What is the solar thermostat?
What will be an ideal response?
The solar thermostat is analogous to the thermostat at home: it works to maintain a constant temperature. If the solar core were to increase in temperature, the nuclear fusion rate would soar, generating excess energy that increases the pressure and pushes the core outwards. This expansion cools the core back to its normal operating temperature. Similarly if the solar core were to decrease in temperature, the nuclear fusion rate would plummet and gravity would overcome thermal pressure and contract the core. As the core contracts, it heats up and the core returns to its normal operating temperature.
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What is this object?
A) Ice particles and water vapor are spraying out from the surface. B) A comet is impacting the surface. C) Pebble-size particles from Saturn's rings are raining down onto the surface. D) Sunlight is reflecting off clouds in Enceladus's atmosphere.
According to two different estimates, coal reserves can be 250 Gt or 450 Gt, almost twice as much. Why is it so difficult to pin down the reserves' total?
What will be an ideal response?
Which of these particles has the least mass?
a. electron neutrino c. electron b. muon d. pion
By studying distant galaxies in the 1920s, Hubble made the following important discovery that led us to conclude that the universe is expanding?
a) all galaxies outside the Local Group are moving away from us, and the farther away they are, the faster they're going b) all galaxies outside the Local Group are moving away from us, and all are moving away nearly the same speed c) all galaxies contain billions of star and all galaxies have spiral shapes