Question 1

Where in the Sun do fusion reactions happen?

Accepted Answer

A)  only the core
B)  everywhere inside the Sun
C)  core and radiation zone A

Question 2

Nuclear Fusion Power Plants: The public often reacts with fear to any energy source involving the word "nuclear." Imagine that you are discussing the problem of energy generation with a friend, and you mention that nuclear fusion power plants should be investigated. Your friend expresses worry about all of the nuclear waste that would be produced. How would you explain to your friend that this fear is misplaced?

Accepted Answer

Certainly! When discussing nuclear fusio...

Question 3

What two physical processes balance each other to create the condition known as gravitational equilibrium in stars?

Accepted Answer

A)  gravitational force and surface tension
B)  gravitational force and outward pressure
C)  the strong force and the electromagnetic force
D)  the strong force and the weak force

Question 4

The Sun's surface seethes and churns with a bubbling pattern. Why?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Sun's surface is boiling.
B)  The churning is an illusion created by varying radiation, as the gas on the Sun's surface is actually quite still.
C)  We are seeing hot gas rising and cool gas falling due to the convection that occurs beneath the surface.
D)  The churning gas is being stirred up by the strong solar wind.

Question 5

Briefly describe the Sun's 22 year activity cycle.

Accepted Answer

The Sun's activity cycle is tied directl...

Question 6

Sunspots are cooler than the surrounding gas in the photosphere because

Accepted Answer

A)  they are regions where convection carries cooler material downward.
B)  there is less fusion occurring there.
C)  magnetic fields lift material from the sunspot and quickly cool the material.
D)  strong magnetic fields slow convection and prevent hot plasma from entering the region.
E)  magnetic fields trap ionized gases that absorb light.

Question 7

From center outward, which of the following lists the "layers" of the Sun in the correct order?

Accepted Answer

A)  core, convection zone, radiation zone, corona, chromosphere, photosphere
B)  core, radiation zone, convection zone, photosphere, chromosphere, corona
C)  core, corona, radiation zone, convection zone, photosphere, chromosphere
D)  core, radiation zone, convection zone, corona, chromosphere, photosphere

Question 8

The fundamental nuclear reaction occurring in the core of the Sun is .

Accepted Answer

A)  radioactive decay
B)  nuclear fission
C)  nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium
D)  nuclear fusion of helium into carbon

Question 9

Briefly describe why the detection of neutrinos coming from the Sun supports the theory that the Sun generates energy by nuclear fusion.

Accepted Answer

Laboratory experiments and theory show that fusion reactions produce neutrinos. Therefore, scientists predict that neutrinos should come from the Sun if fusion is occurring in its core. Theories predict how many and what type of neutrinos should be observed. Thus, the observations that confirm this prediction support the theory.

Question 10

What would happen to the core of the sun if its temperature rose slightly?

Accepted Answer

A)  The rate at which fusion occurs would decrease, leading to a contraction of the core, which would in turn cause a further temperature rise.
B)  The rate at which fusion occurs would increase, leading to an expansion of the core, which would in turn cause the temperature to drop back down.
C)  The rate at which fusion occurs would increase, leading to a contraction of the core, which would in turn cause the temperature to rise even further.
D)  The rate at which fusion occurs would decrease, leading to an expansion of the core, which would in turn cause the temperature to drop back down.

Question 11

All but one of the following statements describe why scientists doubt the solar sunspot cycle affects global climate. Identify which statement is irrelevant to the explanation.

Accepted Answer

A)  Solar winds can affect satellite communications.
B)  Variations in solar activity affect the Sun's luminosity by a very tiny amount.
C)  The solar cycle varies every 11 years; average Earth temperatures do not show an 11 year variation.
D)  The variations in solar particle winds do not change the temperature of the Earth's ocean or ground.

Question 12

Which of the following correctly describes how the process of gravitational contraction can make a star hot?

Accepted Answer

A)  Gravitational contraction involves the generation of heat by chemical reactions, much like the burning of coal.
B)  When a star contracts in size, gravitational potential energy is converted to thermal energy.
C)  Gravitational contraction involves nuclear fusion, which generates a lot of heat.
D)  Heat is generated when gravity contracts because gravity is an inverse square law force.

Question 13

By what process do nuclear power plants on the Earth generate energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  converting kinetic energy into electricity
B)  nuclear fission
C)  nuclear fusion
D)  converting gravitational potential energy into electricity
E)  chemical reactions

Question 14

The Sun generates energy primarily by nuclear fission.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

The corona and chromosphere are hotter than the photosphere.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Briefly explain why sunspots are cooler than surrounding regions of the Sun, and why they look dark in photos.

