Notes on the sun
Energy
- Generated by fusion
- Releases electromagnetic radiation
- Takes place in the core of the sun
- Hydrostatic equilibrium- Balance between the outward forces of fusion and the inward forces of gravity
- Core- 10%
- Radiative Zone- 85%
- Convection Zone- 15%
- Photosphere- Visible surface of sun
- Sunspots- A magnetically distressed region that is cooler than the areas around it
- Solar Prominences- Plumes of glowing hot gas that erupt from sunspots
- Solar Flares- Large outbursts of charged particles and visible, UV, and X-rays when hot gas spouts out
THE SUN VIRTUAL TOUR QUESTIONS
-Define:
-Define:
- Sunspots- An area on the surface of the Sun that is cooler and darker relative to the mass of Sun around it.
- Solar Active Region- A transient area of the Sun’s atmosphere containing strong magnetic fields and home to solar flares.
- Chromosphere- An irregular layer above the photosphere made up entirely of spicules. (6,000C-20,000C)
- Convective Zone- The highest level of the interior of the Sun, spanning from the Radiation Zone to the surface and made up of boiling cells. (5800K)
- Radiation Zone- A large sphere in the Sun that emits radiation and spreads it outwards, including photons. (5 million C)
- Core- The innermost layer of the sun, where fusion occurs between Hydrogen atoms and where temperatures and pressures are enormous. (15 million C)
- Corona- The Sun’s outer atmosphere, which is 500,000 miles off of the surface of the Sun and can only be seen during eclipses. (1 million K)
- 4.6 billion years old
- -How long will the Sun last in its current state?
- 5 billion years
- We rely on the Sun's energy for heat, and when the Sun is not producing as much energy as usual then the climate on Earth becomes colder. Greenhouse gases are also a major part of the Earth heating up.
- AcrimSat- Studies the Sun’s output energy with uniform sensitivity.
- Sorce- Designed to monitor the energy output of the Sun.
- 92.1% Hydrogen, 7.8% Helium
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