The Sun
Carrie is making a presentation on solar winds. Her notes of the steps that must occur for solar winds to form are below. 1. The stream of electrically charged particles collide with gas atoms, causing the latter to give off light.2. The electrically charged particles flow outward in all directions as far as Saturn.3. The stream of electrically charged particles flows outward from the corona.4. The particles of the solar wind flow along lines of the magnetic field. Which shows the correct sequence in the formation of solar winds? 1, 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4, 1 3, 2, 4, 1 4, 2, 1, 3
3, 2, 4, 1
The distance between planets varies as they move in their orbits. The minimum distance from the Earth to Mars is about 0.35 AU. About how many kilometers is that?
55,000,000 km
How are Van Allen belts formed?
High-energy particles from the Sun get trapped in Earth's magnetic field.
Dr. Perez is part of a team of researchers who are working on designing and building a probe to study solar flares. What condition must the probe meet?
It must be able to withstand a temperature of up to 20 million degrees Celsius.
What is the temperature of the middle most layer of the Sun's atmosphere?
It's temperature is 6,000 degrees celsius to 20,000 degrees celsius.
Scientists around the world have been working for decades on perfecting the process of nuclear fusion in the lab. Which statement justifies this research?
Scientists are looking for a way to create cheap, safe, and sustainable energy.
Malika is writing an essay about the Sun. Below is the first paragraph in the essay. The Sun is an average-size star that is located at the center of the solar system. This hot, glowing ball of gas has a diameter of 1,393,000 km. This means 109 Earths would fit side by side across the diameter of the Sun. At the surface, the Sun's temperature is about 550 degrees Celsius. Earth is located just under 150 million kilometers from the Sun. Malika quickly realizes this paragraph contains an error. Which statement corrects the error?
The Sun's surface temperature is about 5,500 degrees Celsius.
The local newspaper has published the passage below. Last week, scientists released incredible images of aurora australis, known as the northern lights. The images show a beautiful display of lights. These lights are the result of the solar activity known as solar wind. The particles of the solar wind flow along the lines of Earth's magnetic field and collide with gas atoms in Earth's atmosphere. Light is given off as a result of these collisions. Traces of solar wind reach well beyond Earth and have been detected as far as Saturn. Which statement is inaccurate? Solar wind particles flow along the lines of Earth's magnetic field. Light is given off when solar wind particles and gas atoms collide. The aurora australis is known as the northern lights. Solar winds reach well beyond our planet.
The aurora australis is known as the northern lights.
What are formed when particles in solar wind travel along lines of Earth's magnetic field and collide with gas atoms?
auroras
Which elements are the main components of the Sun?
hydrogen and helium
Suppose a scientific team is trying to recreate the energy-producing reactions that occur in the Sun. What would they need for the experiments?
hydrogen atoms, heat, and pressure
In order to recreate the process of energy production that takes place in the Sun, scientists use
hydrogen gas and add heat and pressure.
Scientists in a lab are working on a series of experiments that involve colliding two or more atomic nuclei at very high speeds to form a new type of atomic nucleus. What are they working on?
nuclear fusion
What is the solar process that results in the production of energy?
nuclear fusion
Radio communications were severely disturbed last week, and the local newspaper says that solar activity is to blame. Which types of solar activity could the newspaper be talking about?
solar flares and prominences
Dr. Tate and Dr. Ramirez are observing the effects of a type of solar activity that has reached the planet Jupiter. What solar activity are they observing?
solar winds
Saki went on vacation and was fortunate enough to get to see the aurora australis. What solar activity did she observe?
solar winds
What are the dark areas on the surface of the Sun?
sunspots
What is an astronomical unit?
the average distance between the Earth and the Sun
Where in the Sun does the production of energy take place?
the core
A magnetic field protects Earth from the Sun's high-energy particles. What two processes are involved in the formation of Earth's magnetic field?
the movement of metals in Earth's core and Earth's rotation
