Question 1

Where is the chromosphere on the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  The chromosphere is the outermost part of the Sun's atmosphere. 
B)  The chromosphere is the layer below the visible surface of the Sun, where convection begins. 
C)  The chromosphere is the visible surface of the Sun. 
D)  The chromosphere is the layer above the visible surface of the Sun. 
A)  The chromosphere is the outermost part of the Sun's atmosphere. 
B)  The chromosphere is the layer below the visible surface of the Sun, where convection begins. 
C)  The chromosphere is the visible surface of the Sun. 
D)  The chromosphere is the layer above the visible surface of the Sun.

Question 2

How much longer can the Sun continue to generate energy by nuclear reactions in its core?

Accepted Answer

A)  about 5 million years 
B)  about 50 billion years 
C)  about 500,000 years 
D)  about 5 billion years 
A)  about 5 million years 
B)  about 50 billion years 
C)  about 500,000 years 
D)  about 5 billion years

Question 3

The mechanism at work when energy is transmitted by convection is the:

Accepted Answer

A)  mass motion of hot gases. 
B)  fusion of hydrogen nuclei into helium nuclei. 
C)  successive exchange of radiant energy as photons between atoms. 
D)  passage of radiation through a gas at the speed of light. 
A)  mass motion of hot gases. 
B)  fusion of hydrogen nuclei into helium nuclei. 
C)  successive exchange of radiant energy as photons between atoms. 
D)  passage of radiation through a gas at the speed of light.

Question 4

Solar magnetic activity at the present time in history seems to vary almost periodically with a time scale of:

Accepted Answer

A)  100 years. 
B)  5 minutes. 
C)  22 years. 
D)  2 years. 
A)  100 years. 
B)  5 minutes. 
C)  22 years. 
D)  2 years.

Question 5

If the magnetic polarity of the north pole of the Sun at a particular time is N,what will be the polarity of the preceding or leading spot of a bipolar sunspot region rotating about the Sun in the northern hemisphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  S 
B)  It is not possible to determine the polarity from the information given. 
C)  The polarity will depend on the latitude of the spot and will be N if greater than 30° latitude and S if less than 30° latitude. 
D)  N 
A)  S 
B)  It is not possible to determine the polarity from the information given. 
C)  The polarity will depend on the latitude of the spot and will be N if greater than 30° latitude and S if less than 30° latitude. 
D)  N

Question 6

The dominant energy source that powers the Sun at the present time is:

Accepted Answer

A)  the release of gravitational energy as the Sun slowly contracts. 
B)  thermonuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium in the core. 
C)  thermonuclear fission of helium into hydrogen in the core. 
D)  thermonuclear fusion of helium into heavier elements in the core. 
A)  the release of gravitational energy as the Sun slowly contracts. 
B)  thermonuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium in the core. 
C)  thermonuclear fission of helium into hydrogen in the core. 
D)  thermonuclear fusion of helium into heavier elements in the core.

Question 7

The equatorial regions of the Sun are seen to rotate with an approximate period of about:

Accepted Answer

A)  1 year. 
B)  15 days. 
C)  33 days. 
D)  25 days. 
A)  1 year. 
B)  15 days. 
C)  33 days. 
D)  25 days.

Question 8

Before 1998,what results were obtained in the detection of solar neutrinos?

Accepted Answer

A)  No neutrinos were detected at all. 
B)  About six times as many neutrinos were observed as were expected from theoretical models of the Sun. 
C)  The neutrinos were about twice as energetic on average as was predicted by theoretical models of the Sun. 
D)  Only about 1/3 of the expected number of neutrinos were observed, compared with theoretical models of the Sun. 
A)  No neutrinos were detected at all. 
B)  About six times as many neutrinos were observed as were expected from theoretical models of the Sun. 
C)  The neutrinos were about twice as energetic on average as was predicted by theoretical models of the Sun. 
D)  Only about 1/3 of the expected number of neutrinos were observed, compared with theoretical models of the Sun.

Question 9

Coronal holes are thought to be the source of:

Accepted Answer

A)  the solar wind. 
B)  dust released from the Sun. 
C)  fluctuation in human behavior (e.g., astrology). 
D)  powerful loops of magnetic fields, linked to active regions. 
A)  the solar wind. 
B)  dust released from the Sun. 
C)  fluctuation in human behavior (e.g., astrology). 
D)  powerful loops of magnetic fields, linked to active regions.

