Sun's Structure and Processes

How does the Sun compare in size and number to other stars in the galaxy?

• It is an average-sized star, and most stars are larger.

• It is a small star, and most stars are much larger.

• It is in the top 10% of stars by size and number, with most stars being smaller red dwarfs.

• It is the largest star in the galaxy.

What are the approximate conditions in the Sun's core?

• Pressure is similar to Earth's atmosphere, and temperature is around 1,000 degrees Celsius.

• Pressure is 260 billion times Earth's atmospheric pressure, and temperature is 15 million degrees Celsius.

• Pressure is 1 million times Earth's atmospheric pressure, and temperature is 1 million degrees Celsius.

• Pressure is negligible, and temperature is 5,000 degrees Celsius.

What process is responsible for the Sun's energy generation?

• Chemical reactions between hydrogen and oxygen.

• Gravitational collapse, converting potential energy to heat.

• Nuclear fission, splitting heavy atoms into lighter ones.

• Nuclear fusion, combining hydrogen atoms to form helium.

Approximately how long does it take for light generated in the Sun's core to reach its surface?

• About 8 minutes.

• Several days.

• 100,000 to 200,000 years.

• Millions of years.

What is the primary composition of the Sun's interior?

• Pure hydrogen gas

• Liquid metal

• Plasma

• Solid rock

What causes sunspots to appear as dark spots on the Sun's surface?

• They are areas where the Sun's material has been completely depleted.

• Tangled magnetic loops prevent plasma from sinking, causing it to cool and dim.

• They are shadows cast by large celestial bodies passing in front of the Sun.

• They are regions of intense solar flares that have burned out.

What are faculae, and how do they affect the Sun's energy output?

• Dark areas on the Sun's surface that decrease its overall energy output.

• Bright rims around sunspots that increase the Sun's overall energy output.

• Explosions of plasma that launch material into space.

• Arcs of material stretching across the Sun's surface.

What is the primary difference between a solar flare and a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)?

• Solar flares are localized and intense, while CMEs are huge and strong, occurring higher off the surface.

• Solar flares only release light, while CMEs only release material.

• Solar flares are caused by nuclear fusion, while CMEs are caused by magnetic reconnection.

• Solar flares are visible from Earth, but CMEs are not.