Exam2 Ch. 11
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Solar energy leaves the core of the Sun in the form of
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Photons
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At the center of the Sun, fusion converts hydrogen into
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helium, energy, and neutrinos.
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Scientists estimate the central temperature of the Sun using
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mathematical models of the Sun.
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Which of these groups of particles has the greatest mass?
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4 individual protons
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Which of these things poses the greatest hazard to communications satellites?
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Particles from the sun
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Why do sunspots appear darker than their surroundings?
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They are cooler than their surroundings
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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
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Solar winds can affect satellite communications.
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Where in the Sun do fusion reactions happen?
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Only in the core
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Which of the following quantities is equal to the energy per second generated by the Sun's nuclear reactions?
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The luminosity of the suns photosphere
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The light radiated from the Sun's surface reaches Earth in about 8 minutes. However, the energy of this light was released by fusion in the Sun's core about
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several hundred thousand years ago
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Which of the following is not a method astronomers use to determine the physical conditions inside the Sun?
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Observing X-ray images of the solar interior using satellites.
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Suppose you try to bring two protons close together. Because of the electromagnetic force, the two protons will
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Repel one another
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Which of the following is the phase of matter in the Sun?
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Plasma
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Which is closest to the temperature of the Sun's core?
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10 million k
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Based on its surface temperature of 6,000 K, most photons that leave the Sun's surface lie in which region of the electromagnetic spectrum?
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Visible
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By what process does the Sun generate energy?
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Nuclear Fusion
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By what process do nuclear power plants on the Earth generate energy?
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Nuclear Fission
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Hydrogen fusion in the Sun requires a temperature (in Kelvin) of
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Millions of degrees
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At the center of the Sun, nuclear fusion converts hydrogen into
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helium, gamma rays, and neutrinos.
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The light radiated from the Sun's surface reaches Earth in about 8 minutes, but the energy of that light was released by fusion in the solar core about ________.
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Few hundred thousand years ago
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Why are neutrinos so difficult to detect?
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They have a tendency to pass through just about any material without any interactions.
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Which of the following choices is not a way by which we can study the inside of the Sun?
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We can send a space probe into the Sun's photosphere.
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The Sun's surface seethes and churns with a bubbling pattern. Why?
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We are seeing hot gas rising and cool gas falling due to the convection that occurs beneath the surface.
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Which of the following correctly compares the Sun's energy generation process to the energy generation process in human-built nuclear power plants?
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The Sun generates energy by fusing small nuclei into larger ones, while our power plants generate energy by the fission (splitting) of large nuclei.
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Which of the following best explains why nuclear fusion requires bringing nuclei extremely close together?
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Nuclei normally repel because they are all positively charged and can be made to stick only when brought close enough for the strong force to take hold.
