Closest to the Sun: Parker Solar Probe Quiz
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Which part of the Sun's atmosphere does the Parker Solar Probe primarily aim to study?
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Chromosphere
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Photosphere
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Solar corona
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Solar core
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Are you fascinated by the fiery behemoth at the center of our solar system? The Sun, with its mesmerizing beauty and astronomical significance, has forever been a subject of intrigue for astronomers, scientists, and space enthusiasts alike. While several missions have aimed to study the Sun, none has been as ambitious as the Parker Solar Probe. As you embark on this "Closest to the Sun: Parker Solar Probe Quiz," get ready to dive deep into the groundbreaking discoveries and challenges faced by this historic NASA mission.
Parker Solar Probe has set out to answer fundamental questions about our closest star. This quiz will not only test your knowledge about the probe's design, journey, and objectives but will also bring forth the breathtaking phenomena and mechanisms of the Sun that it seeks to decode.
Why does the solar corona, the Sun's outer atmosphere, heat up to temperatures millions of degrees higher than its surface? What accelerates the solar wind to supersonic speeds? How do solar eruptions impact space weather and, subsequently, life on Earth? These are just a few of the intriguing questions that the Parker Solar Probe aims to answer. Through this quiz, you'll delve into these mysteries, understanding not just the objectives of the mission but the reasons that make it so paramount to space exploration.
As the Parker Solar Probe inches closer to the Sun with each orbit, making it the closest-ever human-made object to the Sun, its discoveries could reshape our understanding of stellar physics. With the "Closest to
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What is the Parker Solar Probe's primary scientific goal regarding the solar wind?
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Photograph it
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Slow it down
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Study its color
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Determine its source
Correct Answer
A. Determine its sourceExplanation
One of the primary scientific goals of the Parker Solar Probe is to determine the source of the solar wind. It aims to investigate how the solar wind is generated and accelerated as it flows from the Sun.Rate this question:
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- 3.
What is the primary mission of the Parker Solar Probe?
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Study solar flares
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Investigate dark matter
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Explore outer planets
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Study the Sun's corona
Correct Answer
A. Study the Sun's coronaExplanation
The primary mission of the Parker Solar Probe is to study the Sun's corona. By flying close to the Sun, it aims to gather data on the corona's structure, temperature, and the processes that heat it to millions of degrees, which is a key scientific question.Rate this question:
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What is the name of the astrophysicist after whom the Parker Solar Probe is named?
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Eugene Parker
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Carl Sagan
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Edwin Hubble
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Stephen Hawking
Correct Answer
A. Eugene ParkerExplanation
The Parker Solar Probe is named after Dr. Eugene Parker, the astrophysicist who proposed the existence of the solar wind in the 1950s. It is the first NASA mission named after a living scientist.Rate this question:
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- 5.
How does the Parker Solar Probe protect itself from the intense heat of the Sun?
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Ablative shield
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Heat-resistant tiles
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Liquid cooling system
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Solar panels
Correct Answer
A. Heat-resistant tilesExplanation
The Parker Solar Probe is equipped with a heat shield that includes heat-resistant tiles. This shield is essential for protecting the spacecraft's instruments and systems from the extreme temperatures near the Sun.Rate this question:
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What is the Parker Solar Probe's approximate top speed during its closest approach to the Sun?
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430,000 miles per hour
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5,000 miles per hour
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1 million miles per hour
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20,000 miles per hour
Correct Answer
A. 430,000 miles per hourExplanation
During its closest approach to the Sun, the Parker Solar Probe reaches an approximate top speed of 430,000 miles per hour (about 700,000 kilometers per hour). This incredible speed allows it to withstand the Sun's gravitational pull.Rate this question:
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- 7.
How close does the Parker Solar Probe approach the Sun's surface during its closest orbits?
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100,000 miles
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4 million miles
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1 million miles
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10 million miles
Correct Answer
A. 4 million milesExplanation
The Parker Solar Probe comes within approximately 4 million miles (6.4 million kilometers) of the Sun's surface during its closest orbits. This close approach allows for detailed observations of the Sun's outer atmosphere.Rate this question:
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- 8.
What is the Parker Solar Probe's closest approach referred to as?
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Solstice
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Aphelion
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Equinox
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Perihelion
Correct Answer
A. PerihelionExplanation
The closest approach of the Parker Solar Probe to the Sun is referred to as "perihelion." During perihelion, the spacecraft gathers its most detailed data on the Sun's environment.Rate this question:
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- 9.
Which scientific instrument aboard the Parker Solar Probe measures the electric and magnetic fields in the Sun's atmosphere?
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FIELDS
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WISPR
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ISʘIS
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SWEAP
Correct Answer
A. FIELDSExplanation
The FIELDS instrument aboard the Parker Solar Probe measures electric and magnetic fields in the Sun's atmosphere. It provides crucial data for understanding the Sun's magnetic activity.Rate this question:
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10. How many orbits around the Sun does the Parker Solar Probe plan to complete during its mission?
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Multiple
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4
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24
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7
Correct Answer
A. 24Explanation
During a span of seven years, the spacecraft will successfully execute 24 orbits around the Sun. At its nearest point to the Sun, the spacecraft will approach to within approximately 3.9 million miles (6.2 million kilometers).Rate this question:
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Quiz Review Timeline (Updated): Oct 5, 2023 +
Our quizzes are rigorously reviewed, monitored and continuously updated by our expert board to maintain accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.
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Current Version
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Oct 05, 2023Quiz Edited by
ProProfs Editorial Team -
Sep 29, 2023Quiz Created by
Surajit Dey
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