Which of the following is not a characteristic of the 11-year sunspot cycle?
A) The sunspot cycle is very steady, so that each 11-year cycle is nearly identical to every other 11-year cycle.
B) The likelihood of seeing solar prominences or solar flares is higher when sunspots are more common and lower when they are less common.
C) The Sun's entire magnetic field flip-flops with each cycle, so that the overall magnetic cycle averages 22 years.
D) The number of sunspots on the Sun at any one time gradually rises and falls, with an average of 11 years between the times when sunspots are most numerous.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The statement that the sunspot cycle is very steady, so that each 11-year cycle is nearly identical to every other 11-year cycle, is not true. While the cycle does occur on average every 11 years, there can be significant variations in the length, intensity, and timing of each cycle.

Which of the Following Is Not a Characteristic of the 11-Year