Question 10

What is the cause of the sunspot cycle on the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  Comets crashing into the Sun cool the photosphere and create sunspots. The 11-year sunspot cycle is the result of an 11-year periodicity in the flux of comets. 
B)  Subsurface magnetic fields are twisted by the Sun's differential rotation and break through the surface as sunspots, then gradually cancel each other and return below the surface. 
C)  Differential rotation on the Sun creates eddies, or vortices, that cool the photosphere and create sunspots, then the eddies gradually cancel each other out and the cycle starts over. 
D)  Subsurface magnetic fields are concentrated by the Sun's differential rotation. These fields remain under the surface and prevent heat from reaching the photosphere, creating sunspots. The concentrated fields gradually cancel each other out, and the cycle starts over. 
A)  Comets crashing into the Sun cool the photosphere and create sunspots. The 11-year sunspot cycle is the result of an 11-year periodicity in the flux of comets. 
B)  Subsurface magnetic fields are twisted by the Sun's differential rotation and break through the surface as sunspots, then gradually cancel each other and return below the surface. 
C)  Differential rotation on the Sun creates eddies, or vortices, that cool the photosphere and create sunspots, then the eddies gradually cancel each other out and the cycle starts over. 
D)  Subsurface magnetic fields are concentrated by the Sun's differential rotation. These fields remain under the surface and prevent heat from reaching the photosphere, creating sunspots. The concentrated fields gradually cancel each other out, and the cycle starts over.

Question 11

If the Sun were more massive,each of the following would result EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Sun would be bluer. 
B)  Compression would make the Sun smaller. 
C)  The Sun's surface would be hotter. 
D)  Our year would be shorter. 
A)  The Sun would be bluer. 
B)  Compression would make the Sun smaller. 
C)  The Sun's surface would be hotter. 
D)  Our year would be shorter.

Question 12

In a modern neutrino detector,neutrinos:

Accepted Answer

A)  are detected directly by photomultipliers that emit an electrical signal when struck by a neutrino. 
B)  strike water molecules, converting them into molecules of heavy water that then sink to the bottom of the tank. 
C)  cause reactions that emit Cerenkov radiation that is then detected with photomultipliers. 
D)  which have electric charge, are focused by a series of magnets to produce an intense beam that can be more easily detected by conventional detectors. 
A)  are detected directly by photomultipliers that emit an electrical signal when struck by a neutrino. 
B)  strike water molecules, converting them into molecules of heavy water that then sink to the bottom of the tank. 
C)  cause reactions that emit Cerenkov radiation that is then detected with photomultipliers. 
D)  which have electric charge, are focused by a series of magnets to produce an intense beam that can be more easily detected by conventional detectors.

Question 13

What is the source of the X rays emitted by the solar corona?

Accepted Answer

A)  high-energy electrons spiraling at high speed along the coronal magnetic fields 
B)  X rays from the solar photosphere, scattered from ions in the corona 
C)  decaying radioactive nuclei in the hot coronal gases 
D)  extremely high-temperature gas 
A)  high-energy electrons spiraling at high speed along the coronal magnetic fields 
B)  X rays from the solar photosphere, scattered from ions in the corona 
C)  decaying radioactive nuclei in the hot coronal gases 
D)  extremely high-temperature gas

Question 14

The core of the Sun,in which the Sun's thermonuclear energy is produced,takes up about:

Accepted Answer

A)  1/2 the Sun's radius. 
B)  1/4 of the Sun's radius. 
C)  less than 1/100 of the Sun's radius. 
D)  1/10 of the Sun's radius. 
A)  1/2 the Sun's radius. 
B)  1/4 of the Sun's radius. 
C)  less than 1/100 of the Sun's radius. 
D)  1/10 of the Sun's radius.

Question 15

Over the course of a typical sunspot cycle,the position of the appearance of new sunspots moves from:

Accepted Answer

A)  just poleward of the equator toward 30° N and S of the equator. 
B)  latitudes of about 30° to a few degrees above the equator in both hemispheres. 
C)  the poles toward 30° latitude in both hemispheres. 
D)  about 30° N latitude, across the equator, to 30° S latitude. 
A)  just poleward of the equator toward 30° N and S of the equator. 
B)  latitudes of about 30° to a few degrees above the equator in both hemispheres. 
C)  the poles toward 30° latitude in both hemispheres. 
D)  about 30° N latitude, across the equator, to 30° S latitude.

