PSU Astro 7N exam 2 Questions and
Answers Graded A+
The sun is composed mostly of - Correct answer-gas- 73% hydrogen and 25%
helium
Diameter and mass of sun - Correct answer-diameter: 109x the earth
mass: 333,000x the earth
Luminosity is equal to - Correct answer-4x10^24 100 Watt light bulbs
99.9% of all the mass of the solar system is ___ - Correct answer-in the sun
how long the sun has been shining and how long it will last - Correct answer-
shining for 4.5 billion years and will continue for another 5.5 billion years
Sunspots are - Correct answer-cooler, darker regions on the Sun's surface, due to
magnetic activity preventing hot material from rising in that region
proton-proton chain - Correct answer-the chain of reactions by which low-mass
stars (including the Sun) fuse hydrogen into helium
, Nuclear Fusion in the Sun - Correct answer-4 protons combine to make helium-4
and release energy in gamma rays
The energy output from the proton-proton chain comes from - Correct answer-
E=mc^2
core - Correct answer-at the center of the sun; high density and temperature where
nuclear reactions occur and gamma rays are produced
radiative zone - Correct answer-photons are repeatedly reabsorbed
and emitted, and the energy of an individual photon
can take on average 170,000 years to pass through
convective zone - Correct answer-hot gas rises and cold gas sinks; light traverses in
1 week
photosphere - Correct answer-The visible surface of the sun. Temperature is 5,780
Kelvin. photons have been converted to visible wavelengths
chromosphere - Correct answer-red or orange color; temperature 4500K; we see
through this to the photosphere
flare - Correct answer-an eruption coming out of the Sun due to magnetic activity
prominence - Correct answer-hoop shaped eruption out of Sun due to magnetic
activity
Answers Graded A+
The sun is composed mostly of - Correct answer-gas- 73% hydrogen and 25%
helium
Diameter and mass of sun - Correct answer-diameter: 109x the earth
mass: 333,000x the earth
Luminosity is equal to - Correct answer-4x10^24 100 Watt light bulbs
99.9% of all the mass of the solar system is ___ - Correct answer-in the sun
how long the sun has been shining and how long it will last - Correct answer-
shining for 4.5 billion years and will continue for another 5.5 billion years
Sunspots are - Correct answer-cooler, darker regions on the Sun's surface, due to
magnetic activity preventing hot material from rising in that region
proton-proton chain - Correct answer-the chain of reactions by which low-mass
stars (including the Sun) fuse hydrogen into helium
, Nuclear Fusion in the Sun - Correct answer-4 protons combine to make helium-4
and release energy in gamma rays
The energy output from the proton-proton chain comes from - Correct answer-
E=mc^2
core - Correct answer-at the center of the sun; high density and temperature where
nuclear reactions occur and gamma rays are produced
radiative zone - Correct answer-photons are repeatedly reabsorbed
and emitted, and the energy of an individual photon
can take on average 170,000 years to pass through
convective zone - Correct answer-hot gas rises and cold gas sinks; light traverses in
1 week
photosphere - Correct answer-The visible surface of the sun. Temperature is 5,780
Kelvin. photons have been converted to visible wavelengths
chromosphere - Correct answer-red or orange color; temperature 4500K; we see
through this to the photosphere
flare - Correct answer-an eruption coming out of the Sun due to magnetic activity
prominence - Correct answer-hoop shaped eruption out of Sun due to magnetic
activity
