Ch 15 & 16 Astronomy Hw
The solar sunspot cycle range every
11 years
corona
The tenuous uppermost layer of the Sun's atmosphere; most of the Sun's X rays are emitted from this region, in which the temperature is about 1 million K.
Which of the following changes would cause the fusion rate in the Sun's core to increase?
a decrease in the core radius
Sunspots appear darker than their surroundings because they Correct!
are cooler than their surroundings
Solar wind particles can be captured by the Earth's magnetosphere. When these particles spiral down along the magnetic field into the atmosphere, they are responsible for
aurorae (northern and southern lights)
What causes the cycle of solar activity?
changes in the organization of the Sun's magnetic field
When great currents of hot material rise inside the Sun (and cooler material sinks downward), energy is being transferred by a process known as
convection
Which of the following lists the Sun's layers in the correct order (staring from the Sun's center and going outward)?
core, radiation zone, convection zone, photosphere, chromosphere, corona
The hotter region directly above the Sun's visible surface is called the
corona
What two items on the list below are in balance in what we call gravitational equilibrium?
gravity and gas pressure
At the center of the Sun, fusion converts hydrogen into
helium, energy, and neutrinos
The most common element in the Sun is
hydrogen
When the Sun's core contracts, the core temperature __________.
increases
convection zone
is a region in which energy is transported outward by connection, which means hot material will rise and cool material will fall
radiation zone
is a region of the interior of a star , in which energy is transported primarily by a radiative difussion
chromosphere
is the layer of the sun's atmosphere below the corona; most of the sun's ultra violet light is emitted from this region
photosphere
is the visible surface of the sun; temperature averages under 6,000k
All the phenomena of solar activity — including sunspots, flares, coronal mass ejections, and the sunspot cycle — are tied to changes in the Sun's __________
magnetic field
When a large nucleus breaks apart (or is broken apart) into two smaller pieces, this is called
nuclear fission
Today we realize that the source of energy for the Sun is a process called
nuclear fusion
Where in the Sun does a fusion of hydrogen occurs?
only in the core
Solar energy leaves the core of the Sun in the form of
photons
Which of these layers of the Sun is coolest?
photosphere
You are out on the beach, enjoying the warm sunshine with friends. As you glance up at the Sun (only briefly we hope), the part of the Sun that you can see directly is called its:
photosphere
What is the approximate range in latitude over which sunspots appear?
sunspots appear over a range of 0-40. N latitude to 0-40 S latitude
core
the central region of a star, in which nuclear fusion can occur
What two items on the list below are in balance in what we call energy balance?
the energy released into space and the energy produced by fusion
The Sun's photosphere is
the part of the Sun from which the light comes that we see when we look at the Sun with our eyes
Which statement about the Sun's rotation is TRUE?
the sun rotates at different rates at different latitudes on the sun
The Sun's photosphere is __________.
the visible surface of the Sun
