ISP Chapter 11:The Sun – Flashcards
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Following are the different layers of the Sun's atmosphere. Rank them based on the order in which a probe would encounter them when traveling from Earth to the Sun's surface, from first encountered to last.
-Corona
-Photosphere
-Chromosphere
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Corona
Chromosphere
Photosphere
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Rank the layers of the Sun's atmosphere based on their density, from highest to lowest.
-Corona
-Photosphere
-Chromosphere
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Photosphere
Chromosphere
Corona
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Rank the layers of the Sun's atmosphere based on their temperature, from highest to lowest.
-Corona
-Photosphere
-Chromosphere
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Corona
Chromosphere
Photosphere
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Rank the layers of the atmosphere based on the energy of the photons that are typically emitted there, from highest to lowest
-Corona
-Photosphere
-Chromosphere
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Corona
Chromosphere
Photosphere
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Which of the following changes would cause the fusion rate in the Sun's core to increase?
-An increase in the core temperature
-An increase in the core radius
-A decrease in the core temperature
-A decrease in the core radius
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-An increase in the core temperature
-A decrease in the core radius
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Which of the following must occur for a star's core to reach equilibrium after an initial change in fusion rate?
-If the fusion rate initially decreases, then the core expands.
-If the fusion rate initially increases, then the core expands.
-If the fusion rate initially decreases, then the core contracts.
-If the fusion rate initially increases, then the core contracts.
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-If the fusion rate initially increases, then the core expands.
-If the fusion rate initially decreases, then the core contracts.
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What would happen if the fusion rate in the core of the Sun were increased but the core could not expand?
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The Sun's core would start to heat up and the rate of fusion would increase even more.
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One statement about the Sun from Part A is "The corona is hotter than the photosphere." Which of the following statements provides observational evidence for this claim?
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The corona primarily emits X rays while the photosphere primarily emits visible light.
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How do we know the Sun's mass?
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We can calculate it by applying Newton's version of Kepler's third law with Earth's orbital period (1 year) and Earth's average distance from the Sun (1 AU).
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Which of the following observations can be used to check that we really do know the Sun's internal fusion rate?
-Measurement of the Sun's mass
-Observations of the total X-ray emission from the Sun's corona
-Measurements of the Sun's total energy output into space
-Observations of neutrinos coming from the Sun
-Measurements of the varying number of sunspots on the Sun over time
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-Measurements of the Sun's total energy output into space
-Observations of neutrinos coming from the Sun
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Which of the following correctly describes how the process of gravitational contraction can make a star hot?
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When a star contracts in size, gravitational potential energy is converted to thermal energy.
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What two physical processes balance each other to create the condition known as gravitational equilibrium in stars?
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gravitational force and outward pressure
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Energy balance in the Sun refers to a balance between _________.
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the rate at which fusion generates energy in the Sun's core and the rate at which the Sun's surface radiates energy into space
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How is the sunspot cycle directly relevant to us here on Earth?
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Coronal mass ejections and other activity associated with the sunspot cycle can disrupt radio communications and knock out sensitive electronic equipment.
