The Sun Flashcards
(19 cards)
What is the layer of the sun that produces sun’s energy through nuclear fusion which joins hydrogen atoms to form helium atoms?
The core
The core produces:
Sun’s energy through nuclear fusion which joins hydrogen atoms to form helium atoms
What is the sun’s composition?
Core
Radiation Zone
Convection Zone
Describe the Radiation Zone:
- energy produced in sun’s core moves outward through this zone
- energy is transferred mainly to electromagnetic radiation
- can take more than 100,000 years for energy to move through this zone
Describe the Convection Zone:
- outermost layer
* convection currents (like those in the mantle) move throughout this zone
What is this zone?
- energy produced in sun’s core moves outward through this zone
- energy is transferred mainly to electromagnetic radiation
- can take more than 100,000 years for energy to move through this zone
The Radiation Zone
What is this zone?
- outermost layer
- convection currents (like those in the mantle) move throughout this zone
The Convection Zone
Name the parts of the sun’s atmosphere:
Photosphere
Chromosphere
Corona
Describe the Photosphere:
- inner layer
- gives off visible light
- when you look at an image of the sun, this is what you see
Describe the Chromosphere:
- Middle layer
* Reddish glow around photosphere seen at start and end of total eclipse of the sun
What is the name of this part of the sun’s atmosphere?
- inner layer
- gives off visible light
- when you look at an image of the sun, this is what you see
The Photosphere
What is the name of this part of the sun’s atmosphere?
- Middle layer
- Reddish glow around photosphere seen at start and end of total eclipse of the sun
The Chromosphere
Describe the Corona:
- outer layer
- looks like white halo around the sun during a total solar eclipse
- extends for millions of kms into space
- thins into streams of electronically charged particles called solar wind
What is the name of this part of the sun’s atmosphere?
- outer layer
- looks like white halo around the sun during a total solar eclipse
- extends for millions of kms into space
- thins into streams of electronically charged particles called solar wind
The Corona
Name the features of the sun:
Prominences
Solar flares
Sunspots
What are prominences?
Huge reddish loops of gas that link different parts of sunspot regions
What are solar flares?
Eruptions of large amounts of magnetic energy
What are sunspots?
Areas of gas on the sun’s surface that are cooler than the gasses around them (making them look darker)
Of what elements is the sun composed on its interior?
Hydrogen ( 1 proton) 3/4 of sun’s mass
Helium ( 2 protons ) 1/4 of sun’s mass
