(A) Topic 9,10 all the things i got wrong

Question 1

What are the differences between the internal divisions of the Moon and the Earth?

Answer 1

• Lunar crust is bigger than Earth’s crust
• Radius of the Moon’s core is less than 25% of the Moon’s radius (Earth’s core extends to 50%+ of its radius)
• Core not in the physical centre, offset by 2 km towards the near side (Earth’s side)

Question 2

Explain what occurs in the Co-accretion theory of the moon.

Answer 2

Earth and Moon formed at the same time out of material from the solar nebula

Question 3

Explain what occurs in the capture theory of the moon

Answer 3

Earth + Moon formed at different places in the solar system but the Moon became captured by the Earth’s gravitational force

Question 4

Explain what occurs in the fission theory of the moon

Answer 4

Earth was spinning so rapidly that a part of it spun off and formed the Moon

Question 5

What evidence is there to suggest that the Giant Hypothesis is a likely explanation for the origin of the Moon?

Answer 5

Explains the moon’s orbit and rotation + Moon’s lack of substances that evaporate easily

Question 6

What are the safest methods of observing the sun?

Answer 6

• an H-alpha filter, absorbs all sunlight apart from a very narrow range of wavelengths
• telescopic projection: requires the use of a baffle (card with a small hole) to absorb most of the solar radiation before entering the telescope

Question 7

Name the location and temperature of the core of the Sun

Answer 7

Middle of the sun: 15 million K

Question 8

Name the location and temperature of the radioactive and connective zones of the Sun

Answer 8

Mantle equivalent of the Sun, 6 milllion K

Question 9

Name the location and temperature of the photosphere of the Sun

Answer 9

Surface layer, approximately 5800 K

Question 10

What is the chromosome of the sun and what is its average temperature?

Answer 10

Thin pink rim around the sun, 100,000 K

Question 11

What is the role of the corona of the sun and what is its average temperature?

Answer 11

High-velocity solar particles interact with the magnetic field and emit X rays. 2 million K

Question 12

What happens in each stage in the proton-proton chain?

Answer 12

At each stage in the chain, mass (m) is lost and converted into energy (E). This is in accordance with Einstein’s equation E=mc², where c is the speed of light

Question 13

Describe the long term drift of sunspots.

Answer 13

They travel around the Sun’s disc in groups, across 1/3 of the surface between 40 degrees north and 40 degrees south

Question 14

Describe the sunspot cycle

Answer 14

Happens every 11 years, and can be visualised using a butterfly diagram. More sunspots= more heat = more sun activity and vice versa

Question 15

What are the umbra and penumbra of a sunspot?

Answer 15

Central region: umbra, darker colour -4000k. Surrounding region: penumbra lighter colour - 5000k

Question 16

How long does the sun take to rotate at the equator?

Answer 16

25 days

Question 17

How long does the sun take to rotate at the poles?

Answer 17

36 days

Question 18

Describe the instruments or techniques that astronomers use to study the sun

Answer 18

-H-alpha filter
- Optical filters attached to the telescope
- Calcium-K

Question 19

What is solar wind?

Answer 19

Stream of charged particles released from the corona

Question 20

Define Coronal Mass Ejections

Answer 20

Large expulsions of plasma + magnetic field from the sun’s corona

Question 21

Explain the influence of solar wind on Earth

Answer 21

Can trigger geomagnetic storms, harm satellites + air passengers and astronauts

Question 22

Explain the influence of solar wind on Van Allen belts

Answer 22

Causes aurorae