical models of the solar interior are fairly accurate. 
E) neutrinos from the solar core reach the solar surface easily. 
A) the Sun vibrates only on the surface. 
B) "sunquakes" are caused by similar processes that create earthquakes on Earth. 
C) the Sun generates energy by nuclear fusion. 
D) our mathematical models of the solar interior are fairly accurate. 
E) neutrinos from the solar core reach the solar surface easily. D

Question 3

The core of the Sun is

Accepted Answer

A) at the same temperature and density as the surface. 
B) at the same temperature but denser than the surface. 
C) hotter and denser than the surface. 
D) constantly rising to the surface through convection. 
E) composed of iron. 
A) at the same temperature and density as the surface. 
B) at the same temperature but denser than the surface. 
C) hotter and denser than the surface. 
D) constantly rising to the surface through convection. 
E) composed of iron. C

Question 4

The overall result of the proton-proton chain is

Accepted Answer

A) 6 H becomes 1 He + energy. 
B) p + p becomes ²H + energy. 
C) 4 H becomes 1 He + energy. 
D) Individual protons are joined into long chains of protons. 
A) 6 H becomes 1 He + energy. 
B) p + p becomes ²H + energy. 
C) 4 H becomes 1 He + energy. 
D) Individual protons are joined into long chains of protons.

Question 5

Hydrogen fusion in the Sun requires a temperature (in Kelvin)of

Accepted Answer

A) thousands of degrees. 
B) millions of degrees. 
C) billions of degrees. 
D) trillions of degrees. 
E) any temperature,as long as gravity is strong enough. 
A) thousands of degrees. 
B) millions of degrees. 
C) billions of degrees. 
D) trillions of degrees. 
E) any temperature,as long as gravity is strong enough.

Question 6

At the center of the Sun,fusion converts hydrogen into

Accepted Answer

A) hydrogen compounds. 
B) plasma. 
C) radiation and elements like carbon and nitrogen. 
D) radioactive elements like uranium and plutonium. 
E) helium,energy,and neutrinos. 
A) hydrogen compounds. 
B) plasma. 
C) radiation and elements like carbon and nitrogen. 
D) radioactive elements like uranium and plutonium. 
E) helium,energy,and neutrinos.

Question 7

Briefly explain why sunspots are cooler than surrounding regions of the Sun and why they look dark in photos.

Accepted Answer

They are cooler because their strong mag

Question 8

The Sun generates energy primarily by nuclear fission.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Which of the following statements about the sunspot cycle is not true?

Accepted Answer

A) The number of sunspots peaks approximately every 11 years. 
B) With each subsequent peak in the number of sunspots,the magnetic polarity of the Sun is the reverse of the previous peak. 
C) The rate of nuclear fusion in the Sun peaks about every 11 years. 
D) The cycle is truly a cycle of magnetic activity,and variations in the number of sunspots are only one manifestation of the cycle. 
E) The number of solar flares peaks about every 11 years. 
A) The number of sunspots peaks approximately every 11 years. 
B) With each subsequent peak in the number of sunspots,the magnetic polarity of the Sun is the reverse of the previous peak. 
C) The rate of nuclear fusion in the Sun peaks about every 11 years. 
D) The cycle is truly a cycle of magnetic activity,and variations in the number of sunspots are only one manifestation of the cycle. 
E) The number of solar flares peaks about every 11 years.

Question 10

What is the solar neutrino problem?

Accepted Answer

Solar neutrinos coming from the Sun have

Question 11

What two physical processes balance each other to create the condition known as gravitational equilibrium in stars?

Accepted Answer

A) the strong force and the weak force 
B) the inward pull of gravity and outward pressure 
C) the inward pull of gravity and surface tension 
D) the strong force and the electromagnetic force 
A) the strong force and the weak force 
B) the inward pull of gravity and outward pressure 
C) the inward pull of gravity and surface tension 
D) the strong force and the electromagnetic force

Question 12

The Sun is a ball of gas that is on fire.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

The solar neutrino problem was solved when we realized neutrinos change types when they pass through matter.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Humans have not sent a spacecraft into the interior of the Sun to confirm any models of the interior.What evidence then do we have to support our current ideas about the solar interior?

