Question 1

In a sunspot, the umbra is cooler than the penumbra.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

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 the Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.7 day 
B)  1.4 days 
C)  1.8 days 
D)  2.2 days 
E)  3.5 days 
A)  0.7 day 
B)  1.4 days 
C)  1.8 days 
D)  2.2 days 
E)  3.5 days

Question 3

The Sun's chromosphere appears red because:

Accepted Answer

A)  it is hotter than the photosphere 
B)  as the Sun rotates, the chromosphere appears to move away from us radially 
C)  it has a higher concentration of heavy metals 
D)  it is made of mostly helium 
E)  its spectrum is dominated by H$\alpha$ emission 
A)  it is hotter than the photosphere 
B)  as the Sun rotates, the chromosphere appears to move away from us radially 
C)  it has a higher concentration of heavy metals 
D)  it is made of mostly helium 
E)  its spectrum is dominated by H$\alpha$ emission

Question 4

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

Question 5

Explain why hydrostatic equilibrium results in the center of the Sun having the highest pressure and temperature.

Accepted Answer

Hydrostatic equilibrium means that, at a

Question 6

When is the Sun most luminous?

Accepted Answer

A)  when there are a maximum number of sunspots 
B)  when there are a average number of sunspots 
C)  where there a minimum number of sunspots 
D)  the Sun's luminosity does not change 
E)  the Sun's luminosity changes, but it has no relation to the number of sunspots 
A)  when there are a maximum number of sunspots 
B)  when there are a average number of sunspots 
C)  where there a minimum number of sunspots 
D)  the Sun's luminosity does not change 
E)  the Sun's luminosity changes, but it has no relation to the number of sunspots

Question 7

The magnetic field of the Sun is continuously produced and deformed by:

Accepted Answer

A)  its differential rotation 
B)  the solar wind 
C)  changes in the rate of nuclear fusion in the core 
D)  a liquid conducting layer in the interior 
E)  This is a trick question. The solar magnetic field is primordial. 
A)  its differential rotation 
B)  the solar wind 
C)  changes in the rate of nuclear fusion in the core 
D)  a liquid conducting layer in the interior 
E)  This is a trick question. The solar magnetic field is primordial.

Question 8

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 9

The Sun has a mass of:

Accepted Answer

A)  2 * 1010 kg 
B)  2 * 1025 kg 
C)  2 * 1030 kg 
D)  2 *1035 kg 
E)  2 * 1045 kg 
A)  2 * 1010 kg 
B)  2 * 1025 kg 
C)  2 * 1030 kg 
D)  2 *1035 kg 
E)  2 * 1045 kg

Question 10

The solar magnetic field switches polarity every 11 years.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Solar wind particles hit the surface of the Moon, but they don't make it to the surface of the Earth because the Earth:

Accepted Answer

A)  is larger than the Moon 
B)  is warmer than the Moon 
C)  has an atmosphere while the Moon does not 
D)  has a magnetic field while the Moon does not 
E)  is further from the Sun than the Moon 
A)  is larger than the Moon 
B)  is warmer than the Moon 
C)  has an atmosphere while the Moon does not 
D)  has a magnetic field while the Moon does not 
E)  is further from the Sun than the Moon

Question 13

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 
E)  4.6 billion years 
A)  8 minutes 
B)  16 hours 
C)  1,000 years 
D)  100,000 years 
E)  4.6 billion years

Question 14

In addition to the laws of physics and chemistry, what information do we need to know about our Sun to calculate its internal structure and radius?

Accepted Answer

We need to know its

Question 15

When two atomic nuclei come together to form a new species of atom, this is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  nuclear fission 
B)  nuclear recombination 
C)  nuclear splitting 
D)  nuclear fusion 
E)  ionization 
A)  nuclear fission 
B)  nuclear recombination 
C)  nuclear splitting 
D)  nuclear fusion 
E)  ionization

Question 16

The picture below shows a diagram of the Sun with zones labeled A, B, and C.   Explain how energy is being transferred in each of the three regions.

Accepted Answer

Region A is the radiative zone, where en

Question 17

The Sun's internal magnetic field becomes tangled up over time because of:

Accepted Answer

A)  coronal holes 
B)  coronal mass ejections 
C)  differential rotation 
D)  temperature changes in the Sun's core 
E)  all of the above 
A)  coronal holes 
B)  coronal mass ejections 
C)  differential rotation 
D)  temperature changes in the Sun's core 
E)  all of the above

Question 18

In the proton-proton chain, the net reaction is that 4 protons are converted into 1 helium nucleus. What other byproducts are released in this reaction, and why?

Accepted Answer

Energy is released in the form of gamma

Question 19

The solar spectrum is an example of a(n) _________ spectrum.

Accepted Answer

A)  emission 
B)  absorption 
C)  continuum 
D)  blackbody 
E)  X-ray 
A)  emission 
B)  absorption 
C)  continuum 
D)  blackbody 
E)  X-ray

Question 20

Imagine that you observed the Sun and measured the brightness of the face of the Sun at the locations marked in this image:   At which of these locations would you measure the lowest brightness?

Accepted Answer

A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
E)  They would all have the same brightness. 
A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
E)  They would all have the same brightness.

Exam 14: Our Starthe Sun

In a sunspot, the umbra is cooler than the penumbra.

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 the Earth?

The Sun's chromosphere appears red because:

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

Explain why hydrostatic equilibrium results in the center of the Sun having the highest pressure and temperature.

When is the Sun most luminous?

The magnetic field of the Sun is continuously produced and deformed by:

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

The Sun has a mass of:

The solar magnetic field switches polarity every 11 years.

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

Solar wind particles hit the surface of the Moon, but they don't make it to the surface of the Earth because the Earth:

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

In addition to the laws of physics and chemistry, what information do we need to know about our Sun to calculate its internal structure and radius?

When two atomic nuclei come together to form a new species of atom, this is called:

The picture below shows a diagram of the Sun with zones labeled A, B, and C. Explain how energy is being transferred in each of the three regions.

The Sun's internal magnetic field becomes tangled up over time because of:

In the proton-proton chain, the net reaction is that 4 protons are converted into 1 helium nucleus. What other byproducts are released in this reaction, and why?

The solar spectrum is an example of a(n) _________ spectrum.

Imagine that you observed the Sun and measured the brightness of the face of the Sun at the locations marked in this image: At which of these locations would you measure the lowest brightness?

Why Learn Astronomy

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth

Motion of Astronomical Bodies

Gravity and Orbits

Light

The Tools of the Astronomer

The Birth and Evolution of Planetary Systems

The Terrestrial Planets and Earths Moon

Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets

Worlds of Gas and Liquid the Giant Planets

Planetary Adornmentsmoons and Rings

Dwarf Planets and Small Solar System Bodies

Taking the Measure of Stars

Star Formation and the Interstellar Medium

Evolution of Low-Mass Stars

Evolution of High-Mass Stars

Relativity and Black Holes

The Expanding Universe

Galaxies

The Milky Waya Normal Spiral Galaxy

Modern Cosmology

Large-Scale Structure in the Universe

Life

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