Question

a) Estimate (calculate) how many solar neutrinos pass through the Earth each second. Be sure to explain, and justify, any assumptions that you make. b) Describe what the solar neutrino problem was.

Answer 1

a) Solar neutrinos are produced by the nuclear reactions that power the Sun. The number of solar neutrinos that pass through the earth is measured by a term called flux. The solar neutrino flux for us on Earth is about 65 billion neutrinos, passing through just one square centimeter of area on earth, every second.

b)There is a large discrepancy between the flux of solar neutrinos as predicted from the Sun's luminosity and measured directly, which is known as solar neutrino problem.