Question 1

What processes are involved in the sunspot cycle?

Accepted Answer

A) gravitational contraction of the Sun 
B) wave motions in the solar interior 
C) variations of the solar thermostat 
D) the winding of magnetic field lines due to differential rotation 
E) the interaction of the Earth's magnetic field with that of the Sun 
A) gravitational contraction of the Sun 
B) wave motions in the solar interior 
C) variations of the solar thermostat 
D) the winding of magnetic field lines due to differential rotation 
E) the interaction of the Earth's magnetic field with that of the Sun

Question 2

When we say that the Sun is a ball of plasma,we mean that

Accepted Answer

A) the Sun is made of material that acts like a liquid acts on Earth. 
B) the Sun is made of atoms and molecules. 
C) the Sun consists of gas in which many or most of the atoms are ionized (missing electrons). 
D) the Sun is roughly the same color as blood. 
A) the Sun is made of material that acts like a liquid acts on Earth. 
B) the Sun is made of atoms and molecules. 
C) the Sun consists of gas in which many or most of the atoms are ionized (missing electrons). 
D) the Sun is roughly the same color as blood.

Question 3

Describe two general ways we learn about the Sun's interior.

Accepted Answer

Astronomers create mathematical models t

Question 4

The proton-proton chain is

Accepted Answer

A) the specific set of nuclear reactions through which the Sun fuses hydrogen into helium. 
B) the linkage of numerous protons into long chains. 
C) another name for the force that holds protons together in atomic nuclei. 
D) an alternative way of generating energy that is different from the fusion of hydrogen into helium. 
A) the specific set of nuclear reactions through which the Sun fuses hydrogen into helium. 
B) the linkage of numerous protons into long chains. 
C) another name for the force that holds protons together in atomic nuclei. 
D) an alternative way of generating energy that is different from the fusion of hydrogen into helium.

Question 5

Which of the following statements about neutrinos is not true?

Accepted Answer

A) About a thousand trillion neutrinos are passing through your body every second. 
B) Neutrinos are created as a by-product of the proton-proton chain. 
C) Neutrinos have no electrical charge. 
D) Neutrinos have a tendency to pass through just about anything without interactions,making them very difficult to detect. 
E) The mass of a neutrino is 30 percent of the mass of an electron. 
A) About a thousand trillion neutrinos are passing through your body every second. 
B) Neutrinos are created as a by-product of the proton-proton chain. 
C) Neutrinos have no electrical charge. 
D) Neutrinos have a tendency to pass through just about anything without interactions,making them very difficult to detect. 
E) The mass of a neutrino is 30 percent of the mass of an electron.

Question 6

The overall fusion reaction by which the Sun currently produces energy is

Accepted Answer

A) 3 H ⇒ 1 Li + energy. 
B) 3 He ⇒ 1 C + energy. 
C) 4 H ⇒ 4 He + energy. 
D) 6 H ⇒ 1 He + energy. 
E) 4 H ⇒ 1 He + energy. 
A) 3 H ⇒ 1 Li + energy. 
B) 3 He ⇒ 1 C + energy. 
C) 4 H ⇒ 4 He + energy. 
D) 6 H ⇒ 1 He + energy. 
E) 4 H ⇒ 1 He + energy.

Question 7

Gravitational equilibrium means that the surface and the core of the Sun are at the same pressure.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Most of the energy produced in the Sun is released in the form of visible light from the photosphere.However,some energy is released from the upper layers of the solar atmosphere.Which of the following best describes where other forms of light are released?

Accepted Answer

A) The chromosphere is the source of ultraviolet light,and the corona is the source of X-rays. 
B) The chromosphere is the source of infrared light,and the corona is the source of ultraviolet light. 
C) The chromosphere is the source of X-rays,and the corona is the source of radio waves. 
D) The convection zone is the source of ultraviolet light,and the upper photosphere is the source of X-rays. 
E) Radio waves can pass directly through the gas which allows us to see the core. 
A) The chromosphere is the source of ultraviolet light,and the corona is the source of X-rays. 
B) The chromosphere is the source of infrared light,and the corona is the source of ultraviolet light. 
C) The chromosphere is the source of X-rays,and the corona is the source of radio waves. 
D) The convection zone is the source of ultraviolet light,and the upper photosphere is the source of X-rays. 
E) Radio waves can pass directly through the gas which allows us to see the core.

Question 9

To estimate the central temperature of the Sun,scientists

Accepted Answer

A) send probes to measure the temperature. 
B) use hot gas to create a small Sun in a laboratory. 
C) monitor changes in Earth's atmosphere. 
D) use computer models to predict interior conditions. 
A) send probes to measure the temperature. 
B) use hot gas to create a small Sun in a laboratory. 
C) monitor changes in Earth's atmosphere. 
D) use computer models to predict interior conditions.

Question 10

Describe some of the early theories for why the Sun shines and why they are no longer accepted as viable.

Accepted Answer

The Sun was once postulated to be a cool

Question 11

The Sun's rate of fusion is gradually increasing over time.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

What do we mean when we say that the Sun is in gravitational equilibrium?

Accepted Answer

A) The Sun maintains a steady temperature. 
B) There is a balance within the Sun between the outward push of pressure and the inward pull of gravity. 
C) The hydrogen gas in the Sun is balanced so that it never rises upward or falls downward. 
D) The Sun always has the same amount of mass,creating the same gravitational force. 
A) The Sun maintains a steady temperature. 
B) There is a balance within the Sun between the outward push of pressure and the inward pull of gravity. 
C) The hydrogen gas in the Sun is balanced so that it never rises upward or falls downward. 
D) The Sun always has the same amount of mass,creating the same gravitational force.

