Download Solar Flares

The Solar System
The Sun
Objectives
-Describe the basic structure and composition of the sun
-Explain how the sun generates energy
-Describe the surface activity of the sun, and identify how this
activity affects Earth
Did You Know???
1) 99% of the solar systems mass is concentrated in the sun.
2) Mass: 333,060 X Earth (1,989,100 x 10¹² kg)
3) The temperature of the center of the sun is 26,999,540 oF
4) The surface temperature of the sun is about 11,000 oF
5) Diameter: 1,392,648 km
6) Composition: hydrogen and helium
7) Distance from the sun (average): 150 million km (1 AU)
–
Source - http://www.factscollection.com/Cosmic%20Space-2.html
The Sun
The Sun
The Structure of the Sun
Parts of the Sun
• Corona – The outer layer of the sun’s atmosphere
• Chromosphere – Thin area below the corona
• Photosphere – The visible part of the sun we see
from earth
• Convection Zone – Area where gasses circulate
• Radioactive Zone – Dense region below the
Convection Zone
• Core – Center of the sun where energy is
produced
The Structure of the Sun
Parts of the Sun
Is the Sun burning??????
• For many years scientists thought the sun
burned fuel to generate energy
• The Sun does NOT burn fuel
– If the sun was burning it would only last for
10,000 years before it ran out of fuel
Nuclear Fusion
• Nuclear Fusion – The process where 2 or more
nuclei join together (fuse)
– During this process, a massive amount of energy is
created
• Albert Einstein proved this with his famous
formula E = mc2
– Energy = mass . speed of light2
Nuclear Fusion
• Because of the high temperatures and
pressure of the sun, Nuclei of Hydrogen,
which would normally repel each other are
smashed together creating helium.
– This creates a massive
amount of energy
Nuclear Fusion of the Sun
Solar Activity
• Sunspots – A dark area of the photosphere of
the sun that is cooler than the surrounding
areas
– It also has a strong magnetic field
• Sunspots last about 11 years
Sunspots
Solar Activity
• Solar Flares – Regions of extremely high
temperatures
– Solar flares can extend several thousand
kilometers within minutes
– Solar flares usually occur near sunspots
• They can interrupt radio communication on Earth
Solar Flares
Solar Flares
Solar Flares
Solar Flares
Earth’s Magnetic Field
Solar Flares and Earth
Review
• The photosphere is the visible part of the sun on the earth
• The Sun is not burning, it creates energy through nuclear
fusion
• The sun’s nuclear fusion comes from changing hydrogen
into helium
• Sunspots are colder spots on the suns surface
• Solar Flares are hot spots that shoot out from the sun
• Earths magnetic field and atmosphere protect it from the
sun