Question 1

The extremely high gas temperatures in the solar corona mean that this region is best observed at wavelengths of:

Accepted Answer

A)  X rays. 
B)  visible light. 
C)  Balmer Hα light from hydrogen gas. 
D)  infrared light. 
A)  X rays. 
B)  visible light. 
C)  Balmer Hα light from hydrogen gas. 
D)  infrared light. A

Question 2

How does the number of sunspots on the Sun vary with time?

Accepted Answer

A)  The number of sunspots varies relatively regularly, with a period of about 11 years. 
B)  The number of sunspots varies irregularly, with no periodicity. 
C)  The number of sunspots increases and decreases with a precise period of 11.1 years. 
D)  The number of sunspots increases for about 11 years and then decreases again over the next 11 years. 
A)  The number of sunspots varies relatively regularly, with a period of about 11 years. 
B)  The number of sunspots varies irregularly, with no periodicity. 
C)  The number of sunspots increases and decreases with a precise period of 11.1 years. 
D)  The number of sunspots increases for about 11 years and then decreases again over the next 11 years. A

Question 3

Coronal mass injections have all of the following characteristics EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

Accepted Answer

A)  contribute to auroras on Earth 
B)  disrupt radio communication 
C)  are the major source of hazardous solar particles 
D)  cease during the years of solar minimum 
A)  contribute to auroras on Earth 
B)  disrupt radio communication 
C)  are the major source of hazardous solar particles 
D)  cease during the years of solar minimum D

Question 4

In terms of its total hydrogen-burning lifetime,the Sun is about:

Accepted Answer

A)  3/4 of the way through its life. 
B)  1/10 of the way through its life. 
C)  1/4 of the way through its life. 
D)  halfway through its life. 
A)  3/4 of the way through its life. 
B)  1/10 of the way through its life. 
C)  1/4 of the way through its life. 
D)  halfway through its life.

Question 5

The temperature of the corona of the Sun is:

Accepted Answer

A)  very hot, about 10⁶ K. 
B)  about twice as hot as the photosphere, 12,000 K. 
C)  very cool because it is the farthest part of the Sun from the heat source. 
D)  about the same as that of the photosphere, 5800 K. 
A)  very hot, about 10⁶ K. 
B)  about twice as hot as the photosphere, 12,000 K. 
C)  very cool because it is the farthest part of the Sun from the heat source. 
D)  about the same as that of the photosphere, 5800 K.

Question 6

The granular appearance of the surface of the Sun is evidence of what phenomenon occurring in or on the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  cells of thermonuclear fusion just under the visible surface 
B)  rapid rotation of the surface layers producing swirls of gas 
C)  concentration and heating of ionized gas by regions of high magnetic fields 
D)  convective motion under the solar surface 
A)  cells of thermonuclear fusion just under the visible surface 
B)  rapid rotation of the surface layers producing swirls of gas 
C)  concentration and heating of ionized gas by regions of high magnetic fields 
D)  convective motion under the solar surface

Question 7

The solar wind is:

Accepted Answer

A)  the flow of matter onto the Sun under gravitational attraction. 
B)  ionized hydrogen gas and electrons orbiting the Sun between its surface and the planet Mercury. 
C)  a violent, explosive expansion of specific regions of the Sun's atmosphere at certain times. 
D)  a gentle flow of solar material, mostly protons and electrons, that is always moving outward from the Sun. 
A)  the flow of matter onto the Sun under gravitational attraction. 
B)  ionized hydrogen gas and electrons orbiting the Sun between its surface and the planet Mercury. 
C)  a violent, explosive expansion of specific regions of the Sun's atmosphere at certain times. 
D)  a gentle flow of solar material, mostly protons and electrons, that is always moving outward from the Sun.

Question 8

X-ray observations of the corona reveal lighter and darker spots,the latter indication where the coronal is cooler.These darker spots are the source of:

Accepted Answer

A)  granules. 
B)  spicules. 
C)  sunspots. 
D)  the solar wind. 
A)  granules. 
B)  spicules. 
C)  sunspots. 
D)  the solar wind.

Question 9

Which occurrence led astronomers to the conclusion that the temperature of the gases in the solar corona was very high?

