Chapter 17

The Sun

The Sun's Interior

Thermonuclear core - the central region of Sun where fusion takes place due to high temperatures and pressures. Radiative zone - a region inside a star where energy is transported outward by the movement of photons. Convective zone - a layer inside a star where energy is transported outward by means of heat flow through the gasses of the star (convection).

The Sun's Atmosphere

Photosphere - "sphere of light", the visible surface of the Sun Chromosphere - "sphere of color", visible during solar eclipses Corona - the Sun's outermost atmosphere. The outflow of gas in this region is called the solar wind... ...which is protons and electrons that have escaped the Sun's gravity.

The Suns Properties

The surface temperature of the Sun is 5800K and the its central temperature is 15 million Kelvin. The Sun is a G2V class star - an average star in our universe. 91.2% Hydrogen, 8.7% Helium, 0.1% Other The Sun is 109 times the radius of the Earth.

What makes the Sun shine?

Thermonuclear fusion at the Sun's core is the source of the Sun's energy. The Suns source of energy is Hydrogen fusion into Helium.

Where does this fusion reaction occur? A: Not everywhereonly at the core where temps. And pressures are high enough.

What makes the Sun shine?

fusion 4 Hydrogen Atoms 1 Helium Atom
+ 2 Positrons + 2 Neutrinos + Light

Mass loss?
4 1 hydrogen = 6.693 10-27 kg - 1 helium = 6.645 10-27 kg ---------------------------------------------Mass lost = 0.048 10-27 kg The extra mass is converted to pure energy. i.e. light.

E mc

Two atoms of hydrogen fusing together is a tiny amount of energy. However, when multiplied by billions of hydrogen atoms that are fusing together in the sun the total energy is equivalent to exploding 100 billion-megaton H-bombs per second!

Hydrostatic Equilibrium

What is the force the holds the sun together? Gravity (inward) What is the force that keeps the sun from collapsing? Pressure force (outward)

The Spectra of Radiation Emitted by Blackbodies with Temperatures of 4500 K, 6000 K, and 7500 K
Things will become bluer when they are hotter. Stars will become redder when they are cooler. If we can find the brightest part of the spectrum of a star, we can find its temperature.

Surface Features

Granules - convection features about 1000 kilometers in diameter seen on solar photosphere (bubbles on surface). Sunspot - a temporary cool region in the photosphere created by magnetic fields that trap gasses. Prominence - a flame-like protrusion seen near the limb of the Sun and extending into the solar corona.

Solar Cycle

This differential rotation twists the magnetic field lines. This causes the number of sunspots to vary over a number of years. How many years?

The Earths Magnetic Field

Auroras are caused by the solar wind.

On to the next chapter