Question 16

Compared with the dimensions of a granule in the Sun's photosphere,a supergranule in the chromosphere is:

Accepted Answer

A)  very much larger; the diameter of each supergranule spreads across about a million granules. 
B)  a little larger, by a factor of 2. 
C)  much larger, by a factor of about 1000. 
D)  larger, by a factor of 10. 
A)  very much larger; the diameter of each supergranule spreads across about a million granules. 
B)  a little larger, by a factor of 2. 
C)  much larger, by a factor of about 1000. 
D)  larger, by a factor of 10.

Question 17

Filaments and solar prominences are part of the:

Accepted Answer

A)  convection zone. 
B)  photosphere. 
C)  chromosphere. 
D)  corona. 
A)  convection zone. 
B)  photosphere. 
C)  chromosphere. 
D)  corona.

Question 18

What is a prominence on the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  a large loop of gas supported by magnetic fields 
B)  a jet of gas shot upward from an emerging sunspot 
C)  a shockwave created by the eruption of a solar flare 
D)  another name for a plage 
A)  a large loop of gas supported by magnetic fields 
B)  a jet of gas shot upward from an emerging sunspot 
C)  a shockwave created by the eruption of a solar flare 
D)  another name for a plage

Question 19

Large regions of the Sun's chromospheres rise and fall vertically.These are called supergranules,and the boundaries of supergranules are marked by:

Accepted Answer

A)  vents. 
B)  sunspots. 
C)  spicules. 
D)  granules. 
A)  vents. 
B)  sunspots. 
C)  spicules. 
D)  granules.

Question 20

What type of intensity distribution is seen across the image of the visible Sun from center to edge?

Accepted Answer

A)  image with uniform distribution except where active regions occur 
B)  image of uniform brightness right to the limb 
C)  limb darkening 
D)  limb brightening 
A)  image with uniform distribution except where active regions occur 
B)  image of uniform brightness right to the limb 
C)  limb darkening 
D)  limb brightening

Where is the chromosphere on the Sun?

How much longer can the Sun continue to generate energy by nuclear reactions in its core?

The mechanism at work when energy is transmitted by convection is the:

Solar magnetic activity at the present time in history seems to vary almost periodically with a time scale of:

If the magnetic polarity of the north pole of the Sun at a particular time is N,what will be the polarity of the preceding or leading spot of a bipolar sunspot region rotating about the Sun in the northern hemisphere?

The dominant energy source that powers the Sun at the present time is:

The equatorial regions of the Sun are seen to rotate with an approximate period of about:

Before 1998,what results were obtained in the detection of solar neutrinos?

Coronal holes are thought to be the source of:

What is the cause of the sunspot cycle on the Sun?

If the Sun were more massive,each of the following would result EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

In a modern neutrino detector,neutrinos:

What is the source of the X rays emitted by the solar corona?

The core of the Sun,in which the Sun's thermonuclear energy is produced,takes up about:

Over the course of a typical sunspot cycle,the position of the appearance of new sunspots moves from:

Compared with the dimensions of a granule in the Sun's photosphere,a supergranule in the chromosphere is:

Filaments and solar prominences are part of the:

What is a prominence on the Sun?

Large regions of the Sun's chromospheres rise and fall vertically.These are called supergranules,and the boundaries of supergranules are marked by:

What type of intensity distribution is seen across the image of the visible Sun from center to edge?

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

Where is the chromosphere on the Sun?

How much longer can the Sun continue to generate energy by nuclear reactions in its core?

The mechanism at work when energy is transmitted by convection is the:

Solar magnetic activity at the present time in history seems to vary almost periodically with a time scale of:

If the magnetic polarity of the north pole of the Sun at a particular time is N,what will be the polarity of the preceding or leading spot of a bipolar sunspot region rotating about the Sun in the northern hemisphere?

The dominant energy source that powers the Sun at the present time is:

The equatorial regions of the Sun are seen to rotate with an approximate period of about:

Before 1998,what results were obtained in the detection of solar neutrinos?

Coronal holes are thought to be the source of:

What is the cause of the sunspot cycle on the Sun?

If the Sun were more massive,each of the following would result EXCEPT ONE.Which is the exception?

In a modern neutrino detector,neutrinos:

What is the source of the X rays emitted by the solar corona?

The core of the Sun,in which the Sun's thermonuclear energy is produced,takes up about:

Over the course of a typical sunspot cycle,the position of the appearance of new sunspots moves from:

Compared with the dimensions of a granule in the Sun's photosphere,a supergranule in the chromosphere is:

Filaments and solar prominences are part of the:

What is a prominence on the Sun?

Large regions of the Sun's chromospheres rise and fall vertically.These are called supergranules,and the boundaries of supergranules are marked by:

What type of intensity distribution is seen across the image of the visible Sun from center to edge?

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