Question 1

The solar spectrum (see the image below)is an example of a(n)________ spectrum.

Accepted Answer

A)  emission 
B)  absorption 
C)  continuum 
D)  blackbody 
A)  emission 
B)  absorption 
C)  continuum 
D)  blackbody B

Question 2

Sunspots appear dark because:

Accepted Answer

A)  they have lower densities. 
B)  they have lower rotation rates. 
C)  they have lower temperatures. 
D)  they are storm systems like those on the giant planets. 
A)  they have lower densities. 
B)  they have lower rotation rates. 
C)  they have lower temperatures. 
D)  they are storm systems like those on the giant planets. C

Question 3

When,during its 11-year cycle,is the Sun most luminous? What might this have to do with the Maunder Minimum?

Accepted Answer

The Sun is most luminous during solar maxima,when the number of sunspots on its surface is at maximum.During the Maunder Minimum,few sunspots were seen on the Sun,implying that it was a bit less luminous than today and caused Earth to be a bit colder than it is today.

Question 4

In the proton-proton chain,the net reaction 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 
A)  visible wavelength photons 
B)  gamma-ray photons, positrons, and neutrinos 
C)  ultraviolet photons and neutrinos 
D)  X-ray photons, electrons, and neutrinos

Question 5

The solar neutrino problem was solved by:

Accepted Answer

A)  adjusting the rates of hydrogen burning in solar models. 
B)  improving detector efficiencies so more neutrinos were observed. 
C)  postulating that neutrinos had mass and oscillated between three different types. 
D)  lowering the percentage of helium in models of solar composition. 
A)  adjusting the rates of hydrogen burning in solar models. 
B)  improving detector efficiencies so more neutrinos were observed. 
C)  postulating that neutrinos had mass and oscillated between three different types. 
D)  lowering the percentage of helium in models of solar composition.

Question 6

Light from the photosphere of the Sun reaches Earth approximately ________ times faster than photons released by fusion in the Sun's core.

Accepted Answer

A)  1,000 
B)  600,000 
C)  1 million 
D)  6 billion 
A)  1,000 
B)  600,000 
C)  1 million 
D)  6 billion

Question 7

Examine the figure below.The interior zones of the Sun are distinguished by:

Accepted Answer

A)  jumps in density between zones. 
B)  their temperature profiles. 
C)  their modes of energy transport. 
D)  all of the above 
A)  jumps in density between zones. 
B)  their temperature profiles. 
C)  their modes of energy transport. 
D)  all of the above

Question 8

Examine the figure below.Show where in the Sun nuclear fusion occurs,and explain why fusion occurs there.

Accepted Answer

Fusion only occurs i

Question 9

Why is hydrogen burning the main energy source for main-sequence stars? Give at least two reasons.

Accepted Answer

(1)Hydrogen is the most abundant element

Question 10

The best wavelength to use to observe a solar prominence or flare 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. 
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.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 12

In the proton-proton chain,the net reaction is that four protons are converted into one helium nucleus.What other by-products are released in this reaction,and why?

Accepted Answer

Energy is released in the form of gamma

Question 13

The variations in the Sun's luminosity by solar activity accounts for a change in Earth's average temperature by 0.1 K,which is:

Accepted Answer

A)  much less than what is attributed to greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere. 
B)  equal to the current trends in Earth's global warming. 
C)  much more than what is attributed to greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere. 
D)  This is a trick question, there is no global warming. 
A)  much less than what is attributed to greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere. 
B)  equal to the current trends in Earth's global warming. 
C)  much more than what is attributed to greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere. 
D)  This is a trick question, there is no global warming.

Question 14

The Sun's magnetic field reverses direction every:

Accepted Answer

A)  27 days. 
B)  12 months. 
C)  11 years. 
D)  22 years. 
A)  27 days. 
B)  12 months. 
C)  11 years. 
D)  22 years.

Question 15

The Sun has a mass of:

Accepted Answer

A)  2 × 1030 kg. 
B)  2 × 1010 kg. 
C)  2 × 1020 kg. 
D)  2 × 1040 kg. 
A)  2 × 1030 kg. 
B)  2 × 1010 kg. 
C)  2 × 1020 kg. 
D)  2 × 1040 kg.

Question 16

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 Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.7 day 
B)  1.4 days 
C)  1.8 days 
D)  2.1 days 
A)  0.7 day 
B)  1.4 days 
C)  1.8 days 
D)  2.1 days

Question 17

If the Sun converts 5 × 10¹¹ kg of H to He per second,and the mass of a single hydrogen nucleus is 1.7 × 10⁻²⁷ kg,how many net proton-proton reactions go on per second in the Sun? What is the luminosity produced if the mass difference between a single helium nucleus and four hydrogen nuclei is 4 × 10⁻²⁹ kg? Note that 1 watt (W)= 1 m² kg/s³.

