The Sun

The Illuminating Facts

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/solar/sun.html#c1

Composition

• 71% hydrogen • 27.1% helium • less than 2% of all other elements– Oxygen, Carbon, Nitrogen, Silicon, Magnesium,

Neon, Iron and Sulfur

– The mass of the sun is over 99.8% of the mass of the entire known solar system

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/solar/sun.html#c1

Distance

• From the sun to the Earth is 149,000,000 km.• This equals 1 AU (Astronomical Unit).

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/solar/sun.html#c1

Energy

• Almost all life on earth is maintained by energy from the sun.

• Plants synthesize sugar molecules from carbon dioxide and water.

• This energy can then be transferred to other organisms and utilized throughout a food web.

http://www.project2061.org/publications/sfaa/online/chap5.his insufficient, tm

• The amount of life possible that any environment can sustain is limited to the basic resources of energy, minerals, and water.

• When the inflow of resources desertification and depletion of minerals occurs.

http://www.project2061.org/publications/sfaa/online/chap5.his insufficient, tm

• The Entire Sun (NASA)• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLB5ma2Y

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• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK4a7kWb6Ro&feature=related