Question 1

When solar activity is very high,the Earth's atmosphere will:

Accepted Answer

A)  expand 
B)  contract 
C)  remain approximately the same 
D)  repel charged particles 
A)  expand 
B)  contract 
C)  remain approximately the same 
D)  repel charged particles A

Question 2

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 B

Question 3

Through hydrogen fusion,the Sun loses approximately 4 million tons of mass each second.If it burns hydrogen at this rate for 10 billion years,what percentage of its original mass will it lose in all? (Note: The mass of the Sun is 1.99 × 1030 kg and 1 ton = 1,000 kg.)

Accepted Answer

The total amount of mass lost is: 4,000 × 10⁶ kg/s × (60 s/min)× (60 min/hr)× (24 hr/day)× (365 days/yr)× (10 × 10⁹ years)= 1.26 × 10²⁷ kg total mass lost,or 1.26 × 10²⁷ kg/1.99 × 10³⁰ kg = 6.34 × 10^-4 = 0.063 percent of its mass.

Question 4

The majority of the Sun's energy comes from:

Accepted Answer

A)  gravitational contraction 
B)  its rapid rotation 
C)  hydrogen fusion 
D)  helium burning 
A)  gravitational contraction 
B)  its rapid rotation 
C)  hydrogen fusion 
D)  helium burning

Question 5

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 emission from highly ionized atoms of iron and calcium 
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 emission from highly ionized atoms of iron and calcium 
D)  all of the above

Question 6

Examine the figure below.In a sunspot,the umbra is cooler than the penumbra.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

What are the three ways in which energy could be transported within a star (or to your fingers)? Explain your answer.

Accepted Answer

Radiative-via electromagnetic radiation;

Question 8

Explain why magnetic fields trap coronal gas over much of the solar surface but allow it to escape in coronal holes.

Accepted Answer

Most of the solar magnetic field consist

Question 9

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 10

If the Sun converts 5 × 1011 kg of H to He per second and 10 percent of the Sun's total mass is available for nuclear burning,how long might we expect the Sun to live?

Accepted Answer

A)  104 years 
B)  108 years 
C)  1010 years 
D)  1014 years 
A)  104 years 
B)  108 years 
C)  1010 years 
D)  1014 years

Question 11

We can determine how the density changes with radius in the Sun using:

Accepted Answer

A)  radar observations 
B)  neutrino detections 
C)  high-energy (gamma ray)observations 
D)  helioseismology 
A)  radar observations 
B)  neutrino detections 
C)  high-energy (gamma ray)observations 
D)  helioseismology

Question 12

Magnetic field is continuously produced and deformed in the Sun by:

Accepted Answer

A)  differential rotation 
B)  fusion reactions in the core 
C)  a liquid conducting layer in the interior 
D)  This is a trick question.The solar magnetic field is primordial 
A)  differential rotation 
B)  fusion reactions in the core 
C)  a liquid conducting layer in the interior 
D)  This is a trick question.The solar magnetic field is primordial

Question 13

The temperature of the corona is much hotter than any other layer in the solar atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Our Sun is unique compared to the other stars in our galaxy because of its:

Accepted Answer

A)  temperature 
B)  size 
C)  evolutionary stage 
D)  proximity 
A)  temperature 
B)  size 
C)  evolutionary stage 
D)  proximity

Question 15

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 16

Explain why the solution to the solar neutrino problem is an excellent example of how observations drive the evolution of science.

Accepted Answer

The standard model of the Sun predicted

Question 17

Which of the following methods is not used to transport energy from the core to the surface of the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  Radiation 
B)  Convection 
C)  Conduction 
D)  All of the above are important in the solar interior. 
A)  Radiation 
B)  Convection 
C)  Conduction 
D)  All of the above are important in the solar interior.

Question 18

Examine the figure below.The corona of the Sun has a temperature of approximately 1 million degrees.At what wavelength and in what part of the electromagnetic spectrum does its radiation peak?

