ASTRONOMY 1010 FINAL EXAM
2025/2026 NEWEST EXAM CURRENTLY
TESTING COMPLETE 400 QUESTIONS
VERIFIED ANSWERS [already graded A+} 2025
Which of the following is the phase of matter in the interior of the Sun?
A) gas
B) plasma
C) solid
D) liquid
E) a mixture of all of the above ---ANSWER---B) Plasma
At the center of the Sun, nuclear fusion converts hydrogen into A) helium, g
neutrinos.
B) radiation and elements such as carbon and nitrogen.
C) hydrogen compounds such as methane.
D) radioactive elements such as uranium and plutonium.
E) molecular hydrogen. ---ANSWER---A) helium, gamma rays, and neutrin
What is the only force that can overcome the repulsion between two positiv
bind them together?
,A) The rate at which fusion occurs would increase, leading to a contractio
would in turn cause the temperature to rise even further.
B) The rate at which fusion occurs would decrease, leading to a contractio
would in turn cause the temperature to rise even further.
C) The rate at which fusion occurs would increase, leading to an expansio
would in turn cause the temperature to drop back down.
D) The rate at which fusion occurs would decrease, leading to an expansio
would in turn cause the temperature to drop back down. ---ANSWER---C) T
fusion occurs would increase, leading to an expansion of the core, which wo
temperature to drop back down
By what process does the Sun generate energy?
A) gravitational contraction
B) gradual expansion
C) nuclear fusion
D) chemical reactions
E) nuclear fission ---ANSWER---C) nuclear fusion
Why do sunspots appear dark?
composed of different elements than the rest of the sun.
B) They are regions that do not emit any radiation.
,C) The rate of nuclear fusion in the Sun peaks about every 11 years.
D) The number of solar flares peaks about every 11 years.
E) The number of sunspots peaks approximately every 11 years. ---ANSWER
fusion in the sun peaks about every 11 years
The light radiated from the Sun's surface reaches Earth in about 8 minutes. H
this light was released by fusion in the Sun's core about A) several thousand
B) 11 years ago.
C) several hundred years ago.
D) 8 minutes ago.
E) several hundred thousand years ago. ---ANSWER---E) several hundred t
Which of the following processes is involved in the sunspot cycle?
A) an imbalance in the operation of the solar thermostat
B) a large change in the amount of visible light emitted by the Sun
C) the winding up of magnetic field lines inside the Sun due to its differenti
D) a slight gravitational contraction of the Sun
E) small variations in the rate of nuclear energy generation in the solar inter
the winding up of magnetic field lines inside the Sun due to its differenti
When is/was gravitational contraction an important energy generation mech
, A) There is a balance within the Sun between the outward force of gas pre
force of gravity.
B) The Sun always has the same amount of mass, creating the same gravit
C) The hydrogen gas in the Sun is balanced so that it never rises upward o
D) The Sun maintains a steady temperature. ---ANSWER---A) There is a b
between the outward force of gas pressure and the inward force of gravity
Which of the following best describes why the Sun emits most of its energy
light?
A) The visible light comes from energy level transitions as electrons in the
jump between level 1 and level 2.
B) The Sun's gas is on fire like flames from wood or coal, and these flames
C) Like all objects, the Sun emits thermal radiation with a spectrum that d
temperature, and the Sun's surface temperature is just right for emitting mo
D) Nuclear fusion in the Sun's core produces visible light photons. ---ANS
objects, the sun emits thermal radiation with a spectrum that depends on it
right for emitting mostly visible light.
According to modern science, approximately how old is the Sun?
A) 400 million years
B) 25 million years
C) 10,000 years
2025/2026 NEWEST EXAM CURRENTLY
TESTING COMPLETE 400 QUESTIONS
VERIFIED ANSWERS [already graded A+} 2025
Which of the following is the phase of matter in the interior of the Sun?
A) gas
B) plasma
C) solid
D) liquid
E) a mixture of all of the above ---ANSWER---B) Plasma
At the center of the Sun, nuclear fusion converts hydrogen into A) helium, g
neutrinos.
B) radiation and elements such as carbon and nitrogen.
C) hydrogen compounds such as methane.
D) radioactive elements such as uranium and plutonium.
E) molecular hydrogen. ---ANSWER---A) helium, gamma rays, and neutrin
What is the only force that can overcome the repulsion between two positiv
bind them together?
,A) The rate at which fusion occurs would increase, leading to a contractio
would in turn cause the temperature to rise even further.
B) The rate at which fusion occurs would decrease, leading to a contractio
would in turn cause the temperature to rise even further.
C) The rate at which fusion occurs would increase, leading to an expansio
would in turn cause the temperature to drop back down.
D) The rate at which fusion occurs would decrease, leading to an expansio
would in turn cause the temperature to drop back down. ---ANSWER---C) T
fusion occurs would increase, leading to an expansion of the core, which wo
temperature to drop back down
By what process does the Sun generate energy?
A) gravitational contraction
B) gradual expansion
C) nuclear fusion
D) chemical reactions
E) nuclear fission ---ANSWER---C) nuclear fusion
Why do sunspots appear dark?
composed of different elements than the rest of the sun.
B) They are regions that do not emit any radiation.
,C) The rate of nuclear fusion in the Sun peaks about every 11 years.
D) The number of solar flares peaks about every 11 years.
E) The number of sunspots peaks approximately every 11 years. ---ANSWER
fusion in the sun peaks about every 11 years
The light radiated from the Sun's surface reaches Earth in about 8 minutes. H
this light was released by fusion in the Sun's core about A) several thousand
B) 11 years ago.
C) several hundred years ago.
D) 8 minutes ago.
E) several hundred thousand years ago. ---ANSWER---E) several hundred t
Which of the following processes is involved in the sunspot cycle?
A) an imbalance in the operation of the solar thermostat
B) a large change in the amount of visible light emitted by the Sun
C) the winding up of magnetic field lines inside the Sun due to its differenti
D) a slight gravitational contraction of the Sun
E) small variations in the rate of nuclear energy generation in the solar inter
the winding up of magnetic field lines inside the Sun due to its differenti
When is/was gravitational contraction an important energy generation mech
, A) There is a balance within the Sun between the outward force of gas pre
force of gravity.
B) The Sun always has the same amount of mass, creating the same gravit
C) The hydrogen gas in the Sun is balanced so that it never rises upward o
D) The Sun maintains a steady temperature. ---ANSWER---A) There is a b
between the outward force of gas pressure and the inward force of gravity
Which of the following best describes why the Sun emits most of its energy
light?
A) The visible light comes from energy level transitions as electrons in the
jump between level 1 and level 2.
B) The Sun's gas is on fire like flames from wood or coal, and these flames
C) Like all objects, the Sun emits thermal radiation with a spectrum that d
temperature, and the Sun's surface temperature is just right for emitting mo
D) Nuclear fusion in the Sun's core produces visible light photons. ---ANS
objects, the sun emits thermal radiation with a spectrum that depends on it
right for emitting mostly visible light.
According to modern science, approximately how old is the Sun?
A) 400 million years
B) 25 million years
C) 10,000 years
