Question 1

To what does the term hydrostatic equilibrium in the Sun refer?

Accepted Answer

A)  balance of gas pressure outward and magnetic forces inward 
B)  balance of gravity inward and gas pressure outward 
C)  creation of one helium nucleus for the "destruction" of every four hydrogen nuclei 
D)  balance of gas pressure inward and heat outward 
A)  balance of gas pressure outward and magnetic forces inward 
B)  balance of gravity inward and gas pressure outward 
C)  creation of one helium nucleus for the "destruction" of every four hydrogen nuclei 
D)  balance of gas pressure inward and heat outward

Question 2

What causes limb darkening?

Accepted Answer

A)  The photosphere at the edge of the Sun's surface is cooler than it is in the middle of the Sun's surface. 
B)  The limb of the Sun is darker than the center because sunspots collect along the limb. 
C)  Light reaching us from the limb of the Sun originates in the higher, cooler layers of the Sun. 
D)  Convection within the Sun is more efficient laterally than it is vertically with the result that the middle latitude regions of the Sun's surface are hotter than the poles. 
A)  The photosphere at the edge of the Sun's surface is cooler than it is in the middle of the Sun's surface. 
B)  The limb of the Sun is darker than the center because sunspots collect along the limb. 
C)  Light reaching us from the limb of the Sun originates in the higher, cooler layers of the Sun. 
D)  Convection within the Sun is more efficient laterally than it is vertically with the result that the middle latitude regions of the Sun's surface are hotter than the poles.

Question 3

What is the transition zone?

Accepted Answer

A)  This is the boundary where the temperature drops between the photosphere and the interior. 
B)  This is the boundary where the temperature drops again moving from the photosphere to the chromosphere. 
C)  This is the boundary where the temperature drops from the chromospheres to the cold of outer space. 
D)  This is where the temperature climbs sharply in moving from the chromosphere to the corona. 
A)  This is the boundary where the temperature drops between the photosphere and the interior. 
B)  This is the boundary where the temperature drops again moving from the photosphere to the chromosphere. 
C)  This is the boundary where the temperature drops from the chromospheres to the cold of outer space. 
D)  This is where the temperature climbs sharply in moving from the chromosphere to the corona.

Question 4

What is a filament on the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  a plage near the end of its life, when it is fading away 
B)  a prominence seen in silhouette against the photosphere 
C)  a dark sunspot that has been stretched by solar differential rotation 
D)  a spicule seen in profile near the edge of the Sun's limb 
A)  a plage near the end of its life, when it is fading away 
B)  a prominence seen in silhouette against the photosphere 
C)  a dark sunspot that has been stretched by solar differential rotation 
D)  a spicule seen in profile near the edge of the Sun's limb

Question 5

How was the "solar neutrino problem," that is,the detection of only a third of the predicted number of solar neutrinos,finally resolved?

Accepted Answer

A)  It was found that the detection system was faulty and missed many neutrinos it should have counted. 
B)  The energy of the neutrinos to be detected had been miscalculated, and different detectors were required to detect neutrinos in the correct range. 
C)  The basic physics of the emission of neutrinos in nuclear reactions had been misunderstood, and the predicted number was incorrect. 
D)  On the way from the Sun to Earth, the neutrino beam changes to a mixture of three types of neutrinos, only one of which was being detected. 
A)  It was found that the detection system was faulty and missed many neutrinos it should have counted. 
B)  The energy of the neutrinos to be detected had been miscalculated, and different detectors were required to detect neutrinos in the correct range. 
C)  The basic physics of the emission of neutrinos in nuclear reactions had been misunderstood, and the predicted number was incorrect. 
D)  On the way from the Sun to Earth, the neutrino beam changes to a mixture of three types of neutrinos, only one of which was being detected.

Question 6

Spectral lines observed in the granules seen at the center of the Sun's disk are:

Accepted Answer

A)  split by the Zeeman effect due to the strong magnetic fields in the granule. 
B)  always redshifted because granules are caused by gas descending into the Sun from higher layers. 
C)  redshifted near the center of the granule and blueshifted near the edge of the granule. 
D)  blueshifted near the center of the granule and redshifted near the edge of the granule. 
A)  split by the Zeeman effect due to the strong magnetic fields in the granule. 
B)  always redshifted because granules are caused by gas descending into the Sun from higher layers. 
C)  redshifted near the center of the granule and blueshifted near the edge of the granule. 
D)  blueshifted near the center of the granule and redshifted near the edge of the granule.

Question 7

The year 2013 marked a sunspot maximum.What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

A)  In that year the sunspots were considerably hotter than usual 
B)  The typical age of a sunspot is considerably longer than usual. 
C)  Most of the sunspots in that year occurred at middle latitudes. 
D)  The sunspots seen in that year were much larger than average. 
A)  In that year the sunspots were considerably hotter than usual 
B)  The typical age of a sunspot is considerably longer than usual. 
C)  Most of the sunspots in that year occurred at middle latitudes. 
D)  The sunspots seen in that year were much larger than average.

