Astronomy Practice Exam

What are sunspots characterized by?

1. High temperature regions on the sun's surface

2. Dark spots on the sun's surface caused by magnetic disturbances

3. Bright areas indicating solar flares

4. Craters formed by solar winds

The correct answer is: Dark spots on the sun's surface caused by magnetic disturbances

Sunspots are indeed characterized by dark spots on the sun's surface caused by magnetic disturbances. These areas appear darker than their surroundings because they are cooler regions on the solar surface, where the temperature can be significantly lower than in adjacent areas. This reduction in temperature is a result of strong magnetic fields that inhibit the convective flow of hot plasma, leading to less heat being transferred to the surface. As the magnetic activity increases, it creates these sunspots and can also lead to other solar phenomena, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections. The existence of sunspots is an important indicator of solar activity and plays a crucial role in our understanding of the sun's magnetic field and its cycle of activity, known as the solar cycle. The other options do not accurately describe sunspots. Regions of high temperature on the sun's surface are typically associated with solar prominences and flares, which are different phenomena. Bright areas indicating solar flares refer to outbursts in regions of high magnetic activity, not the cooler, dark spots of sunspots. Craters formed by solar winds are not a feature of the sun's surface; instead, solar winds are streams of charged particles emitted from the sun, which can interact with planets but do not create