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The Interior Structure of the Sun

Learn about the interior structure of the Sun through the phenomenon of solar granulation and convection. Discover how we study the Sun's interior using physics equations and eigenmodes, and explore its density and temperature distributions. Find out what the Sun's luminosity tells us and ponder the fuel cycle that powers it.

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The Interior Structure of the Sun

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  1. The Interior Structure of the Sun

  2. First hint: solar granulation as evidence of convection Convection=boiling Motion of hot fluid in A gravitational field demo

  3. The scale of solar granulation

  4. Movie of solar granulation http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/images/SVST_granulation.mpg Existence of granulation/convection shows That the Sun is hotter inside than in the photosphere

  5. Our knowledge of the solar interior

  6. Stellar interior slides from textbook (17.1) Gravity tends to squeeze a star into ever-smaller object. What resists this tendency?

  7. How can we know the structure of the Sun below the photosphere? • Application of the laws of physics (equations of stellar structure), find solution consistent with mass and radius of Sun • Measure “eigenmodes” of the Sun (see how fast it jiggles • Results for how the sun is put together

  8. Physical properties 1: density Units: mass/volume Grams/cc water…1 grams/cc rock… about 3 grams/cc Lead…11.3 grams/cc

  9. Physical properties 2: temperature • Units: degrees centrigrade • Temperature Kelvin: degrees C about absolute zero • Temperature of this room: 295K • Boiling point of water: 373 K • Surface temperature of Sun 5800K

  10. Distribution of density inside the Sun

  11. Distribution of temperature inside the Sun

  12. The interior of the Sun is a region of extreme physical conditions

  13. Next topic: what is the luminosity of the Sun telling us? • Luminosity = 3.847X1026 Watts • What fuel cycle could provide this? • What fuel cycle could provide this for the lifetime of the Sun?

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