Question 8

To what extent do supergranules cover the chromoshpere?

Accepted Answer

A)  The chromosphere is always completely covered by supergranules. 
B)  Supergranules cover most but not all of the chromospheres. 
C)  At any one time, a few hundred supergranules exist and cover a few percent of the chromospheres. 
D)  Supergranules are rare and only appear during the height of the solar cycle maximum. 
A)  The chromosphere is always completely covered by supergranules. 
B)  Supergranules cover most but not all of the chromospheres. 
C)  At any one time, a few hundred supergranules exist and cover a few percent of the chromospheres. 
D)  Supergranules are rare and only appear during the height of the solar cycle maximum.

Question 9

One method that has been used successfully in recent times to investigate the deep interior of the Sun has been to observe:

Accepted Answer

A)  regular 5-minute oscillations and fluctuations of the surface. 
B)  the spectrum and behavior of a sunspot, whose roots are deep inside the Sun. 
C)  the progress of a solar-impacting comet. 
D)  physical conditions in the deep interior, using a spacecraft that penetrated into the Sun. 
A)  regular 5-minute oscillations and fluctuations of the surface. 
B)  the spectrum and behavior of a sunspot, whose roots are deep inside the Sun. 
C)  the progress of a solar-impacting comet. 
D)  physical conditions in the deep interior, using a spacecraft that penetrated into the Sun.

Question 10

What is a positron?

Accepted Answer

A)  a chargeless and almost massless particle 
B)  the nucleus of a helium atom 
C)  a positive electron 
D)  the nucleus of a hydrogen atom 
A)  a chargeless and almost massless particle 
B)  the nucleus of a helium atom 
C)  a positive electron 
D)  the nucleus of a hydrogen atom

Question 11

Solar flares,the violent eruptive events on the Sun,occur MOST frequently:

Accepted Answer

A)  over single, isolated, but large sunspots. 
B)  along the solar equator at positions aligned with Jupiter's position; they are caused by tidal disturbance on the Sun. 
C)  within solar coronal holes, from which the solar wind originates. 
D)  in or above complex sunspot groups. 
A)  over single, isolated, but large sunspots. 
B)  along the solar equator at positions aligned with Jupiter's position; they are caused by tidal disturbance on the Sun. 
C)  within solar coronal holes, from which the solar wind originates. 
D)  in or above complex sunspot groups.

Question 12

A model was proposed in 1960 by Horace Babcock to explain the solar cycle.This model bears the name:

Accepted Answer

A)  solar pulsation. 
B)  magnetic dynamo. 
C)  helioseismic. 
D)  Zeeman. 
A)  solar pulsation. 
B)  magnetic dynamo. 
C)  helioseismic. 
D)  Zeeman.

Question 13

Which was NOT a finding of the Genesis spacecraft mission?

Accepted Answer

A)  The solar wind has a tail of solar wind gases that extends outside the heliosphere. 
B)  The isotope abundances in the solar wind and in Earth's atmosphere are not identical. 
C)  Neon in layers under the Moon's surface have been altered by being bombarded by radiation from space. 
D)  The Sun has maintained a relatively constant temperature for a long period. 
A)  The solar wind has a tail of solar wind gases that extends outside the heliosphere. 
B)  The isotope abundances in the solar wind and in Earth's atmosphere are not identical. 
C)  Neon in layers under the Moon's surface have been altered by being bombarded by radiation from space. 
D)  The Sun has maintained a relatively constant temperature for a long period.

Question 14

The average sunspot group on the solar surface will last for about:

Accepted Answer

A)  two rotations of the Sun. 
B)  one rotation of the Sun. 
C)  one day. 
D)  one-half rotation of the Sun. 
A)  two rotations of the Sun. 
B)  one rotation of the Sun. 
C)  one day. 
D)  one-half rotation of the Sun.

Question 15

Which feature appears in the spectrum of the solar corona and indicates very high gas temperatures?

Accepted Answer

A)  intense emission lines from highly ionized atoms, such as iron 
B)  bright emission from the hydrogen Balmer line, Hα, at the red end of the spectrum 
C)  intense continuous emission in the infrared part of the spectrum 
D)  dark absorption lines from hydrogen, calcium, and iron on a continuous bright spectrum 
A)  intense emission lines from highly ionized atoms, such as iron 
B)  bright emission from the hydrogen Balmer line, Hα, at the red end of the spectrum 
C)  intense continuous emission in the infrared part of the spectrum 
D)  dark absorption lines from hydrogen, calcium, and iron on a continuous bright spectrum

Question 16

What is the lifetime of a typical sunspot?

