The Sun: Our Star

1. The Sun: Our Star By: Tracy Sikes Mount Bethel Elementary- 4th gr.

2. What is our sun? • Our sun is a star located in the center of our Solar System. • It is a huge, spinning ball of hot gas. • Our sun is a medium-size star. (Mid-sequence)

3. Roles of the Sun The sun plays important roles, or does important things for us here on Earth. • It is a major source of energy. • It helps plants to grow. • It creates winds. • It is part of the water cycle. • Provides us with heat & light.

4. Energy from the Sun • Did you know that at the sun’s core, or center, nuclear fusion makes enormous amounts of energy? • Each second the sun converts about 600,000,000 tons of hydrogen into helium. • When the hydrogen and helium combine, reactions change the atoms into energy and release it as heat and light into our solar system

5. Energy from the Sun • Energy from the sun is called solar energy. Solar energy is the solar radiation that reaches the earth. • The sun has produced energy for billions of years. This type of energy from the sun can be changed into other forms such as, heat and electricity. • Once it is changed, the energy can heat water, buildings, and make electricity. • We must remember, not all the light, heat, and energy comes to us. Most goes back to space and some scatters around earth.

6. Solar Energy • Some people use solar cells or solar panels to collect the sun’s light, heat, and energy to warm their homes, swimming pools, and/or water. • Even now cars are running by solar energy.

7. The Sun and Plants • The sun helps keep plants warm. • It also helps them to carry out photosynthesis. • Photosynthesis is the process in which plants change sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into food energy, oxygen, and water.

8. Sun Spots • Temporary • Intense magnetic activity • Reduced surface temperature • Leaves the area as a dark spot • Large ones can be seen without a telescope • Found on the photosphere

9. Solar Flares • A sudden brightening over the sun’s surface. • A large energy release. • Flare ejects clouds of electrons, ions, and atoms into space. • Clouds reach Earth a day or two after the event. • Strongly influence local space weather.

10. Sun’s Position • Each day the sun appears to move in the sky. • It only seems to move as Earth rotates on its axis.