The Sun- Chapter 2The Sun- Chapter 2

The SunThe Sun

Facts About SunFacts About Sun

Distance from the EarthDistance from the Earth

Diameter of the SunDiameter of the Sun

92.957 million miles92.957 million miles

864,950 miles864,950 miles

AgeAge

MassMass

5 Billion Years5 Billion Years

1.99 million, trillion, 1.99 million, trillion, trillion tonstrillion tons

Surface TemperatureSurface Temperature

Core TemperatureCore Temperature

10,900 degrees F.10,900 degrees F.

97 Million degrees F.97 Million degrees F.

CompositionComposition 90% Hydrogen, most of 90% Hydrogen, most of rest is helium.rest is helium.

Sun’s ColorSun’s Color

The Sun Is Really WhiteThe Sun Is Really WhiteAlthough the sun appears yellow when Although the sun appears yellow when

seen from Earth, it’s actually white! We seen from Earth, it’s actually white! We see the sunlight after it has been filtered see the sunlight after it has been filtered through the Earth’s atmosphere. The air through the Earth’s atmosphere. The air scatters that blue component, making the scatters that blue component, making the sky appear blue and the sunlight yellow.sky appear blue and the sunlight yellow.

Sun/ Earth ComparisonSun/ Earth Comparison

You could fit the diameter of 1,000,000 You could fit the diameter of 1,000,000 earth’s inside the sun.earth’s inside the sun.

Sun’s LayersSun’s Layers

Layers of the SunLayers of the Sun

Corona LayerCorona Layer Outermost layer of sun’s Outermost layer of sun’s

atmosphereatmosphere

Gas particles up to Gas particles up to 1,700,000 degrees C.1,700,000 degrees C.

Gas particles spread far Gas particles spread far apartapart

Barely cause a spacecraft Barely cause a spacecraft to heat up.to heat up.

Corona and EarthCorona and Earth

Holes in the corona Holes in the corona attribute to the attribute to the temperature on earth.temperature on earth.

Drop in atmospheric Drop in atmospheric temperature as sun’s temperature as sun’s magnetic activity is magnetic activity is most intense.most intense.

Chromosphere LayerChromosphere Layer

ChromosphereChromosphere

Photosphere LayerPhotosphere Layer

1). Photosphere 2). Chromosphere 3). Corona1). Photosphere 2). Chromosphere 3). Corona

PhotospherePhotosphere

CChhrroommoosspphheerree LLaayyeerr

Corona-topCorona-top Chromosphere-bottomChromosphere-bottom

Chromosphere- Beneath Chromosphere- Beneath Corona. Middle layer.Corona. Middle layer.

Several 1,000 km. thickSeveral 1,000 km. thick

Gases can suddenly flare Gases can suddenly flare up and stream as far as up and stream as far as 16,000 km in space.16,000 km in space.

Avg. temp- 27,800 Avg. temp- 27,800 degrees C.degrees C.

PhotospherePhotosphere

Innermost layerInnermost layer

550 km. thick550 km. thick

Often referred to as Often referred to as “surface of sun”“surface of sun”

Temp don’t usually Temp don’t usually exceed 6,000 exceed 6,000 degrees C.degrees C.

Venus and sun’s Venus and sun’s photospherephotosphere

Core LayerCore Layer

The CoreThe Core

Temperatures begin to Temperatures begin to rise again in the core.rise again in the core.

Up to 15,000,000 Up to 15,000,000 degrees C.degrees C.

Hydrogen atoms are Hydrogen atoms are fused into helium atoms, fused into helium atoms, releasing sun’s energy as releasing sun’s energy as heat and light.heat and light.

Active SunActive Sun

ProminenceProminence

Violent StormsViolent Storms

Prominence- Violent StormProminence- Violent Storm

ProminenceProminence Violent Storm with loops Violent Storm with loops

of gasof gas

Twisted loops originate in Twisted loops originate in chromospherechromosphere

Gases bend backward Gases bend backward and shower gases back and shower gases back onto sunonto sun

Storms can grow to size Storms can grow to size of sun and then of sun and then disappear a few hours disappear a few hours later.later.

Solar FlaresSolar Flares

Another kind of storm with bright bursts of Another kind of storm with bright bursts of light on sun’s surface.light on sun’s surface.

Solar FlaresSolar Flares

Doesn’t last more than an Doesn’t last more than an hour. hour.

During flare temperature During flare temperature can be twice the can be twice the temperature of the sun’s temperature of the sun’s surfacesurface

Huge amounts of energy Huge amounts of energy released into space.released into space.

Solar WindSolar Wind

The sun flings out The sun flings out solar wind particles in solar wind particles in much the same much the same manner as a garden manner as a garden sprinkler throws out sprinkler throws out water droplets. water droplets.

Solar WindSolar Wind Continuous streak of Continuous streak of

high-energy particles high-energy particles released into space in all released into space in all directions from sun’s directions from sun’s corona.corona.

Solar flares increase wind Solar flares increase wind speed and strengthspeed and strength

Increase can interfere Increase can interfere with radio signals and with radio signals and telephone telephone communications on earthcommunications on earth

SunspotsSunspots

Dark areas on sun’s surface.Dark areas on sun’s surface.

SunspotsSunspots

Appear darker Appear darker because they’re because they’re cooler than the rest of cooler than the rest of sun’s surface.sun’s surface.

Number appearing is Number appearing is always changingalways changing

Indication that gases Indication that gases spin or rotatespin or rotate

AxisAxis

Imaginary vertical line through center of Imaginary vertical line through center of the sun.the sun.