The Sun

The Sun’s Interior

The sun accounts for 99.8% of the solar systems total mass

composed of only gas 3/4 hyseofwn, 1/4 helium

The Core

the sun’s energy comes from nuclear fusion

nuclear fusion - hydrogen atoms join together to form helium

reaches about 15 million degrees celcius/27 million degrees farenheight/15 million kelvin

The Radiation Zone

a region of very tightly packed gas where energy is transferred mainly in the form of electromagnetic radiation

it is so dense that it can take more than 100,000 years for energy to move through it

The Convection Zone

outermost layer of the interior

hotter gas rises, cooler gas sinks forming loops called convection currents

The Sun’s Atmosphere

The Photosphere

sphere that gives off visible light

The Chromosphere

“color sphere”- appears red during solar eclipses

The Corona

visible during solar eclipses

outermost layer of the atmosphere, extends into space for millions of kilometers

Features on the Sun

Sunspots

areas of gas that are cooler than the gasses around them, appear dark

Prominences

huge loops of gas

often link different parts of sunspot regions

Solar Flares

eruptions of gas caused by the release of large amounts of magnetic energy when loops of in sunspots regions suddenly connect

Solar Wind

solar wind particles cna sometimes enter earth’s atmosphere near the north and south poles causing auroras

can also cause magnetic storms that disrupt radio, phone, and tv signals

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