Download Astronomy Homework

Name: __________________________________________
Astronomy Homework - The Sun
Date: _____
Part 1 - Matching
Chromosphere
Convection Zone
Core
Corona
Granulation
Nuclear Fusion
Photosphere
Radiation Zone
Solar Wind
Transition Zone
1. ____________________
A stream of high energy particles that are radiated from the
sun.
2. ____________________
The surface appearance of the sun; regions of bright rising
and dark sinking gas.
3. ____________________
The "surface" of the sun; the part of the sun that emits
visible radiation.
4. ____________________
The zone in the interior of the sun where energy is
transferred by radiation.
5. ____________________
The zone of the sun where nuclear fusion occurs.
6. ____________________
The lower atmosphere of the sun; appears red in color.
7. ____________________
Part of the sun's atmosphere where temperatures rise; above
the chromosphere.
8. ____________________
The region of the sun's interior where energy is transferred
by convection.
9. ____________________
The process of combining light atoms into heavier atoms
under extreme temperatures and pressures.
10. ___________________
The thin, hot upper atmosphere of the sun; can only be seen
during a total solar eclipse.
Part 2 - Choose the correct answer
11. A star is a huge ball of gas powered by (nuclear fusion/gravitational contraction).
12. A star's energy output is called its (intensity/luminosity).
13. The closest star to the Earth is (the Sun/Proxima Centauri).
14. The sun has a surface temperature of approximately (6,000°°C/6,000,000°°C).
15. The sun is approximately (10 times/100 times) larger than the Earth.
16. The sun (has/does not have) a solid surface on which a person could stand.
17. The sun (shows differential rotation/does not rotate) on its axis.
18. As you go deeper into the sun, temperatures and pressures (increase/decrease).
19. The convective cells of gas that reach the "surface" of the sun are called
(granules/spicules).
20. Nuclear fusion occurs in the sun's (radiation zone/core).
21. In the process of nuclear fusion, (2/4) hydrogen atoms are combined to make (1/2)
helium atoms.
22. The total mass of the reactions during nuclear fusion (increases/decreases).
23. Mass and energy are (mutually exclusive of one another/interchangable).
24. Einstien's E=mc2 is known as (the law of conservation of momentum/the law of
conservation of mass and energy).
25. The sun contains approximately (91% hydrogen and 9% helium/70% nitrogen and
21% oxygen).
26. The corona can only be seen during a (total solar eclipse/total lunar eclipse).
27. The temperature of the corona is (hotter/cooler) than the sun's surface.
28. Sunspots are dark because the are (hotter/cooler) than the photosphere of the sun.
29. Sunspots are associated with the sun's (radiation zone/magnetic fields).
30. Sunspots occur in cycles that last approximately (11/22) years.
31. Sunspots always first appear near the sun's (equator/poles).
32. The appearance of prominences and flares on the sun usually cause the (sunspot
cycle/northern and southern lights on Earth).