10.2 The Solar Interior

Question 1

Solar layers in order of location (highest to lowest)

Answer 1

-Photosphere
-Convective zone
-Radiative zone
-Core

Question 2

Solar layers in order of temperature (hottest to coldest)

Answer 2

-Core
-Radiative zone
-Convective Zone
-Photosphere

Question 3

Solar core

Answer 3

Hot enough for nuclear fusion to occur: producing energy

Question 4

Radiative zone

Answer 4

Energy travels as constantly absorbed and re-emitted photons of radiation to the convective zone

Question 5

Convective zone

Answer 5

Transfers energy to the photosphere through convection currents of plasma

Question 6

Photosphere

Answer 6

Radiates the energy into space as light

Question 7

Proton-proton-cycle

Answer 7

The cycle by which the sun’s core fuses protons into helium nuclei

Question 8

Proton-proton-cycle visualisation

Answer 8

1/1H + 1/1H -> 2/1H + positron + neutrino
2/1H + 1/1H -> 3/2He
3/2He + 3/2He -> 4/2 He + 1/1H + 1/1H

Question 9

How is energy produced in the proton-proton-cycle

Answer 9

At each stage, when mass is lost it is converted into energy