How the Sun Works

One layer of the sun has a temperature of 15,000,000 oC. Here, the high temperature caused by crushing gravity causes hydrogen nuclei to fuse, forming helium nuclei. In which layer of the sun does this process take place?

• convection zone

• core

• photosphere

• radiative zone

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

Here is an image of the sun.

What is the name of the feature that can be seen in the circled area above?

• solar flare

• prominence

• sunspot

• gamma rays

A satellite took x-ray pictures of a solar flare. How did the solar flare most likely appear on the x-ray pictures?

• as a dark spot

• as a swirl of red flames

• as a flamelike projection

• as an area of bright white light

The Sun contains __________ percent of all the mass in our solar system.

• 1

• 5

• 50

• 99

Gas flows outward from the corona and forms the __________.

• sunspot

• aurora

• solar wind

• solar flare

Which term best describes the movement of matter due to temperature differences in the sun?

• conduction

• convection

• radiation

• nuclear fusion

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Heat moves from

• hot objects to cold objects.

• cold objects to hot objects.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

The fact that, in general, liquids and gases expand when heated gives rise to

• convection currents in fluids because of changing masses.

• convection currents in fluids because of changing densities.

• convection currents in fluids because of heat transfer by conduction.

• convection currents in fluids because of constant temperatures.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

Sand at a beach becomes very warm after being exposed to sunlight for many hours. What type of heat transfer is this?

• conduction

• convection

• radiation

How do molecules of air in direct contact with Earth's solid, warm surface absorb heat energy?

• conduction

• convection

• radiation

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4