Origins of the Universe Revision

How old is our Sun believed to be?

• 4.5 million years
• 4.5 billion years
• 4.5 trillion years
• 4.5 quintillion years

What is the composition of the Sun in terms of hydrogen, helium, and heavier elements?

• 91% hydrogen, 8.9% helium, 0.1% heavier elements
• 70% hydrogen, 28% helium, 2% heavier elements
• 99.8% hydrogen, 0.1% helium, 0.1% heavier elements
• 50% hydrogen, 50% helium

Answer explanation

The Sun is mostly hydrogen. It fuses hydrogen nuclei together to form helium.

How does the Sun produce energy and light?

• Through nuclear fusion

• Through combustion

• Through chemical reactions

• Through gravitational collapse

Answer explanation

The Sun, like other stars, produces energy and light through a process called nuclear fusion. This mechanism occurs when the intense heat and pressure at the Sun's core cause hydrogen atoms to come together to form helium. This process releases a tremendous amount of energy in the form of light and heat. The other options listed, such as combustion and chemical reactions, are not the methods through which the Sun produces energy.

What property of the Sun helps hold the solar system intact and keeps nearby planetary bodies from drifting away?

• Gravity
• Magnetism
• Radiation
• Electricity

What protects the planets from harmful cosmic radiation and is caused by the Sun's plasma pushing charged particles?

• Magnetic Field
• Solar Wind
• Gravitational Force
• Dark Matter

What is the final state of the Sun once it runs out of hydrogen fuel and collapses?

• Red Giant

• Blue Dwarf

• Black Hole

• White Dwarf

Answer explanation

The final state of the Sun, after it runs out of hydrogen fuel and collapses, will be a 'White Dwarf'. While 'Red Giant' is an earlier stage, 'Blue Dwarf' and 'Black Hole' are not accurate terms related to the sun's lifecycle. 'White Dwarf' is the correct choice that highlights the Sun's final evolutionary state.

Which region of the Sun is at the centre and is where nuclear fusion occurs?

• Corona

• Chromosphere

• Radiative Zone

• Core

Answer explanation

The Core is the central region of the Sun where nuclear fusion occurs. Fusion is a process where two hydrogen nuclei come together to form helium. The energy produced by this process is what gives the Sun its brightness and heat. The other options, Corona, Chromosphere, and Radiative Zone, while parts of the Sun, are not where nuclear fusion occurs.

What is the term for the dark areas on the Sun's surface marked by strong pockets of magnetism?

• Sunspots

• Solar Flares

• Solar Prominences

• Solar Eclipses

Answer explanation

Sunspots are the dark areas on the Sun's surface. They are marked by strong magnetic fields, which is why they appear darker than the surrounding areas. This is because these strong magnetic fields inhibit the transport of energy from the Sun's interior to its surface, making these areas cooler and thus darker. Therefore, the correct answer to the given question is 'Sunspots'.

Which type of star explosion produces elements heavier than iron and distributes them throughout the universe?

• Red Giant

• Supernova

• White Dwarf

• Brown Dwarf

Answer explanation

Supernovae are powerful stellar explosions. When a star undergoes a supernova, the extreme conditions created by the explosion allow for the creation of elements heavier than iron. These elements are then scattered across the universe. This process does not occur in Red Giants, White Dwarfs, or Brown Dwarfs.

What is the next stage of a massive star's evolution after it goes supernova and collapses?

• Neutron Star

• Black Hole

• Red Giant

• White Dwarf

Answer explanation

After a massive star goes supernova and collapses, it can either form a Neutron Star or a Black Hole, depending on its mass. The latter is formed if its mass is high enough for the gravitational force to overcome all other forces, resulting in a singularity. So the correct answer to this question would be either a Neutron Star or a Black Hole.