ASTRO 1 FINAL EXAM PSU PAPER
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS VERIFIED
⩥ Hydrostatic equilibrium tells us that
A. the force of gas pressure outward is balanced by the pull of gravity
inward.
B. convectively moving gas is always replaced by an equal amount of
fresh gas.
C. the energy produced in the core of the Sun is balanced by the flow of
energy from the Sun's surface into space.
D. the centripetal force outward due to the Sun's rotation is balanced by
the force of gravity inward. Answer: A
⩥ The internal structure of the Sun, in order from the center to the
surface, is
A. energy-generating core, radiative region, convective region.
photosphere.
B. energy-generating core, photosphere, convective region, radiative
region.
C. convective core, chemically-reacting region, radiative region.
D. Chromosphere, energy-generating core, convective region. Answer:
A
,⩥ For many years, neutrino detectors on the Earth detected only about
one-third as many neutrinos from the Sun as was expected from theory.
The reason for this discrepancy was recently proven to be that the
A. neutrinos change from one type to another while in flight.
B. Sun's core is 10% cooler than had earlier been thought.
C. Sun's core contains less hydrogen than had earlier been thought.
D. majority of solar neutrinos pass through the detectors undetected.
Answer: A
⩥ The outer limb of the Sun is darker than the center because
A. we see in to deeper, hotter levels at the limb.
B. we see higher, cooler levels at the limb.
C. the fusion process is weaker at the limb.
D. the photosphere is not as thick at the edge. Answer: B
⩥ The granules we see under excellent observing conditions on the
visible surface of the Sun are
A. the tops of columns of rising and falling gas in the layer below the
photosphere.
B. cooler, darker regions where the Sun's magnetic field is particularly
intense.
C. columns of gas rising through the Sun's chromosphere.
D. waves created by oscillations in the solar interior, with periods of
between 5 and 20 minutes. Answer: A
,⩥ Which of the following phenomena is not produced by the Sun's
magnetic field?
A. sunspots
B. plages
C. prominences
D. granulation Answer: D
⩥ Why does the light from the chromosphere appear to be pinkish-red?
A. The light from the chromosphere is dominated by photons emitted by
a single red spectral line, Hα, in the Balmer series
of hydrogen.
B. The temperature is lower than in the photosphere, producing a
blackbody spectrum with peak wavelength in the infrared.
C. M
lecules form in this layer, and they scatter red light more efficiently than
blue light.
D. Strong magnetic fields inhibit the emission of photons of
wavelengths shorter than around 600 nm. Answer: A
⩥ One property of the solar corona is that
A. its density increases with distance from the Sun.
B. solar wind currents in it reverse near the chromosphere.
, C. it disappears every eleven years.
D. its temperature is higher than the temperature of the chromosphere.
Answer: D
⩥ The source of the steady solar wind, part of which streams past the
Earth at about 400 km/s, is
A. coronal holes, regions of the corona with a lower temperature than
the rest of the corona.
B. solar flares, highly energetic outbursts that occur near sunspots.
C. prominences, bright arches of gas that occasionally erupt upward.
D. granulation, where hot, convecting gas from the solar interior rises
into the photosphere. Answer: A
⩥ Three of the following solar characteristics vary as part of the solar
cycle and one does not. Which does not?
A. number of sunspots
B. locations of sunspots
C. intensity of auroras on Earth
D. rate of the Sun's rotation Answer: D
⩥ Toward the end of a sunspot cycle, the new spots form
A. in the chromosphere.
B. near the solar poles.
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS VERIFIED
⩥ Hydrostatic equilibrium tells us that
A. the force of gas pressure outward is balanced by the pull of gravity
inward.
B. convectively moving gas is always replaced by an equal amount of
fresh gas.
C. the energy produced in the core of the Sun is balanced by the flow of
energy from the Sun's surface into space.
D. the centripetal force outward due to the Sun's rotation is balanced by
the force of gravity inward. Answer: A
⩥ The internal structure of the Sun, in order from the center to the
surface, is
A. energy-generating core, radiative region, convective region.
photosphere.
B. energy-generating core, photosphere, convective region, radiative
region.
C. convective core, chemically-reacting region, radiative region.
D. Chromosphere, energy-generating core, convective region. Answer:
A
,⩥ For many years, neutrino detectors on the Earth detected only about
one-third as many neutrinos from the Sun as was expected from theory.
The reason for this discrepancy was recently proven to be that the
A. neutrinos change from one type to another while in flight.
B. Sun's core is 10% cooler than had earlier been thought.
C. Sun's core contains less hydrogen than had earlier been thought.
D. majority of solar neutrinos pass through the detectors undetected.
Answer: A
⩥ The outer limb of the Sun is darker than the center because
A. we see in to deeper, hotter levels at the limb.
B. we see higher, cooler levels at the limb.
C. the fusion process is weaker at the limb.
D. the photosphere is not as thick at the edge. Answer: B
⩥ The granules we see under excellent observing conditions on the
visible surface of the Sun are
A. the tops of columns of rising and falling gas in the layer below the
photosphere.
B. cooler, darker regions where the Sun's magnetic field is particularly
intense.
C. columns of gas rising through the Sun's chromosphere.
D. waves created by oscillations in the solar interior, with periods of
between 5 and 20 minutes. Answer: A
,⩥ Which of the following phenomena is not produced by the Sun's
magnetic field?
A. sunspots
B. plages
C. prominences
D. granulation Answer: D
⩥ Why does the light from the chromosphere appear to be pinkish-red?
A. The light from the chromosphere is dominated by photons emitted by
a single red spectral line, Hα, in the Balmer series
of hydrogen.
B. The temperature is lower than in the photosphere, producing a
blackbody spectrum with peak wavelength in the infrared.
C. M
lecules form in this layer, and they scatter red light more efficiently than
blue light.
D. Strong magnetic fields inhibit the emission of photons of
wavelengths shorter than around 600 nm. Answer: A
⩥ One property of the solar corona is that
A. its density increases with distance from the Sun.
B. solar wind currents in it reverse near the chromosphere.
, C. it disappears every eleven years.
D. its temperature is higher than the temperature of the chromosphere.
Answer: D
⩥ The source of the steady solar wind, part of which streams past the
Earth at about 400 km/s, is
A. coronal holes, regions of the corona with a lower temperature than
the rest of the corona.
B. solar flares, highly energetic outbursts that occur near sunspots.
C. prominences, bright arches of gas that occasionally erupt upward.
D. granulation, where hot, convecting gas from the solar interior rises
into the photosphere. Answer: A
⩥ Three of the following solar characteristics vary as part of the solar
cycle and one does not. Which does not?
A. number of sunspots
B. locations of sunspots
C. intensity of auroras on Earth
D. rate of the Sun's rotation Answer: D
⩥ Toward the end of a sunspot cycle, the new spots form
A. in the chromosphere.
B. near the solar poles.
