Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 14: Problem 7

Coronal mass ejections a. carry away 1 percent of the mass of the Sun each year. b. are caused by breaking magnetic fields. c. are always emitted in the direction of Earth. d. are unimportant to life on Earth.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The correct answer is B.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Coronal Mass Ejections

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are significant releases of plasma and magnetic field from the solar corona. These ejections can potentially affect the Earth’s magnetosphere.
02

Analyzing Option A

Option A states that CMEs carry away 1 percent of the mass of the Sun each year. This is incorrect because the Sun's mass loss due to CMEs is extremely small, far less than 1 percent annually.
03

Analyzing Option B

Option B states that CMEs are caused by breaking magnetic fields. This is correct because CMEs typically occur when magnetic field lines in the Sun’s atmosphere become twisted and then snap or reconnect, releasing substantial energy.
04

Analyzing Option C

Option C asserts that CMEs are always emitted in the direction of Earth. This is incorrect as CMEs can be emitted in any direction from the Sun, and only some are directed towards Earth.
05

Analyzing Option D

Option D claims CMEs are unimportant to life on Earth. This is incorrect because CMEs can have significant impacts on Earth's magnetosphere, affecting satellites, power grids, and communications.
06

Conclusion

After evaluating the options, the correct statement is Option B: CMEs are caused by breaking magnetic fields.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

solar corona
The solar corona is the outermost layer of the Sun’s atmosphere. It is a region of extremely high temperatures, often reaching up to millions of degrees Kelvin. Despite its low density, the solar corona is the origin of several significant solar phenomena, including coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The corona is visible during a total solar eclipse as a white halo around the Sun. The intense heat of the solar corona affects the behavior of the plasma and magnetic fields, contributing to solar flares and CMEs. Understanding the solar corona is crucial because its dynamics can lead to space weather events that impact Earth.
magnetic fields
Magnetic fields play a vital role in the occurrence of coronal mass ejections. In the Sun's corona, magnetic field lines can become twisted and highly stressed. When these fields snap or reconnect, they release substantial energy and propel large amounts of plasma into space. This process is the main cause behind CMEs. Magnetic fields also govern the movement of charged particles, influencing the behavior of plasma within the Sun's atmosphere. On Earth, magnetic fields protect us from harmful solar radiation by channeling charged particles along the geomagnetic field lines, creating phenomena such as auroras.
space weather
Space weather refers to the environmental conditions in space as influenced by solar activities, including CMEs, solar flares, and solar wind. CMEs are key contributors to space weather as they eject large quantities of plasma and magnetic fields into space, which can interact with Earth's magnetosphere. Space weather events can disrupt satellite operations, communication networks, and power grids on Earth. Additionally, space weather affects astronauts in space, as increased radiation exposure during solar storms poses health risks. Effective monitoring and prediction of space weather are essential for minimizing its impact on Earth and space-based technologies.
Earth's magnetosphere
Earth's magnetosphere is a protective bubble of magnetic field that surrounds our planet. It deflects solar wind and harmful cosmic radiation, shielding Earth from direct exposure. When a CME impacts the magnetosphere, it can cause geomagnetic storms by compressing and deforming the magnetic field. These storms can induce electric currents in power lines and pipelines, potentially causing blackouts and infrastructure damage. The interaction between CMEs and Earth's magnetosphere is also responsible for creating beautiful auroras, commonly observed in polar regions as shimmering lights in the sky.
plasma
Plasma is one of the four fundamental states of matter, consisting of charged particles—ions and electrons. In the Sun's corona, plasma is extremely hot and highly ionized. This state of matter is crucial for the occurrence of CMEs, as the dynamic behavior of plasma under high temperatures and magnetic fields leads to the ejection of huge amounts of solar material. Plasma's responsiveness to magnetic fields makes it a key component in space-based phenomena and the interactions between the solar wind and Earth's magnetosphere. Understanding plasma helps scientists predict and analyze solar storms and their potential impacts on Earth.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

On Earth, nuclear power plants use fission to generate electricity. In fission, a heavy element like uranium is broken into many atoms, where the total mass of the fragments is less than the original atom. Explain why fission could not be powering the Sun today.

A high-energy photon and a neutrino are created in the Sun's core at the same instant. Which one will reach Earth first, and why? a. the neutrino, because neutrinos are much faster than light b. the photon, because nothing travels faster than light c. the neutrino, because neutrinos barely interact with matter d. the photon, because photons barely interact with matter

The hydrogen bomb represents an effort to duplicate processes going on in the core of the Sun. The energy released by a 5 -megaton hydrogen bomb is \(2 \times 10^{16} \mathrm{J}\). a. This textbook, 21 st Century Astronomy, has a mass of about \(1.6 \mathrm{kg} .\) If all of its mass were converted into energy, how many 5-megaton bombs would it take to equal that energy? b. How much mass did Earth lose each time a 5-megaton hydrogen bomb was exploded?

When hydrogen is fused into helium, energy is released from a. gravitational collapse. b. conversion of matter to light energy. c. the increase in pressure. d. the decrease in the gravitational field.

(a) Go to the National Ignition Facility (NIF) website (https://lasers.llnl.gov/about/nif). Under "Programs," click on "Internal Fusion Energy" and then "How to Make a Star."How are lasers used in experiments to develop controlled nuclear fusion on Earth? How does the fusion reaction here differ from that in the Sun? (b) An alternative approach is to fuse \(^{3} \mathrm{He}+^{3} \mathrm{He}\) instead of the hydrogen isotopes. But on Earth, \(^{3} \mathrm{He}\) is found in limited supply. \(^{3}\) He is in much greater abundance on the Moon, so some people propose setting up mining colonies on the Moon to extract \(^{3}\) He for fusion reactions on Earth. Do a search on "helium 3 moon." Which countries are talking about going to the Moon for this purpose? What is the timeline for when this might happen? What are the difficulties?
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Fluids

Read Explanation

Physical Quantities And Units

Read Explanation

Space Physics

Read Explanation

Atoms and Radioactivity

Read Explanation

Circular Motion and Gravitation

Read Explanation

Work Energy and Power

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free