The Sun as a Star Quiz
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5 questions, one answer each
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1. What two elements make up most of the Sun?
- A. Carbon and oxygen
- B. Hydrogen and helium
- C. Nitrogen and helium
- D. Iron and hydrogen
2. What process powers the Sun?
- A. Nuclear fission of uranium
- B. Chemical combustion
- C. Nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium
- D. Radioactive decay of heavy elements
3. Which of the following energy resources does NOT ultimately originate from the Sun?
- A. Wind energy
- B. Wave energy
- C. Geothermal energy
- D. Biofuel energy
4. A star similar in mass to the Sun has just run out of hydrogen fuel in its core. What stage of its life cycle does it enter next, and what happens to the star during this stage?
- A. White dwarf; the star suddenly explodes as a supernova
- B. Red giant; the star expands as fusion reactions change and the core structure shifts
- C. Protostar; the star begins collapsing again from a nebula
- D. Neutron star; the core instantly collapses to extreme density
5. Scientists are researching how to replicate the Sun's energy-producing process on Earth for large-scale electricity generation. Which process is this, and how does it fundamentally differ from the nuclear process currently used in power stations?
- A. Nuclear fission; it involves joining light nuclei together, unlike fusion which splits heavy nuclei
- B. Nuclear fusion; it involves joining light nuclei together to release energy, unlike fission which splits heavy nuclei
- C. Radioactive decay; it involves the spontaneous emission of particles from unstable nuclei, the same process used in current power stations
- D. Chemical combustion; it involves burning hydrogen gas directly, unlike fission which uses uranium