Question 1

A supergranule on the Sun is

Accepted Answer

A)   a large area of slowly rising and falling gas containing hundreds of ordinary granules.
B)   another name for a large, long-lived sunspot group.
C)   a large area in which the rapid convection of the gas destroys all granules that would otherwise form in that area.
D)   a very large but otherwise ordinary granule in the photosphere.

Question 2

The energy transfer process that operates in the Sun via matter flows is known as

Accepted Answer

A)   convection.
B)   radiation.
C)   thermonuclear fusion.
D)   conduction.

Question 3

If a solar flare produces an X-ray outburst and also triggers a coronal mass ejection (CME) , what will be the arrival times of these components, referenced to the time of occurrence on the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)   The X-rays arrive within a few seconds of the flare, while the CME material arrives about an hour after the flare.
B)   Disturbances on Earth from each of these components occur about 2 days after the flare.
C)   The disturbances from these outbursts occur almost simultaneously on Earth, about 8 minutes after the flare, because the CME material travels almost at the speed of light.
D)   The X-rays arrive about 8 minutes after the flare, while the CME material arrives after about 2 days.

Question 4

What is surprising about the atmosphere of the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)   The pressure of the Sun's atmosphere, after dropping just above the photosphere, rises again to a value equivalent to that at the photosphere at the top of the chromosphere.
B)   The density of the Sun's atmosphere, after falling rapidly above the photosphere, rises again significantly in the chromosphere.
C)   The temperature of the Sun's atmosphere, after rising continuously from below the photosphere through the chromosphere, falls again suddenly in the corona.
D)   The temperature of the Sun's atmosphere, after falling above the photosphere, rises again to reach very high values high in the atmosphere.

Question 5

What is a plage?

Accepted Answer

A)   sudden eruption on the photosphere in the vicinity of a sunspot group
B)   region in the corona that looks bright against the darkness of space but dark against the brighter photosphere
C)   bright area in the chromosphere
D)   bright area on the photosphere

Question 6

What term is given to the visible "surface" of the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)   prominence
B)   corona
C)   chromosphere
D)   photosphere

Question 7

The Sun has existed for a very long time without substantial change in its appearance or behavior, so it must be in hydrostatic equilibrium. Under these conditions, which two parameters must be in balance at all points throughout the Sun's interior?

Accepted Answer

A)   magnetic field and the force of gravity
B)   force of gravity and outward gas pressure
C)   numbers of hydrogen and helium nuclei
D)   hydrogen gas pressure and helium gas pressure

Question 8

How does the temperature inside the umbra of a sunspot compare with the solar photosphere outside the sunspot?

Accepted Answer

A)   The umbra is about 100 K hotter.
B)   The umbra is about 4000 K cooler
C)   The umbra is about 1500 K cooler.
D)   They are about the same temperature, the umbra being an absorbing layer over the sunspot.

Exam 11: The Sun: Our Extraordinary Star

What term is given to the visible "surface" of the Sun?

Correct Answer
verified

The Sun has existed for a very long time without substantial change in its appearance or behavior, so it must be in hydrostatic equilibrium. Under these conditions, which two parameters must be in balance at all points throughout the Sun's interior?

Correct Answer
verified

The energy transfer process that operates in the Sun via matter flows is known as

Correct Answer
verified

If a solar flare produces an X-ray outburst and also triggers a coronal mass ejection (CME) , what will be the arrival times of these components, referenced to the time of occurrence on the Sun?

Correct Answer
verified

What is surprising about the atmosphere of the Sun?

Correct Answer
verified

How does the temperature inside the umbra of a sunspot compare with the solar photosphere outside the sunspot?

Correct Answer
verified

A supergranule on the Sun is

Correct Answer
verified

What is a plage?

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 11: The Sun: Our Extraordinary Star

What term is given to the visible "surface" of the Sun?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Sun has existed for a very long time without substantial change in its appearance or behavior, so it must be in hydrostatic equilibrium. Under these conditions, which two parameters must be in balance at all points throughout the Sun's interior?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The energy transfer process that operates in the Sun via matter flows is known as

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

If a solar flare produces an X-ray outburst and also triggers a coronal mass ejection (CME) , what will be the arrival times of these components, referenced to the time of occurrence on the Sun?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is surprising about the atmosphere of the Sun?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How does the temperature inside the umbra of a sunspot compare with the solar photosphere outside the sunspot?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A supergranule on the Sun is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is a plage?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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