Chapter 11 Flashcards
(50 cards)
Life on Earth depends on what from the Sun?
-Life on Earth depends on the light, heat, and energy from the Sun
True of False: The Sun is farthest star to Earth
False. It is the closest star to Eart
Why does the Sun Shine?
- Because it is a large ball of burning coal or wood
- Gravitational Contradiction
- materials contracts and energy converts into heat and radiation (light)
The core of the Sun is?
Hotter and denser than the surface
From what was the Sun born?
From the gravitational collapse of the Solar Nebula
What was the solar nebula composed of?
Hydrogen and Helium
What does Nuclear Fusion do?
Nuclear Fusion at the Sun’s core liberates energy and light that generates pressure that expands the Sun
What is inside the Sun’s Interior?
- Core
- Radiation Zone
- Convection Zone
- Photosphere
- Chromosphere
- Corona
- Solar Wind
What is the core?
15 million K, nuclear fusion occurs (energy production)
What is the Radiation Zone?
10 million K, energy is transported outward through radiation (light)
What is the Convention Zone?
Temperature decreasing outwards down to 5,800 K, energy is transported outward by movement of matter
What does the Core, Radiation and Convection zone have in common?
Temperature, density, and pressure decrease outwards
What is the Photosphere?
5,800 K emits mostly visible light. This is the innermost solar layer that we can see
What is the Chromosphere?
10,000 K emits most of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation
What is the corona?
1 million K emits most of the Sun’s X-Rays
What is the Solar Wind?
Ionized particles (plasma) moving at 450 km/s and extends throughout the solar system
What is Fission?
A large atom, such as uranium and plutonium, splits into 2 smaller atoms
What is Fusion?
2 small atoms combine into a single larger atom
What happens to nuclei at low speeds?
At low speeds, electromagnetic repulsion prevents the collision of nuclei. Two nuclei repel each other through electromagnetic forces (both have positive charge)
What happens to nuclei at high speeds?
At high speeds, nuclei come close enough for strong force to bind them together. The electromagnetic repulsion is overcome, and the nuclei come close enough together for the strong force to bind them.
How do we know what goes on under the surface of the Sun?
1) Astronomers create mathematical models that use the laws of physics, the Sun’s observed composition and mass, and computers to predict internal conditions.
2) By measuring Doppler Shifts, we observe vibrations of the Sun’s surface that are created deep within the Sun.
What are the 3 steps of Nuclear Fusion?
1) 4 Hydrogen nuclei -> 1 Helium nuclei
2) energy is released in form of radiation (gamma rays)
3) 2 neutrinos are produced
What is solar thermostat?
Results the balance between pressure and gravity
What do stable conditions of the sun maintain?
It maintains a steady energy production at the core