Accepted Answer

They are cooler because their strong mag...

Question 17

What was the solar neutrino problem?

Accepted Answer

Electron neutrinos coming from the Sun h...

Question 18

According to modern science, approximately how old is the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  4) 5 billion years
B)  400 million years
C)  25 million years
D)  10,000 years A

Question 19

What is the only force that can overcome the repulsion between two positively charged nuclei to bind them into an atomic nucleus?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Coriolis force
B)  the electromagnetic force
C)  the strong force
D)  the gravitational force
E)  the weak force

Question 20

Why do sunspots appear dark?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are thick clouds on the sun, blocking its light.
B)  They are regions nearly devoid of gas.
C)  They are composed of different elements than the rest of the sun.
D)  They are regions that are significantly cooler than the rest of the photosphere.

Exam 11: Our Star

Where in the Sun do fusion reactions happen?

Correct Answer
verified
A

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
Certainly! When discussing nuclear fusio...
View Answer

What two physical processes balance each other to create the condition known as gravitational equilibrium in stars?

Correct Answer
verified

The Sun's surface seethes and churns with a bubbling pattern. Why?

Correct Answer
verified

Briefly describe the Sun's 22 year activity cycle.

Correct Answer
verified
The Sun's activity cycle is tied directl...
View Answer

Sunspots are cooler than the surrounding gas in the photosphere because

Correct Answer
verified

From center outward, which of the following lists the "layers" of the Sun in the correct order?

Correct Answer
verified

The fundamental nuclear reaction occurring in the core of the Sun is .

Correct Answer
verified

Briefly describe why the detection of neutrinos coming from the Sun supports the theory that the Sun generates energy by nuclear fusion.

What would happen to the core of the sun if its temperature rose slightly?

Correct Answer
verified

All but one of the following statements describe why scientists doubt the solar sunspot cycle affects global climate. Identify which statement is irrelevant to the explanation.

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following correctly describes how the process of gravitational contraction can make a star hot?

Correct Answer
verified

By what process do nuclear power plants on the Earth generate energy?

Correct Answer
verified

The Sun generates energy primarily by nuclear fission.

Correct Answer
verified

The corona and chromosphere are hotter than the photosphere.

Correct Answer
verified

Briefly explain why sunspots are cooler than surrounding regions of the Sun, and why they look dark in photos.

Correct Answer
verified
They are cooler because their strong mag...
View Answer

What was the solar neutrino problem?

Correct Answer
verified
Electron neutrinos coming from the Sun h...
View Answer

According to modern science, approximately how old is the Sun?

Correct Answer
verified
A

What is the only force that can overcome the repulsion between two positively charged nuclei to bind them into an atomic nucleus?

Correct Answer
verified

Why do sunspots appear dark?

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 11: Our Star

Where in the Sun do fusion reactions happen?

Correct AnswerverifiedA

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AICertainly! When discussing nuclear fusio...View AnswerShow Answer

What two physical processes balance each other to create the condition known as gravitational equilibrium in stars?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Sun's surface seethes and churns with a bubbling pattern. Why?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Briefly describe the Sun's 22 year activity cycle.

Correct AnswerverifiedThe Sun's activity cycle is tied directl...View AnswerShow Answer

Sunspots are cooler than the surrounding gas in the photosphere because

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

From center outward, which of the following lists the "layers" of the Sun in the correct order?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The fundamental nuclear reaction occurring in the core of the Sun is .

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Briefly describe why the detection of neutrinos coming from the Sun supports the theory that the Sun generates energy by nuclear fusion.

What would happen to the core of the sun if its temperature rose slightly?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

All but one of the following statements describe why scientists doubt the solar sunspot cycle affects global climate. Identify which statement is irrelevant to the explanation.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following correctly describes how the process of gravitational contraction can make a star hot?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

By what process do nuclear power plants on the Earth generate energy?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Sun generates energy primarily by nuclear fission.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The corona and chromosphere are hotter than the photosphere.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Briefly explain why sunspots are cooler than surrounding regions of the Sun, and why they look dark in photos.

Correct AnswerverifiedThey are cooler because their strong mag...View AnswerShow Answer

What was the solar neutrino problem?

Correct AnswerverifiedElectron neutrinos coming from the Sun h...View AnswerShow Answer

According to modern science, approximately how old is the Sun?

Correct AnswerverifiedA

What is the only force that can overcome the repulsion between two positively charged nuclei to bind them into an atomic nucleus?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why do sunspots appear dark?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified
A

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
Certainly! When discussing nuclear fusio...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
The Sun's activity cycle is tied directl...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
They are cooler because their strong mag...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified
Electron neutrinos coming from the Sun h...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified
A

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified