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The Sun 24.3. A typical star powered by nuclear reactions Mostly the (fusion of hydrogen to form helium) Which releases energy. Structure of the sun. Solar Atmosphere Solar interior (core). Solar Interior . b) Radiation Zone – energy moves outward as electromagnetic radiation .
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The Sun 24.3 A typical star powered by nuclear reactions Mostly the (fusion of hydrogen to form helium) Which releases energy
Structure of the sun • Solar Atmosphere • Solar interior (core)
Solar Interior b) Radiation Zone – energy moves outward as electromagnetic radiation • Core - Where nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium occurs c) Convection Zone – Area of convection where energy is being transferred away from the core
The Sun’s interior • The sun produces energy by nuclear fusion • During nuclear fusion • 4 hydrogen(4.032 atomic mass, 4 X 1.008) are changed (converted) into 1 helium (4.003 atomic mass) • Energy is released– tiny missing mass is converted into energy according to Einstein’s equation
The Sun’s interior cont… • each second • Sun consumes ~ 600 million tons of hydrogen • Converting ~ 4 million tons into energy • As hydrogen is consumed, helium is produced forming the solar core • Core is continually growing in size • ~ 100 billion years of fuel left • The sun will remain it’s currents size ~ 10 billion years before it grows in size and eventually consumes Earth
Solar atmosphere Photosphere • Layer of gas and is the visible surface of the sun • ~ 90% hydrogen • ~ 10% helium • 500 kilometers thick • Appearance of boiling with up and down movements of gas • convection of gas transfers energy • Tiny amounts of other elements
c) Corona b) Chromosphere • Outermost layer of the solar atmosphere with low density • layer of ionized gases • produce solar winds as protons and electrons escape from the gravity of the sun • Thin red layer of hot gases under low pressure • Few thousand kilometers thick • Found above the photosphere
sunspots • Dark areas on the surface of the photosphere • Areas with temperatures less than surrounding area • # of sunspots varies in an 11 year cycle
Prominences Solar Flares • Huge cloudlike arches of gases • Explosive outbursts of sudden brightening above sunspot clusters • Release high amounts of solar energy • Ultraviolet • Radio • X-ray