Final answer:
The Sun has an 11-year sunspot cycle and a 22-year magnetic activity cycle influenced by the Sun's changing magnetic field, driven by the dynamo process involving differential rotation and convection.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Sun exhibits a cycle of solar activity that averages 11 years, which is commonly referred to as the sunspot cycle. Sunspots, which are cooler and darker regions on the solar surface, increase and decrease in number in a regular pattern. These sunspots are often found in pairs with opposite magnetic polarity in the two hemispheres. After one 11-year cycle, the polarities reverse, creating a full magnetic activity cycle that lasts for 22 years. The 22-year cycle is understood to be driven by the Sun's dynamo process. This process involves the differential rotation of the Sun, which means the Sun rotates at different speeds at different latitudes, and the convection currents below the solar surface. These mechanisms twist and distort the Sun's magnetic fields over time, causing them to rebuild with opposite polarity and drive various forms of solar activity such as sunspots, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections. All these manifestations of solar activity are related to changes in the Sun's changing magnetic field and are integral to the cycle's progression. Additionally, it's important to note that the exact mechanism of how these cycles work is not fully understood and is an area of ongoing research.