Question 13

Which of the following correctly compares the Sun's energy generation process to the energy generation process in human-built nuclear power plants?

Accepted Answer

A) The Sun generates energy by fusing small nuclei into larger ones,while our power plants generate energy by the fission (splitting)of large nuclei. 
B) Both processes involve nuclear fusion,but the Sun fuses hydrogen while nuclear power plants fuse uranium. 
C) The Sun generates energy through nuclear reactions while nuclear power plants generate energy through chemical reactions. 
D) The Sun generates energy through fission while nuclear power plants generate energy through fusion. 
A) The Sun generates energy by fusing small nuclei into larger ones,while our power plants generate energy by the fission (splitting)of large nuclei. 
B) Both processes involve nuclear fusion,but the Sun fuses hydrogen while nuclear power plants fuse uranium. 
C) The Sun generates energy through nuclear reactions while nuclear power plants generate energy through chemical reactions. 
D) The Sun generates energy through fission while nuclear power plants generate energy through fusion.

Question 14

What happens to energy in the convection zone of the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A) Energy slowly leaks outward through the diffusion of photons that repeatedly bounce off ions and electrons. 
B) Energy is produced in the convection zone by nuclear fusion. 
C) Energy is transported outward by the rising of hot plasma and the sinking of cooler plasma. 
D) Energy is consumed in the convection zone by the creation of electrons and positrons. 
E) Energy is conserved so while the gas moves up and down,there is no net transport of energy. 
A) Energy slowly leaks outward through the diffusion of photons that repeatedly bounce off ions and electrons. 
B) Energy is produced in the convection zone by nuclear fusion. 
C) Energy is transported outward by the rising of hot plasma and the sinking of cooler plasma. 
D) Energy is consumed in the convection zone by the creation of electrons and positrons. 
E) Energy is conserved so while the gas moves up and down,there is no net transport of energy.

Question 15

What is the solar thermostat?

Accepted Answer

The solar thermostat is analogous to the

Question 16

Sunspots are cooler than the surrounding solar surface because

Accepted Answer

A) they are regions where convection carries cooler material downward. 
B) strong magnetic fields slow convection and prevent hot plasma from entering the region. 
C) magnetic fields trap ionized gases that absorb light. 
D) there is less fusion occurring there. 
E) magnetic fields lift material from the surface of the Sun,cooling off the material faster. 
A) they are regions where convection carries cooler material downward. 
B) strong magnetic fields slow convection and prevent hot plasma from entering the region. 
C) magnetic fields trap ionized gases that absorb light. 
D) there is less fusion occurring there. 
E) magnetic fields lift material from the surface of the Sun,cooling off the material faster.

Question 17

What are coronal holes?

Accepted Answer

A) regions on the photosphere where magnetic lines poke through,creating the cooler areas of the sunspots 
B) areas of the corona where magnetic field lines project into space,allowing charged particles to escape the Sun,becoming part of the solar wind 
C) holes in the corona of the Sun that allow us to see the photosphere 
D) tunnels in the outer layers of the Sun through which photons can escape more quickly than through the radiation zone 
E) all of the above 
A) regions on the photosphere where magnetic lines poke through,creating the cooler areas of the sunspots 
B) areas of the corona where magnetic field lines project into space,allowing charged particles to escape the Sun,becoming part of the solar wind 
C) holes in the corona of the Sun that allow us to see the photosphere 
D) tunnels in the outer layers of the Sun through which photons can escape more quickly than through the radiation zone 
E) all of the above

Question 18

The Sun will exhaust its nuclear fuel in about

Accepted Answer

A) 5000 AD. 
B) 5 million years. 
C) 5 billion years. 
D) 50 billion years. 
A) 5000 AD. 
B) 5 million years. 
C) 5 billion years. 
D) 50 billion years.

Question 19

What two forces are balanced in what we call gravitational equilibrium?

Accepted Answer

A) the electromagnetic force and gravity 
B) outward pressure and the strong force 
C) outward pressure and inward gravity 
D) the strong force and gravity 
E) the strong force and kinetic energy 
A) the electromagnetic force and gravity 
B) outward pressure and the strong force 
C) outward pressure and inward gravity 
D) the strong force and gravity 
E) the strong force and kinetic energy

Question 20

What are the appropriate units for the Sun's luminosity?

Accepted Answer

A) watts 
B) joules 
C) Newtons 
D) kilograms 
A) watts 
B) joules 
C) Newtons 
D) kilograms

Exam 14: Our Star

What processes are involved in the sunspot cycle?

When we say that the Sun is a ball of plasma,we mean that

Describe two general ways we learn about the Sun's interior.

The proton-proton chain is

Which of the following statements about neutrinos is not true?

The overall fusion reaction by which the Sun currently produces energy is

Gravitational equilibrium means that the surface and the core of the Sun are at the same pressure.

Most of the energy produced in the Sun is released in the form of visible light from the photosphere.However,some energy is released from the upper layers of the solar atmosphere.Which of the following best describes where other forms of light are released?

To estimate the central temperature of the Sun,scientists

Describe some of the early theories for why the Sun shines and why they are no longer accepted as viable.

The Sun's rate of fusion is gradually increasing over time.

What do we mean when we say that the Sun is in gravitational equilibrium?

Which of the following correctly compares the Sun's energy generation process to the energy generation process in human-built nuclear power plants?

What happens to energy in the convection zone of the Sun?

What is the solar thermostat?

Sunspots are cooler than the surrounding solar surface because

What are coronal holes?

The Sun will exhaust its nuclear fuel in about

What two forces are balanced in what we call gravitational equilibrium?

What are the appropriate units for the Sun's luminosity?

A Modern View of the Universe

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

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Galaxies and the Foundations of Modern Cosmology

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