The Sun Flashcards

1
Q

What is the diameter of the Sun?

A

1.4 million km

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2
Q

What is the distance of the Sun from Earth?

A

150 million km

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3
Q

What is the temperature of the Sun’s photosphere (surface)?

A

5800K

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4
Q

What are the different parts of the solar atmosphere?

A

The chromosphere and the corona.

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5
Q

What is the approximate temperature of the corona?

A

2 million K

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6
Q

What is the Sun’s energy generated by?

A

Nuclear fusion reactions at the Suns core, converting hydrogen into helium.

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7
Q

What is the Suns rotational period at the equator? What is it at the Pole?

A

Equator - 25 days

Pole - 36 days

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8
Q

How do astronomers observe the Sun at at the H-Alpha wavelength?

A

Using an H-Alpha filter and observing emission spectra of hydrogen.

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9
Q

What are the different parts of sunspots?

A

Umbra (the centre) and penumbra (the outer part of the spots)

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10
Q

About how large are sunspots?

A

About 10,000 km across.

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11
Q

Outline some aspects of sunspots.

A
  • Cooler regions
  • Last 2-4 weeks
  • Come in pairs
  • Have strong magnetic fields
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12
Q

What is the butterfly diagram?

A

A diagram which shows the long-term latitude drift of sun spots, and can be used to determine the length of the solar cycle.

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13
Q

What is the solar wind?

A

A continuous stream of protons and electrons from the surface of the sun.

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14
Q

What three things can sun spots cause?

A
  • Prominences
  • Solar Flares
  • Coronal Mass Ejections (CME)
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