Worksheet # 3
EEn.1.1.3 Explain how the sun produces energy which is transferred to Earth by
radiation.
1. The sun is a large ball of gas made mostly of __________________ and
________________.
Match the correct description with the correct term.
2. The sun’s out atmosphere
3. The thin region below the sun’s corona.
4. The part of the sun that can be seen
From Earth.
5. The region of the Sun where gases circulate.
6. The center of the Sun.
7. A very dense region of the Sun.
A. Chromosphere
B. Core
C. Radioactive Zone
D. Convective Zone
E. Corona
F. Photosphere
8. How did early scientist think the Sun produced its energy?
9. The process by which two or more low-mass nuclei combine to form a larger
nucleus is called ____________________.
10. What happens as two hydrogen nuclei fuse?
11. Energy is produced in the center, or ________________________, of the Sun.
12. Energy passes from the sun’s core through a dense region called the
___________________.
13. Hot gases are carried to the Sun’s visible surface from a region called the
_____________________.
14. Energy leaves the Sun as light from a region called the _____________________.
15. The circulation of gases in the Sun combines with the Sun’s rotation to create
____________.
16. Why do some areas of the photosphere become cooler than surrounding areas?
17. Cooler, dark areas of the photosphere of the Sun are called
___________________.
18. The sunspot cycle lasts about ______________________ years.
19. How might Earth be affected by the eruption of solar flares?
20. What form of electromagnetic radiation can human see?
21. Each color of light on the electromagnetic spectrum has a different
_______________ of electromagnetic radiation.
22. Place the following types of radiation in order from shortest wavelength to longest
wavelength: microwaves, gamma rays, radio waves, x-rays.
23. List the colors of visible light.
Each of the following wavelengths is either blocked, partially blocked, or unblocked by the Earth’s
atmosphere. In the space provided, write B if the wavelength is blocked, U if the wavelength is unblocked,
and p if the wavelength is partially blocked.
24. Infrared light
25. Gamma rays
26. X-Rays
27. Visible Light
28. Microwaves
29. Why do astronomers study the entire electromagnetic spectrum?
30. Why have scientists put ultraviolet, infrared, gamma-ray, and X ray telescopes in
space?
31. What type of energy is released by a fission or fusion reaction?
32. The process by which the nuclei of radioactive atoms are split into two or more
smaller nuclei is called _________________________.
33. The joining of two or more nuclei to form a larger nucleus is
________________________.
34. Name one place where fusion happens naturally.(Be specific)
35. In Nuclear Fission Reactors, how are the reactors kept cool? (There are two
methods)
36. What is the name of the particle that consist of 2 protons and 2 neutrons that is
ejected during radioactive decay?
37. Explain how the splitting of an atom produces energy.
38. What type of reaction produces water and carbon dioxide as a product?
39. Define an exothermic reaction.
40. Explain why radiation is capable of traveling through space.
41. Describe what scientists refer to as the “random walk” in detail.