Accepted Answer

A)  detection of emission lines from highly ionized elements like iron 
B)  measurement of the brightness and spectrum of the continuum visible light from the corona during eclipses 
C)  direct measurements using space probes exploring the corona 
D)  observation of the effect of these gases on the planets Mercury and Venus 
A)  detection of emission lines from highly ionized elements like iron 
B)  measurement of the brightness and spectrum of the continuum visible light from the corona during eclipses 
C)  direct measurements using space probes exploring the corona 
D)  observation of the effect of these gases on the planets Mercury and Venus

Question 10

What is surprising about the atmosphere of the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  The pressure of the Sun's atmosphere, after dropping just above the photosphere, rises again to a value equivalent to that at the photosphere at the top of the chromosphere. 
B)  The density of the Sun's atmosphere, after falling rapidly above the photosphere, rises again significantly in the chromosphere. 
C)  The temperature of the Sun's atmosphere, after rising continuously from below the photosphere through the chromosphere, falls again suddenly in the corona. 
D)  The temperature of the Sun's atmosphere, after falling above the photosphere, rises again to reach very high values high in the atmosphere. 
A)  The pressure of the Sun's atmosphere, after dropping just above the photosphere, rises again to a value equivalent to that at the photosphere at the top of the chromosphere. 
B)  The density of the Sun's atmosphere, after falling rapidly above the photosphere, rises again significantly in the chromosphere. 
C)  The temperature of the Sun's atmosphere, after rising continuously from below the photosphere through the chromosphere, falls again suddenly in the corona. 
D)  The temperature of the Sun's atmosphere, after falling above the photosphere, rises again to reach very high values high in the atmosphere.

Question 11

What is the name given to a large loop of bright gas extending outward from the edge of the Sun (often seen during total solar eclipses)?

Accepted Answer

A)  prominence 
B)  spicule 
C)  filament 
D)  plage 
A)  prominence 
B)  spicule 
C)  filament 
D)  plage

Question 12

The polarity of the Sun's magnetic field reverses during a sunspot cycle.When does this reversal take place?

Accepted Answer

A)  when the sunspot number is minimum, about every 11 years 
B)  when the sunspot number is minimum, about every 22 years 
C)  when the sunspot number is maximum, about every 11 years 
D)  when the sunspot number is maximum, about every 22 years 
A)  when the sunspot number is minimum, about every 11 years 
B)  when the sunspot number is minimum, about every 22 years 
C)  when the sunspot number is maximum, about every 11 years 
D)  when the sunspot number is maximum, about every 22 years

Question 13

From which fusion reaction does the Sun derive its power?

Accepted Answer

A)  ⁴He→ O 
B)  ²H→ He 
C)  ³He→ C 
D)  ⁴H→ He 
A)  ⁴He→ O 
B)  ²H→ He 
C)  ³He→ C 
D)  ⁴H→ He

Question 14

The Zeeman effect describes the change in wavelength of emitted light caused by:

Accepted Answer

A)  the light passing through a transparent medium. 
B)  magnetic fields acting on the radiating atoms. 
C)  the atoms being in an extremely intense gravitational field. 
D)  relative motion of the source and observer. 
A)  the light passing through a transparent medium. 
B)  magnetic fields acting on the radiating atoms. 
C)  the atoms being in an extremely intense gravitational field. 
D)  relative motion of the source and observer.

Question 15

What happens to MOST of the neutrinos produced by the nuclear reactions in the core of the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  Most neutrinos combine with protons to form neutrons. 
B)  Most neutrinos collide and stick together with protons to form helium nuclei. 
C)  Most neutrinos collide with electrons, producing energy. 
D)  Most neutrinos escape from the Sun into space. 
A)  Most neutrinos combine with protons to form neutrons. 
B)  Most neutrinos collide and stick together with protons to form helium nuclei. 
C)  Most neutrinos collide with electrons, producing energy. 
D)  Most neutrinos escape from the Sun into space.

Question 16

Differential rotation has been observed on all of the following bodies EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Sun 
B)  Jupiter 
C)  Saturn 
D)  Mars 
A)  the Sun 
B)  Jupiter 
C)  Saturn 
D)  Mars

Question 17

What is the structure of a typical large sunspot?

