Quiz 2 - Feb 18, 2004

Question 1:

Which statement is not a correct statement about the solar surface?

1. There are many convective cells which rise and fall
2. The temperature is close to 6,000K except within sunspots
3. The surface slightly vibrates with a period of 300 seconds
4. Sunspots move toward the poles from the equator

Question 2:

Which particles come directly from the core of the Sun to the Earth?

1. Neutrinos
2. Neutrons
3. Protons
4. Electrons

Question 3:

Solar thermonuclear fusion converts

1. Helium into hydrogen
2. Hydrogen into helium
3. Oxygen and Hydrogen into Carbon
4. Helium into Deuterium

Question 4:

The fusion process occurs

1. In the radiative zone
2. In the core and radiative zone
3. In the convective zone
4. In the core only

Question 5:

The most important process which heats the interior of the Sun is

1. Kelvin-Helmholtz contraction
2. Thermonuclear fusion
3. Chemical oxidation of hydrogen
4. Neutrino diffusion

Question 6:

Which statement best describes solar rotation?

1. The equator rotates fastest (shortest period), high latitudes slowest
2. The solar surface rotates as a solid body
3. The equator rotates slowest (longest period), polar regions fastest
4. The surface rotation has not been measured – it requires a solar space probe

Question 7:

Sunspots are regions of

1. intensely hot gas with abnormally low magnetic field
2. extremely cool gas (room temperature) which have cooled by evaporation
3. gas which is ~1000K cooler than surrounding surface with intense magnetic field
4. gas which contains trace amounts of carbon – hence the darker color

Question 8:

During the year 2001 there was a peak in the number of sunspots. In what year can one expect another peak?

1. 2006
2. 2012
3. 2101
4. cannot determine! Depends on solar rotation

Question 9:

The outer gaseous atmosphere visible during a solar eclipse is

1. The transition region, with temperature near 30,000K
2. The photosphere, with temperature near 6,000K
3. The chromosphere, with temperature 1-2 million degrees
4. The corona with temperature 1-2 million degrees

Question 10:

The most abundant element in the Sun is

1. Hydrogen
2. Helium
3. Lithium
4. Carbon

Question 11:

Which statement best describes our current understanding of the ‘solar neutrino problem’?

1. Observed neutrino flux is 1/3 expected – theory and observations don’t agree
2. Neutrino measurements are probably in error, model is correct
3. Model for thermonuclear fusion is likely wrong, needs to be fixed
4. New measurements indicate neutrinos change ‘flavor’ - theory and observations agree

Grades: