Question 1

Match between columns
                        Premises: A breeze of low-density ionized gas streaming away from the Sun
The layer in the Sun from which visible photons most easily escape
Arches of magnetic field visible in the chromosphere and corona
The outermost part of the Sun's atmosphere
Violent bursts of ionized gas ejected from magnetic fields that flow outward in the solar wind
Flame-like structures that extend upward into the lower corona
Cool, relatively dark spots on the Sun's photosphere, usually appearing in group
Subatomic particles released from the proton-proton chain of nuclear fusion

Accepted Answer

The Answer of sunspots and solar wind and corona and is...

Question 2

The Maunder minimum occurred in the 17th century, which many scientists debate the labeling of that time as the "Little Ice Age". However, it occurred before the Industrial Revolution and thus, had no significant impact on the human standard of living as we know in today's society. Suppose the Sun experienced a similar period today. How would life on Earth be impacted?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Maunder minimum occurred in the 17th...

Question 3

What is released from the proton-proton chain and is immediately absorbed by the surrounding gas, thereby heating it?

Accepted Answer

Gamma rays are released from the proton-proton chain and are immediately absorbed by the surrounding gas, thereby heating it. Positrons and neutrinos are also released, but they do not contribute significantly to heating the gas. Deuterium is an intermediate step in the fusion process and is not directly released. Electron motion is not a product of the proton-proton chain.

Question 4

Which equation represents the overall nuclear fusion process of the Sun?

Accepted Answer

The equation represents the fusion of 4 hydrogen atoms (1 proton plus 1 neutron or ^{and 1 proton or}) into 1 helium atom (2 protons and 2 neutrons or ^{and 4 neutrons or}) with the release of energy. This is the basic process that powers the Sun. Choice A does not have the correct ratio of reactants and products, while choice B has only 1 hydrogen atom reacting, which is not sufficient for the fusion process to occur. Choice C has the correct ratio of reactants and products, but it results in only half the helium formation compared to choice D. Choice E is not balanced and does not follow the known nuclear fusion process.

Question 5

Explain the role of convection on the Sun's surface.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the role of convection on the...

Question 6

Which of the natural forces bind atomic nuclei?

Accepted Answer

The strong force is the natural force that binds atomic nuclei together. It is a powerful force that overcomes the repulsive electric force between positively charged protons in the nucleus.

Question 7

Gas flows away from the Sun in the _______________, which can be considered an extension of the corona.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Gas flows away from the Sun in...

Question 8

In order for nuclear fusion to occur, atomic nuclei must overcome the ____ by colliding violently.

Accepted Answer

The Coulomb barrier is the electrostatic force of repulsion between two positively charged atomic nuclei. This force must be overcome through violent collisions in order for nuclear fusion to occur.

Question 9

Why do sunspots occur darker than the rest of the Sun's surface?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why do sunspots occur darker than the...

Question 10

During nuclear fusion, four hydrogen nuclei fuse into how many helium?

Accepted Answer

During nuclear fusion, specifically in the process that powers the sun and other stars, four hydrogen nuclei (protons) fuse together to form one helium nucleus. This process releases a tremendous amount of energy.

Question 11

The _______________ is a thin layer of gas from which Earth receives most of the Sun's light.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The _______________ is a thin layer of...

Question 12

The solar wind extends to the _______________ , marking an outer boundary of the Solar System.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The solar wind extends to the _______________...

Question 13

During the first reaction of the proton-proton chain of nuclear fusion, a weak force causes one of the protons to transform into a neutron and emit ____.

Accepted Answer

During the first reaction of the proton-proton chain, a weak force causes one of the protons to transform into a neutron and emit a positron and a neutrino. This reaction is known as proton-proton fusion and is the primary source of energy for stars like the Sun.

Question 14

Why was the Davis experiment only able to detect one-third of the neutrinos originally predicted?

Accepted Answer

The Davis experiment was only able to detect one-third of the neutrinos originally predicted because neutrinos oscillate among three different flavors (electron, muon, and tau neutrinos) as they travel through space. The experiment was designed to detect only one type of neutrino (electron neutrinos), hence missing the other two types that the neutrinos could transform into during their journey to Earth.

Question 15

The _______________ predicts that pairs of sunspots should occur where magnetic tubes burst through the Sun's surface.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The _______________ predicts that pairs of sunspots...

Question 16

What forms of electromagnetic radiation from the Sun's emissions do we experience here on Earth? Illustrate how we know this to be the case with one practical example for each form.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What forms of electromagnetic radiation from the...

Question 17

Explain the Babcock model and why the solar cycle should really be considered as a 22-year cycle instead of 11-year cycle.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the Babcock model and why the...

Question 18

The images produced by _______________ reveal streamers in the corona that follow magnetic lines of force in the Sun's magnetic field.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The images produced by _______________ reveal streamers...

Question 19

The _______________ of the solar disk is dimmer than the center, which is caused by the absorption of light in the photosphere.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The _______________ of the solar disk is...

Question 20

Historical records show that there were very few sunspots from about 1645 to 1715, a phenomenon known as the _______________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Historical records show that there were very...

Quiz 8: The Sun

Match the solar characteristic to its definition.