Accepted Answer

A)  7 × 1037 reactions per second; 3 × 1026 W 
B)  3 × 1038 reactions per second; 1027 W 
C)  3 × 1038 reactions per second; 4 × 1026 W 
D)  7 × 1037 reactions per second; 5 × 1025 W 
A)  7 × 1037 reactions per second; 3 × 1026 W 
B)  3 × 1038 reactions per second; 1027 W 
C)  3 × 1038 reactions per second; 4 × 1026 W 
D)  7 × 1037 reactions per second; 5 × 1025 W

Question 18

We know the corona of the Sun is very hot because:

Accepted Answer

A)  we observe it emitting large amounts of radio emission. 
B)  the chromosphere and the photosphere are so hot. 
C)  we observe it emitting X-rays that ionize atoms there. 
D)  all of the above 
A)  we observe it emitting large amounts of radio emission. 
B)  the chromosphere and the photosphere are so hot. 
C)  we observe it emitting X-rays that ionize atoms there. 
D)  all of the above

Question 19

Examine the figure below.By studying how the surface of the Sun vibrates like a struck bell,we can determine its:

Accepted Answer

A)  age. 
B)  interior density. 
C)  total mass. 
D)  size. 
A)  age. 
B)  interior density. 
C)  total mass. 
D)  size.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

At solar maxima,the amount of extreme ul

The solar spectrum (see the image below)is an example of a(n)________ spectrum.

Sunspots appear dark because:

When,during its 11-year cycle,is the Sun most luminous? What might this have to do with the Maunder Minimum?

In the proton-proton chain,the net reaction is that four hydrogen nuclei are converted to one helium nucleus and ________ are released.

The solar neutrino problem was solved by:

Light from the photosphere of the Sun reaches Earth approximately ________ times faster than photons released by fusion in the Sun's core.

Examine the figure below.The interior zones of the Sun are distinguished by:

Examine the figure below.Show where in the Sun nuclear fusion occurs,and explain why fusion occurs there.

Why is hydrogen burning the main energy source for main-sequence stars? Give at least two reasons.

The best wavelength to use to observe a solar prominence or flare is:

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

In the proton-proton chain,the net reaction is that four protons are converted into one helium nucleus.What other by-products are released in this reaction,and why?

The variations in the Sun's luminosity by solar activity accounts for a change in Earth's average temperature by 0.1 K,which is:

The Sun's magnetic field reverses direction every:

The Sun has a mass of:

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 Earth?

We know the corona of the Sun is very hot because:

Examine the figure below.By studying how the surface of the Sun vibrates like a struck bell,we can determine its:

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

Thinking Like an Astronomer

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth and the Moon

Laws of Motion

Light and Telescopes

The Formation of Stars and Planets

Terrestrial Worlds in the Inner Solar System

Atmospheres of Venus, earth, and Mars

The Giant Planets

Small Bodies of the Solar System

Measuring the Stars

Evolution of Low-Mass Stars

Evolution of High-Mass Stars

Measuring Galaxies

Our Galaxy: the Milky Way

The Evolution of the Universe

Formation of Structure

Life in the Universe

Filters

Exam 11: Our Star: the Sun

The solar spectrum (see the image below)is an example of a(n)________ spectrum.

Sunspots appear dark because:

When,during its 11-year cycle,is the Sun most luminous? What might this have to do with the Maunder Minimum?

In the proton-proton chain,the net reaction is that four hydrogen nuclei are converted to one helium nucleus and ________ are released.

The solar neutrino problem was solved by:

Light from the photosphere of the Sun reaches Earth approximately ________ times faster than photons released by fusion in the Sun's core.

Examine the figure below.The interior zones of the Sun are distinguished by:

Examine the figure below.Show where in the Sun nuclear fusion occurs,and explain why fusion occurs there.

Why is hydrogen burning the main energy source for main-sequence stars? Give at least two reasons.

The best wavelength to use to observe a solar prominence or flare is:

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

In the proton-proton chain,the net reaction is that four protons are converted into one helium nucleus.What other by-products are released in this reaction,and why?

The variations in the Sun's luminosity by solar activity accounts for a change in Earth's average temperature by 0.1 K,which is:

The Sun's magnetic field reverses direction every:

The Sun has a mass of:

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 Earth?

We know the corona of the Sun is very hot because:

Examine the figure below.By studying how the surface of the Sun vibrates like a struck bell,we can determine its:

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

Thinking Like an Astronomer

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth and the Moon

Laws of Motion

Light and Telescopes

The Formation of Stars and Planets

Terrestrial Worlds in the Inner Solar System

Atmospheres of Venus, earth, and Mars

The Giant Planets

Small Bodies of the Solar System

Measuring the Stars

Evolution of Low-Mass Stars

Evolution of High-Mass Stars

Measuring Galaxies

Our Galaxy: the Milky Way

The Evolution of the Universe

Formation of Structure

Life in the Universe

Filters