Accepted Answer

A) solar neutrinos 
B) solar flares 
C) sun spots 
D) X-ray observations that penetrate the gas 
E) We have no evidence,just informed guesses. 
A) solar neutrinos 
B) solar flares 
C) sun spots 
D) X-ray observations that penetrate the gas 
E) We have no evidence,just informed guesses.

Question 15

The corona and chromosphere are hotter than the photosphere.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Newer neutrino detectors have confirmed the total number of solar neutrinos does in fact match predictions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Energy from the core of the Sun first travels slowly through the convection zone and then much faster through the radiation zone.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

What is the solar wind?

Accepted Answer

A) the uppermost layer of the Sun,lying just above the corona 
B) the strong wind that blows sunspots around on the surface of the Sun 
C) the wind that causes huge arcs of gas to rise above the Sun's surface 
D) a stream of charged particles flowing outward from the surface of the Sun 
A) the uppermost layer of the Sun,lying just above the corona 
B) the strong wind that blows sunspots around on the surface of the Sun 
C) the wind that causes huge arcs of gas to rise above the Sun's surface 
D) a stream of charged particles flowing outward from the surface of the Sun

Question 19

Suppose that,for some unknown reason,the core of the Sun suddenly became hotter.Which of the following best describes what would happen?

Accepted Answer

A) Higher temperature would cause the rate of nuclear fusion to rise,which would increase the internal pressure,causing the core to expand and turn the Sun into a giant star. 
B) Higher temperature would cause the rate of nuclear fusion to rise,which would increase the internal pressure,causing the core to expand and cool until the fusion rate returned to normal. 
C) Higher temperature would cause the rate of fusion to fall,decreasing the internal pressure and causing the core to collapse until the rate of fusion returned to normal. 
D) The higher temperature would not affect the fusion rate but would cause the core to expand and cool until the temperature returned to normal,with the core at a new,slightly larger size. 
A) Higher temperature would cause the rate of nuclear fusion to rise,which would increase the internal pressure,causing the core to expand and turn the Sun into a giant star. 
B) Higher temperature would cause the rate of nuclear fusion to rise,which would increase the internal pressure,causing the core to expand and cool until the fusion rate returned to normal. 
C) Higher temperature would cause the rate of fusion to fall,decreasing the internal pressure and causing the core to collapse until the rate of fusion returned to normal. 
D) The higher temperature would not affect the fusion rate but would cause the core to expand and cool until the temperature returned to normal,with the core at a new,slightly larger size.

Question 20

Which layer of the Sun do we normally see?

Accepted Answer

A) photosphere 
B) corona 
C) chromosphere 
D) convection zone 
E) radiation zone 
A) photosphere 
B) corona 
C) chromosphere 
D) convection zone 
E) radiation zone

Exam 14: Our Star

How does the Sun's mass compare to Earth's mass?

Studies of sunquakes,or helioseismology,have revealed that

The core of the Sun is

The overall result of the proton-proton chain is

Hydrogen fusion in the Sun requires a temperature (in Kelvin)of

At the center of the Sun,fusion converts hydrogen into

Briefly explain why sunspots are cooler than surrounding regions of the Sun and why they look dark in photos.

The Sun generates energy primarily by nuclear fission.

Which of the following statements about the sunspot cycle is not true?

What is the solar neutrino problem?

What two physical processes balance each other to create the condition known as gravitational equilibrium in stars?

The Sun is a ball of gas that is on fire.

The solar neutrino problem was solved when we realized neutrinos change types when they pass through matter.

Humans have not sent a spacecraft into the interior of the Sun to confirm any models of the interior.What evidence then do we have to support our current ideas about the solar interior?

The corona and chromosphere are hotter than the photosphere.

Newer neutrino detectors have confirmed the total number of solar neutrinos does in fact match predictions.

Energy from the core of the Sun first travels slowly through the convection zone and then much faster through the radiation zone.

What is the solar wind?

Suppose that,for some unknown reason,the core of the Sun suddenly became hotter.Which of the following best describes what would happen?

Which layer of the Sun do we normally see?

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Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

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Other Planetary Systems: The New Science of Distant Worlds

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