1. The Sun

3. The Sun provides heat, light and radiation energy
provides energy needed by all plants and animals on Earth to survive
its gravitational pull keeps Earth in its orbit
estimated to be approximately 5 billion years old
it is made up of 75% hydrogen and 25% helium
it is estimated that it will be around for another 5 billion years before it runs out of fuel (hydrogen)
rotates faster at it equator than at its poles.
the dark spots on the Sun are called sunspots (areas of strong magnetic field)

5. Eg. hydrogen atom + hydrogen atom  helium atom
Nuclear Fusion
the process by which the Sun produces energy
in the core of the Sun, the temperature and pressure is so high that atoms join together to form a new substance
Eg. hydrogen atom + hydrogen atom  helium atom
the above reaction produces large amounts of energy (heat and light)  this travels across space to the Earth and heats it

6. Solar Flares
an eruption of hot gases from the inner atmosphere (chromosphere) of the Sun
they are very quick and last only a few minutes
they emit charged particles that can travel to the Earth and auroras can result--> these particles affect us in 2 main ways:

8. Solar Flares Solar flares affect us in 2 main ways:
produce the beautiful auroras eg. the northern and southern lights
cause problems with communication systems in regions near the South and North Poles --> electrical interference caused here due to focusing of the particles by the Earth's magnetic field

9. Ho Textbook: read 333-339 answer # 4,5,7,8 on page 340
Impact of Solar Flares News
Largest Solar Flare to Strike Earth
Solar Flares to Create History w/ Video