The Sun

Good Morning! Take out the supplies that you need for today. Backpacks go in the back of the room. Get a textbook off lab station A if you do not have one on your desk.

Our Sun Produces Energy The Sun is the only star in our solar system. The Sun makes up 99.9 percent of the mass of our solar system. The Sun is made up of mostly hydrogen gas. Eventually, the hydrogen turns to helium. This change makes light, warmth, and life possible.

Layers The Sun has layers just like the Earth. The Sun is divided into three interior layers: Core Radiative Zone Convection Zone

Core The center of the Sun. Made up of dense gas. Temperatures reach 15 million degrees Celsius. Fusion happens here. Fusion occurs when hydrogen particles collide and combine to form helium. Fusion produces energy.

Radiative Zone Energy produced in the core through fusion is moved by radiation. This movement occurs through this zone. Fusion will not occur here. The temperatures are still very high, just not high enough.

Convection Zone Energy is moved by convection. Convection - movement of energy though heated gas or liquid. Rising currents of hot gas move the heat energy to the Sun’s surface.

Atmosphere Just like the Earth has a layered atmosphere, so does the Sun. Sun’s atmosphere is broken into three parts: Photosphere Chromosphere Corona

Photosphere Visible light moves by radiation out into space from this layer. Takes 8 minutes for light from this layer of the Sun to reach Earth. This is called the Sun’s surface. When you see the Sun, this is the layer you see. The surface is bumpy because of the currents under it.

Chromosphere Middle layer of the Sun. Gives off a pink light.

Corona Outermost layer. Varies in shape, and extends several million kilometers, This is much hotter than the photosphere. You can only see this layer during a total eclipse.

Prominences Flares or eruptions of hot gas from the Sun’s surface. Occur near sunspots. Big loops of glowing gas that extend into the corona. They occur where magnetic fields are.

Sunspots Spots that are on the photosphere that are cooler than the surrounding areas. They appear to be dark spots. However, they are bright. They just appear dark because the rest of the layer is so bright. Sunspots move across the Sun’s surface as it rotates.

Solar Wind Electrically charged particles that flow out in all directions form the corona. Earth’s magnetic field is able to shelter us from the solar wind. The northern lights are created when this energy enters into Earth’s atmosphere.