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Ch. 26.1: Our Sun!

Ch. 26.1: Our Sun!. Size. 1,000,000 Earths could fit inside contains 99% of the solar system’s mass Diameter of 1,400,000 km If the sun were the size of a bottle cap, the largest known star would be the size of a football field!. Distance.

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Ch. 26.1: Our Sun!

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  1. Ch. 26.1: Our Sun!

  2. Size • 1,000,000 Earths could fit inside • contains 99% of the solar system’s mass • Diameter of 1,400,000 km • If the sun were the size of a bottle cap, the largest known star would be the size of a football field!

  3. Distance • 150,000,000 km away from Earth (average) = 1 Astronomical Unit (AU) • 93,000,000 miles • Light, traveling at 300,000 km/s takes 8.5 minutes to reach Earth

  4. Energy • Fusion of hydrogen (H2) into helium (He) gives sun it’s energy • 4 H2 atoms = 1 He atom + energy • Intense heat and pressure causes these atoms to exist in the form of plasma

  5. Layers • The sun’s temperature decreases from core to surface • From the surface of the sun to the outer atmosphere, the temperature increases • The sun’s layers are heated by convection

  6. Layers (cont.) Sun Sun’s Atmosphere

  7. Photosphere (layer 4) • surface of the sun • contains features such as sunspots and granules

  8. Granules • bubbles of hot gas visible on the surface of the sun • 1,000 km in diameter • last about 20 minutes

  9. Sunspots • dark spots on surface of sun • cooler than surrounding surface • result from complications in sun’s magnetic field • sunspots go from a min to a max and back to min in 11 year cycles

  10. Solar Flares • sudden bursts of energy from the photosphere through the outer atmosphere • rise up suddenly in areas of sunspot activity • number of solar flares increases with the number of sunspots

  11. Chromosphere (layer 5) • inner layer of atmosphere • thousands of km’s off of surface • contain solar prominences  dense clouds of plasma suspended over surface by magnetic fields

  12. Corona (layer 6) • thin outer atmosphere • 1,000,000 times less bright than photosphere • only visible during solar eclipse • responsible for solar wind

  13. Solar Wind • constant stream of electrically charged particles from corona • fly in all directions from sun at 450 km/s • takes 2-3 days to reach Earth • solar flares & wind create auroras on Earth • particles interact with Earth’s magnetic field • Northern and Southern lights

  14. Magnetic Storms • occur when solar flares are added to constant solar wind • auroras may be visible at mid-latitudes • electrical surges may disrupt cell phone service & damage electrical appliances

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