Brightness of the Sun and Other Stars

Open Ended

Why do you think the brightness of the Sun appears different from the brightness of other stars in the night sky?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes a star?

• A giant ball of hot, glowing matter

• A small rock in space

• A planet that reflects sunlight

• A cloud of gas and dust

Multiple Choice

What is the main reason stars, including the Sun, shine?

• Because they reflect light from other stars

• Because they are made of shiny materials

• Because processes in the stars produce huge amounts of energy

• Because they are close to Earth

Open Ended

Explain the difference between the Sun and other stars in our galaxy in terms of size and mass.

Open Ended

List characteristics of the sun.

Multiple Choice

What would happen to Earth if the Sun did not exist?

• Earth would be much warmer

• Life on Earth would continue as usual

• Earth would be very, very cold and life could not exist

• Earth would have more energy

Multiple Select

Which of the following are layers of the Sun's interior?

• Core

• Radiative Zone

• Convective Zone

• Photosphere

Multiple Choice

Which layer of the Sun's atmosphere can only be seen during a total solar eclipse?

• Photosphere

• Chromosphere

• Corona

• Core

Multiple Choice

Why do stars appear small in the night sky even though many are much larger than Earth?

• Because they are very far from Earth

• Because they are smaller than Earth

• Because they are dimmer than the Sun

• Because they are hidden by clouds

Multiple Select

Which of the following factors affect the apparent brightness of a star as seen from Earth?

• Actual brightness of the star

• Distance from Earth

• Size of the star

• Temperature of the star

Open Ended

How would a star look to you at night if it was in the same solar system as Earth?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements are true about the brightness of stars?

• A star that is actually dimmer can appear brighter if it is closer to Earth

• The brightest stars are always the biggest

• The apparent brightness depends only on the star's actual brightness

• Stars that are hotter are always closer to Earth

Open Ended

Describe how the temperature of a star affects its brightness and how distance from Earth can change what we observe.

Open Ended

Explain why the Sun and Alpha Centauri system appear brighter than other stars in the night sky.

Multiple Choice

How does the relative size of Proxima Centauri compare to the Sun and other stars in the Alpha Centauri system?

• Proxima Centauri is much smaller than the Sun and other Alpha Centauri stars

• Proxima Centauri is larger than the Sun

• Proxima Centauri is the same size as Alpha Centauri A

• Proxima Centauri is larger than Alpha Centauri B

Open Ended

Why might scientists think these planets might have liquid water on their surfaces?