The Sun
This large ball of gases is the in the center of our Solar System without it we would be frozen in complete darkness. Their would be no sunny days or any warmth in general .The sun lights up our whole world and is the center object that all the planets orbit around.
The Sun is made up of many different layers that combined make the large hot ball of gas that we see everyday up in the sky.
Starting off in the center we have the core:
-The core is the source of the sun's energy and keeps the energy output consistent.
-Filled with compound hydrogen atoms
-Over 4 billion degrees celcius
-Protons and neutrons bounce around creating plasma, nuclear reactions and energy
-High temperature and density creates fusion
The next layer is the Radiation Layer:
-It is 14 million degrees celcius
-It takes 170,000 years to move energy from the core to this layer by passing energy
from one molecule to another randomly
Next up in the Convection Layer:
-The boiling zone
-2 million degrees kelvin
-Hot gases bubble up to the surface causing the rising and falling granules
-Hot energy rises and cooling energy sinks to the bottom
-Takes just over a week for hot material to move through this layer
The next layer of the Sun is the Photo sphere:
-Apparent surface of the Sun
-Completely made of gas
-Not a solid surface
-Gas becomes dense and we can't see it
Next is the Chromosphere:
-Red appearance
-Sun flares
-2000km thick
-Ranges from 6000-50000 degrees
-Hydrogen layer
-Jaggered layers that look like flames
The final layer is the Corona Layer
-Only seen when the sun is blocked eg.solar eclipse
-Very thin layer
-Stretches into space
-32,000km-40000km flames reach
-Flames last between a few days to weeks
Starting off in the center we have the core:
-The core is the source of the sun's energy and keeps the energy output consistent.
-Filled with compound hydrogen atoms
-Over 4 billion degrees celcius
-Protons and neutrons bounce around creating plasma, nuclear reactions and energy
-High temperature and density creates fusion
The next layer is the Radiation Layer:
-It is 14 million degrees celcius
-It takes 170,000 years to move energy from the core to this layer by passing energy
from one molecule to another randomly
Next up in the Convection Layer:
-The boiling zone
-2 million degrees kelvin
-Hot gases bubble up to the surface causing the rising and falling granules
-Hot energy rises and cooling energy sinks to the bottom
-Takes just over a week for hot material to move through this layer
The next layer of the Sun is the Photo sphere:
-Apparent surface of the Sun
-Completely made of gas
-Not a solid surface
-Gas becomes dense and we can't see it
Next is the Chromosphere:
-Red appearance
-Sun flares
-2000km thick
-Ranges from 6000-50000 degrees
-Hydrogen layer
-Jaggered layers that look like flames
The final layer is the Corona Layer
-Only seen when the sun is blocked eg.solar eclipse
-Very thin layer
-Stretches into space
-32,000km-40000km flames reach
-Flames last between a few days to weeks
Sunspots
From the earth the sun looks like a smooth ball of light without any imperfections. This is not actually the case. On the photosphere layer of the Sun, you can sometimes see a 'sunspot'. They appear as dark spots on the suns surface due to them being cooling then the surrounding areas. They are only temporary and can last a few hours to several months they then return to the same colour and temperature as the surrounding regions. On rare occasions a sunspot can been seen by us during a sun rise or sun set. Because of the sun spots it makes it impossible for the sun to shine at its full potential. Sunspots have an effect on Earth as when they are active a solar wind can be formed.
Solar Flares
A solar flar is a large burst of energy which causes a swift explosion on the surface of the sun. They can last from minutes to hours. Solar flares occure when the magnetical fields in the sun reconnect. They are common in the 'active' regions of the sun. The strength of the flare is what classifies it. With a system that is similar to the richter scale. It ranges from b,c,m,x. The weakest is B with X being the strongest. The earth can be affected by solar flares as they create radation storms and global transmition.
Reference:
Mrs Hackney, Class Notes. 2012, Mercy College Mackay
Solar Flare, What is a solar flare?, 5.9.2012,http://hesperia.gsfc.nasa.gov/sftheory/flare.htmWikipedia, The Electromagnetic Spectrum, 5.9.2012,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_spectrum
Solar Flare, What is a solar flare?, 5.9.2012,http://hesperia.gsfc.nasa.gov/sftheory/flare.htmWikipedia, The Electromagnetic Spectrum, 5.9.2012,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_spectrum