Exam 10: Our Star

When the temperature of the Sun's core goes down, what happens next?

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

Based on its surface temperature of 6,000 K, most photons that leave the Sun's surface lie in which region of the electromagnetic spectrum?

Describe some of the early theories for the Sun's energy source and why they are no longer accepted as viable.

Which of the following is the best answer to the question, "Why does the Sun shine?"

What do sunspots, solar prominences, and solar flares all have in common?

Which weighs more?

The corona and chromosphere are hotter than the photosphere.

How can we measure the strength of magnetic fields on the Sun?

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

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

Which of the following choices is not a way by which we can study the inside of the Sun?

By what process does the Sun generate energy?

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

The overall result of the proton-proton chain is:

Why are neutrinos so difficult to detect?

Why do sunspots appear dark in pictures of the Sun?

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

From center outward, which of the following lists the "layers" of the Sun in the correct order?

Basis for Fundamental Solar Data: Table 10.1 in your text lists all of the basic fundamental data for the Sun: its mass, radius, luminosity, rotation rate, surface temperature, and composition. Taking each of the quantities in turn, outline the basic observations and physical principles used to infer the values. When done, consider one final fact about the Sun: its core temperature is about 15 million degrees (Kelvin). What observations support this value? Do you consider the Sun's core temperature to be more or less well established than the basic data of Table 10.1? Explain.