Solar System

Question 1

Astronomical Unit

Answer 1

Average Distance from Earth to Sun (1.5*10^8)

Question 2

Light Year

Answer 2

Distance travelled by light in one year (9.46*10^12)

Question 3

Parallax second (parsec)

Answer 3

3.26 light years, and the distance to a star that has an angle of 1 arcsec between Earth and Sun

Question 4

M (*)

Answer 4

Mass of Sun (2*10^30)

Question 5

M(+)

Answer 5

Mass of Earth (6*10^24)

Question 6

G

Answer 6

Newton’s Gravitational Constant (6.67*10^-11)

Question 7

The Core

Answer 7

The innermost part of the Sun, with 20-25% of its mass, at a temperature of about 16*10^8 K, sufficiently hot for the fusion of H -> He to occur.

Question 8

Radiative Zone

Answer 8

Zone of Sun radius 0.2R - 0.7R, with mass travelling at uniform velocity. The temperature there is ~7*10^6 K, not enough for fusion. So, here, the thermal energy produced in the core is radiated outwards. ie. Transport layer

Question 9

Convective zone

Answer 9

Zone of Sun radius 0.7R - R, with temperature varying from 2*10^6 to 6,000 K, using convection to ‘move’ thermal energy to the surface

Question 10

Photosphere

Answer 10

The surface of the Sun, 10-100km thick, emits a blackbody and absorption spectrum and is measured to be at around 6000 K.

Question 11

Chromosphere

Answer 11

a 20,000km thick layer above the photosphere, that contains the solar flares and emits an electromagnetic spectrum of its own.

Question 12

Solar Winds

Answer 12

Streams of charged particles. Its range defines the size of the solar system

Question 13

Heliopause

Answer 13

The place where the pressure from solar winds is balanced with the pressure of the interstellar medium ie the end of the solar system. (~ 120 AU)

Question 14

Asteroid belt

Answer 14

3-3.2 AU from the Sun, between Mars and Jupiter.

Question 15

Kuiper belt

Answer 15

A belt of dwarf planets, asteroids and comets, about 30 AU wide, and the last thing before the heliopause.