Accepted Answer

A)  a few months 
B)  here today, gone tomorrow! 
C)  11 years 
D)  from a few years to a few decades 
A)  a few months 
B)  here today, gone tomorrow! 
C)  11 years 
D)  from a few years to a few decades

Question 17

What is the important difference between modern neutrino detectors and the chlorine-argon detection system of previous decades?

Accepted Answer

A)  The new detectors are smaller and thus can be built more cheaply. 
B)  The new detectors can be tuned to detect neutrinos of any energy. 
C)  The new detectors are able to detect all three neutrino types, not just those originally emitted from the Sun. 
D)  The new detectors are in orbit above our atmosphere, thus avoiding the loss of neutrinos absorbed in Earth's atmosphere. 
A)  The new detectors are smaller and thus can be built more cheaply. 
B)  The new detectors can be tuned to detect neutrinos of any energy. 
C)  The new detectors are able to detect all three neutrino types, not just those originally emitted from the Sun. 
D)  The new detectors are in orbit above our atmosphere, thus avoiding the loss of neutrinos absorbed in Earth's atmosphere.

Question 18

Where is MOST of the mass of the Sun concentrated?

Accepted Answer

A)  spread uniformly throughout the Sun 
B)  in the convective zone 
C)  in the photosphere 
D)  in the inner core 
A)  spread uniformly throughout the Sun 
B)  in the convective zone 
C)  in the photosphere 
D)  in the inner core

Question 19

Granulation on the surface of the Sun is caused by:

Accepted Answer

A)  differential rotation of the Sun. 
B)  nuclear fusion processes occurring just below the surface. 
C)  magnetic field disturbances above the solar surface. 
D)  convective currents carrying heat from beneath the surface. 
A)  differential rotation of the Sun. 
B)  nuclear fusion processes occurring just below the surface. 
C)  magnetic field disturbances above the solar surface. 
D)  convective currents carrying heat from beneath the surface.

Question 20

Which physical products are NOT produced by the Sun during the thermonuclear process in which hydrogen nuclei are combined together in its core?

Accepted Answer

A)  heavy nuclei, such as uranium 
B)  positive electrons, or positrons 
C)  helium nuclei 
D)  almost massless and very penetrating neutrinos 
A)  heavy nuclei, such as uranium 
B)  positive electrons, or positrons 
C)  helium nuclei 
D)  almost massless and very penetrating neutrinos

To what does the term hydrostatic equilibrium in the Sun refer?

What causes limb darkening?

What is the transition zone?

What is a filament on the Sun?

How was the "solar neutrino problem," that is,the detection of only a third of the predicted number of solar neutrinos,finally resolved?

Spectral lines observed in the granules seen at the center of the Sun's disk are:

The year 2013 marked a sunspot maximum.What does this mean?

To what extent do supergranules cover the chromoshpere?

One method that has been used successfully in recent times to investigate the deep interior of the Sun has been to observe:

What is a positron?

Solar flares,the violent eruptive events on the Sun,occur MOST frequently:

A model was proposed in 1960 by Horace Babcock to explain the solar cycle.This model bears the name:

Which was NOT a finding of the Genesis spacecraft mission?

The average sunspot group on the solar surface will last for about:

Which feature appears in the spectrum of the solar corona and indicates very high gas temperatures?

What is the lifetime of a typical sunspot?

What is the important difference between modern neutrino detectors and the chlorine-argon detection system of previous decades?

Where is MOST of the mass of the Sun concentrated?

Granulation on the surface of the Sun is caused by:

Which physical products are NOT produced by the Sun during the thermonuclear process in which hydrogen nuclei are combined together in its core?

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

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Exam 9: The Sun: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Star

To what does the term hydrostatic equilibrium in the Sun refer?

What causes limb darkening?

What is the transition zone?

What is a filament on the Sun?

How was the "solar neutrino problem," that is,the detection of only a third of the predicted number of solar neutrinos,finally resolved?

Spectral lines observed in the granules seen at the center of the Sun's disk are:

The year 2013 marked a sunspot maximum.What does this mean?

To what extent do supergranules cover the chromoshpere?

One method that has been used successfully in recent times to investigate the deep interior of the Sun has been to observe:

What is a positron?

Solar flares,the violent eruptive events on the Sun,occur MOST frequently:

A model was proposed in 1960 by Horace Babcock to explain the solar cycle.This model bears the name:

Which was NOT a finding of the Genesis spacecraft mission?

The average sunspot group on the solar surface will last for about:

Which feature appears in the spectrum of the solar corona and indicates very high gas temperatures?

What is the lifetime of a typical sunspot?

What is the important difference between modern neutrino detectors and the chlorine-argon detection system of previous decades?

Where is MOST of the mass of the Sun concentrated?

Granulation on the surface of the Sun is caused by:

Which physical products are NOT produced by the Sun during the thermonuclear process in which hydrogen nuclei are combined together in its core?

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