Chapter 12 Terms

Question 1

Chromosphere

Answer 1

is the lower part of the Sun’s outer atmosphere that lies directly above the Sun’s visible surface

Question 2

Convection Zone

Answer 2

is the region immediately below the Sun’s visible surface in which its heat is carried by convection

Question 3

Corona

Answer 3

is the outer, hottest part of the Sun’s atmosphere

Question 4

Coronal Hole

Answer 4

is a low-density region in the Sun’s corona

Question 5

Cosmic Rays

Answer 5

are extremely energetic particles traveling at nearly the speed of light

Question 6

Granulation

Answer 6

is the texture seen in the Sun’s photosphere

Question 7

Hydrostatic Equilibrium

Answer 7

is the condition in which pressure and gravitational forces in a star or planet are in balance

Question 8

Maunder Minimum

Answer 8

is the time period from about A.D. 1600 to 1740, during which the Sun was relatively inactive

Question 9

Neutrino

Answer 9

are tiny neutral particles with little or no mass and immense penetrating power.
Nuclear Fusion is the binding of two light nuclei to form a heavier nucleus, with some nuclear mass converted to energy

Question 10

Perfect Gas Law or Ideal Gas

Answer 10

is a law relating the pressure, density, and temperature of a gas

Question 11

Photosphere

Answer 11

is the visible surface of the Sun

Question 12

Pressure

Answer 12

is the force exerted by a substance such as gas on an area divided by that area

Question 13

Prominences

Answer 13

is a cloud of hot gas in the Sun’s outer atmosphere

Question 14

Proton-Proton Chain

Answer 14

is the nuclear fusion process that converts hydrogen into helium in stars like the Sun and thereby generates their energy

Question 15

Radiate Zone

Answer 15

is the region inside a star where its energy is carried outward by radiation

Question 16

Solar Cycle

Answer 16

is the cyclic change in solar activity

Question 17

Solar Flare

Answer 17

is a sudden increase in brightness of a small region on the Sun

Question 18

Solar Wind

Answer 18

is the outflow of low-density hot gas from the Sun’s upper atmosphere

Question 19

Spicule

Answer 19

is a hot, thin column of gas in the Sun’s chromosphere

Question 20

Strong Force

Answer 20

is the force that holds protons and neutrons together

Question 21

Sunspot

Answer 21

is a dark, cooler region on the Sun’s visible surface created by intense magnetic fields

Question 22

Zeeman Effect

Answer 22

is the splitting of a single spectrum line into two or three lines by a magnetic field