Sun's Atmosphere and Interior Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What phenomenon involves the ejection of immense quantities of coronal material into space?

Aurora

High-speed solar wind

Coronal mass ejection (CME) (correct)

Solar flare

What is the main characteristic of an active region on the Sun?

It has a cooler surface temperature.

It contains concentrated magnetic fields. (correct)

It produces high amounts of solar wind.

It is always located at the Sun's poles.

Which layer of the solar atmosphere lies immediately above the photosphere?

Corona

Granulation zone

Transition region

Chromosphere (correct)

What causes the bright lights seen in auroras?

Excitation of atoms and ions in the ionosphere Signup and view all the answers

What is described by the semiregular 11-year cycle of varying sunspots?

Sunspot cycle Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a feature associated with solar flares?

Ejection of solar wind Signup and view all the answers

What process describes the combining of two light atomic nuclei into a heavier nucleus?

Nuclear fusion Signup and view all the answers

In which region of the solar atmosphere does temperature rise rapidly from low to high?

Transition region Signup and view all the answers

What forms after a low-mass star undergoes fusion reactions and then ceases all nuclear fusion?

White dwarf Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between massive stars and the Sun during their evolution into red giants?

Massive stars evolve more quickly and have a gradually starting helium fusion. Signup and view all the answers

What event marks the end of a high-mass star's life?

Supernova explosion Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the majority of a high-mass star's mass during a supernova?

It is expelled into the galaxy. Signup and view all the answers

What defines the birth of a main-sequence star?

The beginning of hydrogen fusion reactions. Signup and view all the answers

What do the outer layers of a low-mass star form when they expand and shine?

Planetary nebula Signup and view all the answers

What ultimately happens to a white dwarf over billions of years?

It may turn into a black dwarf. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a supernova?

The core collapse of a high-mass star followed by an outer layer expulsion. Signup and view all the answers

Which component of a spiral galaxy is primarily associated with high-density stars?

Bulge Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes Population I stars compared to Population II stars?

They are younger and metal-rich. Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate diameter of the disk in a spiral galaxy?

100,000 light-years Signup and view all the answers

In which component of the Milky Way does most active star formation occur?

Disk Signup and view all the answers

What is the spherical region that extends beyond the disk of the Milky Way called?

Halo Signup and view all the answers

Which feature is characteristic of spiral galaxies?

A central bulge surrounded by a disk Signup and view all the answers

What is typically found in the halo of a galaxy?

Old stars and globular clusters Signup and view all the answers

Which component of the Milky Way houses a massive black hole at its center?

Nucleus Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary composition of a neutron star?

Neutrons with very few protons and electrons Signup and view all the answers

How does degeneracy pressure arise in neutron stars?

From fermions being forced into higher energy states due to high density Signup and view all the answers

What observable phenomenon is associated with pulsars?

Rapid and regular pulses of radiation Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the rotation of a pulsar as it ages?

The rotation slows down and periods increase Signup and view all the answers

What is the escape velocity at a black hole's event horizon?

Equal to the speed of light Signup and view all the answers

What defines a pulsar?

A rotating neutron star that emits beams of particles and radiation Signup and view all the answers

What is the mass of a neutron star compared to a proton?

Around 1057 times the mass of a proton Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic of a neutron star contributes to its extreme density?

The compression of neutrons under intense gravity Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the best evidence of stellar-mass black holes in binary star systems?

Flickering X-ray emissions indicating an accretion disk. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Schwarzschild radius?

The point where gravitational attraction causes irreversible collapse. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of black holes, what is meant by the term 'event horizon'?

The point at which light can no longer escape a black hole. Signup and view all the answers

What does the equivalence principle state?

Gravitational effects are identical to acceleration in a local environment. Signup and view all the answers

What occurs during gravitational redshift?

Wavelength increases as light propagates from a massive object. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of an accretion disk?

To allow gas and dust to orbit and fall into compact remnants. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the structure of a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way?

A central bulge surrounded by rotating spiral arms. Signup and view all the answers

What is a singularity in the context of black holes?

The point of infinite density and zero volume in a black hole. Signup and view all the answers

What primarily makes up the arms of spiral galaxies?

Stars, gas, and dust Signup and view all the answers

Which type of galaxy is characterized by being shaped like spheres or ellipses?

Elliptical galaxies Signup and view all the answers

What assumption is the 'standard ruler' based on when determining galaxy distances?

All galaxies of the same type are the same physical size Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of elliptical galaxies?

High levels of interstellar matter Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using standard candles in astronomy?

To calculate distances based on known luminosity Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a standard candle used in astronomical distance measurement?

Cepheid variables Signup and view all the answers

Which equation represents Hubble's Law?

v = H_0 * d Signup and view all the answers

What type of galaxy does not have a distinct shape and may appear chaotic?

Irregular galaxy Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Sun's Atmosphere Composition

The Sun has layers beneath its visible surface including the core, radiative zone, and convective zone.
Surrounding these layers are the photosphere (temperature range 4500K-6800K), chromosphere (typical temperature 10,000K), a transition region (rapidly increasing temperature from 10,000K to 1,000,000K), and the corona (temperatures of a few million K).
The Sun's surface is marked by convection currents appearing as bright granules.

Solar Interior

The Sun's core is extremely dense and is the source of its energy.
The radiative zone transports energy from the core via radiation.
The convective zone transports heat outwards using convection cells.

Solar Activity and Space Weather

Solar activity includes phenomena like solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), high-speed solar wind, and solar energetic particles.
These phenomena can affect the Earth's space weather.

Vocabulary

Active region: An area on the Sun with concentrated magnetic fields (sunspots, prominences, flares, and CMEs).
Aurora: Light emitted by atoms and ions in Earth's ionosphere due to charged particles from the Sun.
Chromosphere: The layer of the Sun's atmosphere above the photosphere.
Corona: The Sun's outer atmosphere.
Coronal hole: A dark region in the Sun's corona with less hot gas.
Coronal mass ejection (CME): A solar flare with immense quantities of coronal material ejected at high speeds.
Differential rotation: Different parts of a rotating object rotating at different rates at different latitudes (like the Sun).
Granulation: The rice-grain-like structure of the solar photosphere due to upwelling currents.
Maunder Minimum: A period in the 17th century with a low frequency of sunspots.
Photosphere: The layer of the Sun where it becomes opaque, marking the boundary beyond which we cannot see.
Plage: A bright region of the solar surface.
Plasma: A hot ionized gas, a state of matter found in the Sun's interior .
Prominence: A large, bright feature in the Sun's atmosphere often above the surface.
Solar flare: A sudden outburst of electromagnetic radiation from an extended region of the Sun's surface.
Solar wind: A flow of hot, charged particles from the Sun.
Sunspot: Dark features on the Sun's surface due to increased magnetic activity.
Sunspot cycle: The semiregular 11-year period with fluctuating sunspot frequency.
Transition region: A region in the Sun's atmosphere where the temperature increases rapidly from relatively low temperatures to very high temperatures.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the Sun's structure, including its atmosphere layers, core, and solar activities. This quiz covers the composition and phenomena associated with solar interior and the implications for space weather. Dive into the fascinating dynamics of our closest star!