Exam 14: Our Starthe Sun

Astronauts in space could be harmed by the high-energy particles given off during a solar flare. So, when a solar flare is observed, a warning can be given to astronauts to tell them to get inside the space station for protection. Explain why there is enough time between the first observation of a flare and the arrival of the harmful particles for this system to work.

Calculate the amount of energy released by converting four hydrogen atoms into one helium atom. The mass of a hydrogen atom is 1.67 * 10^-24g; the mass of a helium atom is 6.65 *10^-24 g. The speed of light is 3 * 10⁸ m/s.

How do periods of strong solar activity affect near-Earth orbiting spacecraft?

The balance of energy in the solar interior means that:

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

The interior zones of the Sun are distinguished by:

If the Sun went through a period where there were many sunspots for a number of decades straight, what would happen to the climate of the Earth?

The energy that fuels the Sun is generated:

Density, temperature, and pressure increase as you move inward in the interior of the Sun. This means that the force of gravity, (Fg = GMm/r²), _________ as you move inward toward the core.

Why is hydrogen burning the main energy source for main-sequence stars?

Why is hydrogen burning the main energy source for main-sequence stars? Give at least two reasons.

Which of the following are created by solar magnetic activity?

The fact that the surface of the Sun rings like a bell lets us understand its interior better.

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:

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

Which force is responsible for holding the protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom together?

If you observe a maximum number of sunspots right now, how long would you have to wait to see the next solar maximum?

If neutrinos oscillated between five different types of neutrino during their transit from the Sun to Earth, then how many neutrinos would we have detected compared to what was emitted by the Sun?

Sunspots appear dark because they have _________ than the surrounding gas.