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Unit 8
Sun
25
Astronomy
Undergraduate 2
11/04/2012

Additional Astronomy Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
What feature of the photosphere is evidence for convection in the Sun?
Definition
granules
Term
The visible surface of the Sun has a temperature of about
Definition
5800 K
Term
The core of the Sun has a temperature of about
Definition
15,000,000K
Term
The Solar Wind is
Definition
a stream of charged particles ejected from the surface of the Sun into the solar system.
Term
Sunspots,flares and prominences are related to what physical effect?
Definition
magnetism
Term
What process provides the energy source for the sun?
Definition
hydrogen nuclei are being fused together to make helium nuclei
Term
The core of the Sun is
Definition
an extremely dense, hot hydrogen plasma undergoing fusion
Term
The most abundant element in the Sun is
Definition
hydrogen
Term
Compared to the photosphere the corona is
Definition
much hotter and much less dense
Term
The Sun's diameter is about ____ times as large as the Earth's
Definition
100
Term
The Sun rotates approximately once per
Definition
month
Term
Sunspots on the sun appear
Definition
in cycles between almost no sunspots and dozens of sunspots, going back and forth every year
Term
The surface of the Sun
Definition
is violent active, with enormous jets and explosions happening very often
Term
The luminosity of the sun measures
Definition
the total amount of energy escaping from Sun every second from all sources
Term
Sunspots appear as dark blotches on the surface of the sun because they
Definition
are cool areas with temperature of about 4500K
Term
The most dangerous and energetic events in the sun's atmosphere are
Definition
coronal mass ejections
Term
In terms of its total lifetime, the Sun is
Definition
about halfway through its life
Term
The outermost layer of the Sun's atmosphere is the
Definition
corona
Term
Solar prominences, huge loops of ionized gas lifted from the surface of the sun, often are physically connected to
Definition
sunspots
Term
The core of the sun has a temperature of about
Definition
15,000,000 K
Term
Nuclear fusion in the sun occurs
Definition
only in the deepest layers of the Sun
Term
Why are scientists concerned with studying and predicting solar weather?
Definition
Solar storms can have damage satellites and astronauts , and affect communications
Term
A solar storm can cause effects on Earth within about
Definition
18 hours
Term
Nuclear fusion in any star only occurs in hydrogen plasma at a temperature of at least
Definition
10,000,000 K
Term
The temperature and density of the Sun's interior
Definition
is extremely high n a small region around the center and drops off sharply through the outer layers
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