Accepted Answer

A)  an irregular dark area of uniform darkness 
B)  a round region of uniformly dark photospheric surface 
C)  a roughly circular, dark region with a lighter central area, like a bullseye 
D)  a dark center surrounded by a less dark area 
A)  an irregular dark area of uniform darkness 
B)  a round region of uniformly dark photospheric surface 
C)  a roughly circular, dark region with a lighter central area, like a bullseye 
D)  a dark center surrounded by a less dark area

Question 18

If the solar wind particles have speeds of 3 × 10⁶ km/h,how long will it take for them to travel from the Sun to Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  50,000 hours, or 2000 days 
B)  5 hours, or less than 1/4 day 
C)  0.5 hour, or about 30 minutes 
D)  50 hours, or about 2 days 
A)  50,000 hours, or 2000 days 
B)  5 hours, or less than 1/4 day 
C)  0.5 hour, or about 30 minutes 
D)  50 hours, or about 2 days

Question 19

The temperature of the Sun's photosphere is:

Accepted Answer

A)  close to 1 million K. 
B)  about 10,000 K. 
C)  5800 K. 
D)  4300 K. 
A)  close to 1 million K. 
B)  about 10,000 K. 
C)  5800 K. 
D)  4300 K.

Question 20

What particles are produced by nuclear reactions in the core of the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  electron neutrinos 
B)  muon neutrinos 
C)  tau neutrinos 
D)  Cerenkov radiation 
A)  electron neutrinos 
B)  muon neutrinos 
C)  tau neutrinos 
D)  Cerenkov radiation

The extremely high gas temperatures in the solar corona mean that this region is best observed at wavelengths of:

How does the number of sunspots on the Sun vary with time?

Coronal mass injections have all of the following characteristics EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

In terms of its total hydrogen-burning lifetime,the Sun is about:

The temperature of the corona of the Sun is:

The granular appearance of the surface of the Sun is evidence of what phenomenon occurring in or on the Sun?

The solar wind is:

X-ray observations of the corona reveal lighter and darker spots,the latter indication where the coronal is cooler.These darker spots are the source of:

Which occurrence led astronomers to the conclusion that the temperature of the gases in the solar corona was very high?

What is surprising about the atmosphere of the Sun?

What is the name given to a large loop of bright gas extending outward from the edge of the Sun (often seen during total solar eclipses)?

The polarity of the Sun's magnetic field reverses during a sunspot cycle.When does this reversal take place?

From which fusion reaction does the Sun derive its power?

The Zeeman effect describes the change in wavelength of emitted light caused by:

What happens to MOST of the neutrinos produced by the nuclear reactions in the core of the Sun?

Differential rotation has been observed on all of the following bodies EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

What is the structure of a typical large sunspot?

If the solar wind particles have speeds of 3 × 10⁶ km/h,how long will it take for them to travel from the Sun to Earth?

The temperature of the Sun's photosphere is:

What particles are produced by nuclear reactions in the core of the Sun?

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Formation of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems

Exoplanets

The Terrestrial Planets and Their Moons

The Outer Planets and Their Moons

Vagabonds of the Solar System

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of the Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Deaths and Remnants of Stars

The Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters

Exam 9: The Sun: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Star

The extremely high gas temperatures in the solar corona mean that this region is best observed at wavelengths of:

How does the number of sunspots on the Sun vary with time?

Coronal mass injections have all of the following characteristics EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

In terms of its total hydrogen-burning lifetime,the Sun is about:

The temperature of the corona of the Sun is:

The granular appearance of the surface of the Sun is evidence of what phenomenon occurring in or on the Sun?

The solar wind is:

X-ray observations of the corona reveal lighter and darker spots,the latter indication where the coronal is cooler.These darker spots are the source of:

Which occurrence led astronomers to the conclusion that the temperature of the gases in the solar corona was very high?

What is surprising about the atmosphere of the Sun?

What is the name given to a large loop of bright gas extending outward from the edge of the Sun (often seen during total solar eclipses)?

The polarity of the Sun's magnetic field reverses during a sunspot cycle.When does this reversal take place?

From which fusion reaction does the Sun derive its power?

The Zeeman effect describes the change in wavelength of emitted light caused by:

What happens to MOST of the neutrinos produced by the nuclear reactions in the core of the Sun?

Differential rotation has been observed on all of the following bodies EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

What is the structure of a typical large sunspot?

If the solar wind particles have speeds of 3 × 10⁶ km/h,how long will it take for them to travel from the Sun to Earth?

The temperature of the Sun's photosphere is:

What particles are produced by nuclear reactions in the core of the Sun?

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Formation of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems

Exoplanets

The Terrestrial Planets and Their Moons

The Outer Planets and Their Moons

Vagabonds of the Solar System

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of the Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Deaths and Remnants of Stars

The Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters