6. Which of the following happens to the temperature of gases as they reach the top of the sun's convection zone?

a. it increases
b. it decreases
c. it does not change
d. there is no way to tell what happens

7. Which of the following does a star's absolute brightness depend on?
a.distance and temperature
b. size and temperature
c. color and temperature
d. distance and color

it increases

To find the answer to question 6, we need to understand how the temperature changes as gases reach the top of the sun's convection zone. The convection zone is the outermost layer of the sun's interior, where the energy generated in the core is carried outwards by the movement of gases.

As the gases move towards the top of the convection zone, they become less dense and cooler. This is due to the energy transfer happening within the sun's interior. The gases absorb energy from the core and carry it upwards, gradually losing heat as they rise.

Therefore, the correct answer to question 6 would be b. it decreases.

Moving on to question 7, we need to determine what factors influence a star's absolute brightness. Absolute brightness refers to the actual amount of light a star emits, regardless of its distance from Earth.

The factors that affect a star's absolute brightness are its distance and size. The distance between the star and the observer directly influences the perceived brightness. The greater the distance, the dimmer the star appears. Similarly, the size of the star—the amount of light it emits—also plays a role in determining absolute brightness.

Hence, the correct answer to question 7 would be b. size and temperature.

Understanding the underlying concepts and principles helps us find the correct answers.