Chapter 9 Space Weather

Question 1

What is the sun consist of?

Answer 1

Hydrogen and Helium

Question 2

What are the 3 inner layers of the Sun?

Answer 2

Convection zone
Radiation Zone
Core

Question 3

What are the 3 outer layers of the sun

Answer 3

Photosphere
Chromosphere
Corona

Question 4

Examples of phenomena that occur on the surface of the Sun

Answer 4

Granules
Solar Cycles
Sunspots
Prominences
Solar Wind
Solar Flare
Coronal Mass Ejections

Question 5

What makes up the photosphere of the Sun?

Answer 5

Granules

Question 6

What is a granule? How hot can they get?

Answer 6

Granules are the upper part of the convection zone of the plasma which is extremely hot with a temperature as high as 5700 Celsius

Question 7

What is the average diameter of a granule?

Answer 7

1000 km

Question 8

What are sunspots?

Answer 8

Sunspots are dark regions seen on the surface of the sun

Question 9

Why do sunspots appear dark?

Answer 9

Because their temperatures are lower compared to their surroundings

Question 10

Characteristics of sunspots?

Answer 10

The location of every large eruption in the photosphere
May last for more than a week
Exists in pairs or groups

Question 11

What is the solar cycle?

Answer 11

It is the activity of the reappearance and disappearance of sunspots that lasts for 11 years

Question 12

What is a prominence?

Answer 12

A huge loop of arched column of glowing gases over the sunspot

Question 13

Characteristics of prominences

Answer 13

Can reach heights of hundreds or thousands of kilometres
Last for several days or months
Can throw out matter from the sun into the space at speeds ranging from 600 to more than 1000 km s{-1}

Question 14

What is a solar flare

Answer 14

A column of large amounts of charged gases erupting for the Sun and often occurs near sunspots

Question 15

What are the characteristics of Solar flares?

Answer 15

Attain their maximum brightness level in a few seconds or minutes and become dim after a few minutes or hours
Spout charged gas particles at high speeds into outer space

Question 16

How long does it take for light and charged gas particles to reach earth respectively?

Answer 16

Light takes 8 minutes to reach earth while charged gas particles take tens of minutes

Question 17

How are auroras formed?

Answer 17

When charged gas particles or magnetic gas particles collide with atoms and molecules in earth’s atmosphere to produce a stunning light display

Question 18

What phenomena’s cause auroras to formed?

Answer 18

Solar flares and coronal mass ejections

Question 19

What are coronal mass ejections?

Answer 19

An ejection of magnetic gas particles

Question 20

Characteristics of coronal mass ejections

Answer 20

Spout magnetic gas particles at high speeds into outer space
Appears like an expanding cloud
Take 3 days to reach earth

Question 21

What is solar wind?

Answer 21

When particles in plasma such as electrons, protons and alpha particles that erupt from the sun travel together at high speeds

Question 22

Characteristics of solar wind

Answer 22

Carries the interplanetary magnetic field along with it
Supersonic Speeds from 250 - 750 km s-1
However speed, temperature and density of solar wind changes along the course of its movement

Question 23

What is earth’s magnetosphere?

Answer 23

The region in outer space surrounding Earth where the magnetic field in Earth’s magnetosphere is a combination of Earth’s magnetic field and the magnetic field in the region in outer space

Question 24

How is a magnetosphere formed?

Answer 24

Formed by the interaction between the magnetic field brought by the solar wind and earth’s magnetic field

Question 25

Compare the change of the shape of the magnetosphere with the number and energy of particles brought by the change of solar wind

Answer 25

As the number and energy or particles brought by the solar wind change, the shape of the magnetosphere also changes

Question 26

What is the importance of earth’s magnetosphere?

Answer 26

Protect earth from the adverse effects cause by the dangerous particles from the sun or other bodies in the Universe

Question 27

Examples of the importance of Earth’s magnetosphere

Answer 27

Functions as a biological shield to protect life on earth from the adverse effects of solar wind
Blocks charged particles from reaching earth
Reduces pressure exerted by the solar wind

Question 28

Describe what would happen if charged particles from solar wind reach earth

Answer 28

Disrupt telecommunication, navigation system and electric power lines

Question 29

What is space weather defined as

Answer 29

Phenomena that occur on the surface of the sun and in space

Question 30

What is the date on space weather used for??

Answer 30

Forecast when coronal mass ejections occur and determine the reasons for the occurence of solar flares and coronal mass ejections on the surface of the sun