| Question |
Answer |
| The two instruments that scientists can use to detect changes in Earth's magnetosphere | compass & magnetometer |
| Most of the sun's energy is a result of | nuclear fusion |
| When hydrogen nuclei fuse into helium nuclei, this happens | energy is released |
| Auroras are frequently seen where? and when? | at both poles, after a solar ejection |
| The sunspot cycle lasts about this long | 11 years |
| The sunspot cycle begins when this happens | sunspots are at their lowest |
| Energy produced in the sun's core is the result of | nuclear fusion |
| The elements that make up most of the sun's mass are | hydrogen and helium |
| The index used to rate geomagnetic storms -- what is its range | Ap index -- 0 to 400 |
| Another name for the Northern Lights | Aurora Borealis |
| Sunspots appear dark because they are | relatively cool |
| Solar flares cause | auroras |
| The source of the sun's energy is | nuclear fusion |
| Where in the sunspot cycle are we now? (beginning, middle or end) | beginning |
| What did sunspots first reveal about the sun | the sun rotates |
| In addition to Earth, where else have auroras been recorded | Jupiter & Saturn |
| What two things does a planet need to have in order to form auroras? | an atmosphere (gasses) and a magnetosphere |
| What is the shield that protects the Earth from the sun's solar wind? | magnetosphere |
| A nuclear reaction in which atomic nuclei combine is called | fusion |
| What is the name of the satelite that monitors the sun? | SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) |
| the number of hydrogen atoms that fuse to form helium atom is | four |
| The part of the sun that is normally visible from Earth is the | photosphere |
| Gusts of solar wind can cause | magnetic storms |
| Name the layers of the sun from inside to the outside, in order. | core, radiative zone, convective zone, photosphere, chromosphere, & corona |
| What part of the sun is only visible during an total eclipse? | corona |
| What are the three layers of the sun's atmosphere? | photosphere, chromosphere, corona |
| What are the three solar ejections mentioned in the textbook. | prominences, solar flares, and CME's |
| This solar activity looks like huge arches on the surface of the sun | prominences |
| This solar activity looks like an outward eruption, or flash of energy | solar flare |
| This solar activity looks like a huge mushroom-explosion in the corona | CME (coronal mass ejection) |
| These three things can be affected by geomagnetic storms | radio communications, blackouts, and damage to satellites |
| What two gasses in the atmosphere cause the four different colors of auroras? | nitrogen and oxygen |
| during a solar eclipse, what is disappearing and what is causing it to disappear? | The sun disappears because the moon is blocking our view of the sun. |
| Northern lights and southern lights are other names for | auroras |
| How can scientists predict geomagnetic storms? | Watching for sunspots, they come first. |
| About how long does it take light from the sun to reach the Earth? | 8 minutes |
| This is the hottest layer of the sun. | the core |
| This is the coolest layer of the sun. | the photosphere |
| These two layers of the sun's atmosphere are not typically visible from Earth. | chromosphere & corona |
| What is the other name for the southern lights? | aurora australis |
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