Accepted Answer

A)  5.5 × 10-7 m,visible 
B)  2 × 10-5 m,infrared 
C)  4 × 10-7 m,ultraviolet 
D)  3 × 10-9 m,X-rays 
A)  5.5 × 10-7 m,visible 
B)  2 × 10-5 m,infrared 
C)  4 × 10-7 m,ultraviolet 
D)  3 × 10-9 m,X-rays

Question 19

The surface of the Sun appears sharp because:

Accepted Answer

A)  the photosphere is cooler than the layers below it 
B)  the photosphere is thin compared to the other layers in the Sun 
C)  the photosphere is much less dense than the convection zone 
D)  the photosphere is transparent to radiation 
A)  the photosphere is cooler than the layers below it 
B)  the photosphere is thin compared to the other layers in the Sun 
C)  the photosphere is much less dense than the convection zone 
D)  the photosphere is transparent to radiation

Question 20

The solar magnetic field switches polarity every 11 years.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

When solar activity is very high,the Earth's atmosphere will:

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

Through hydrogen fusion,the Sun loses approximately 4 million tons of mass each second.If it burns hydrogen at this rate for 10 billion years,what percentage of its original mass will it lose in all? (Note: The mass of the Sun is 1.99 × 10³⁰ kg and 1 ton = 1,000 kg.)

The majority of the Sun's energy comes from:

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

Examine the figure below.In a sunspot,the umbra is cooler than the penumbra.

What are the three ways in which energy could be transported within a star (or to your fingers)? Explain your answer.

Explain why magnetic fields trap coronal gas over much of the solar surface but allow it to escape in coronal holes.

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

If the Sun converts 5 × 10¹¹ kg of H to He per second and 10 percent of the Sun's total mass is available for nuclear burning,how long might we expect the Sun to live?

We can determine how the density changes with radius in the Sun using:

Magnetic field is continuously produced and deformed in the Sun by:

The temperature of the corona is much hotter than any other layer in the solar atmosphere.

Our Sun is unique compared to the other stars in our galaxy because of its:

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

Explain why the solution to the solar neutrino problem is an excellent example of how observations drive the evolution of science.

Which of the following methods is not used to transport energy from the core to the surface of the Sun?

Examine the figure below.The corona of the Sun has a temperature of approximately 1 million degrees.At what wavelength and in what part of the electromagnetic spectrum does its radiation peak?

The surface of the Sun appears sharp because:

The solar magnetic field switches polarity every 11 years.

Our Place in the Universe

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth

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

The Expansion of Space

The Realm of the Galaxies

Our Galaxy: The Milky Way

Modern Cosmology and the Origin of Structure

Life in the Universe

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Exam 11: Our Star: The Sun

When solar activity is very high,the Earth's atmosphere will:

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

Through hydrogen fusion,the Sun loses approximately 4 million tons of mass each second.If it burns hydrogen at this rate for 10 billion years,what percentage of its original mass will it lose in all? (Note: The mass of the Sun is 1.99 × 1030 kg and 1 ton = 1,000 kg.)

The majority of the Sun's energy comes from:

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

Examine the figure below.In a sunspot,the umbra is cooler than the penumbra.

What are the three ways in which energy could be transported within a star (or to your fingers)? Explain your answer.

Explain why magnetic fields trap coronal gas over much of the solar surface but allow it to escape in coronal holes.

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

If the Sun converts 5 × 1011 kg of H to He per second and 10 percent of the Sun's total mass is available for nuclear burning,how long might we expect the Sun to live?

We can determine how the density changes with radius in the Sun using:

Magnetic field is continuously produced and deformed in the Sun by:

The temperature of the corona is much hotter than any other layer in the solar atmosphere.

Our Sun is unique compared to the other stars in our galaxy because of its:

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

Explain why the solution to the solar neutrino problem is an excellent example of how observations drive the evolution of science.

Which of the following methods is not used to transport energy from the core to the surface of the Sun?

Examine the figure below.The corona of the Sun has a temperature of approximately 1 million degrees.At what wavelength and in what part of the electromagnetic spectrum does its radiation peak?

The surface of the Sun appears sharp because:

The solar magnetic field switches polarity every 11 years.

Our Place in the Universe

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth

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

The Expansion of Space

The Realm of the Galaxies

Our Galaxy: The Milky Way

Modern Cosmology and the Origin of Structure

Life in the Universe

Filters

Through hydrogen fusion,the Sun loses approximately 4 million tons of mass each second.If it burns hydrogen at this rate for 10 billion years,what percentage of its original mass will it lose in all? (Note: The mass of the Sun is 1.99 × 10³⁰ kg and 1 ton = 1,000 kg.)

If the Sun converts 5 × 10¹¹ kg of H to He per second and 10 percent of the Sun's total mass is available for nuclear burning,how long might we expect the Sun to live?