2. Core- 15 million °K- where nuclear fusion of hydrogen to helium takes place. May take the energy many years to reach the surface. • Radiation Zone- 5-10 million °K- gets name because energy is carried through the zone by electromagnetic radiation in the form of packets of energy called photons. • Convection Zone- 2 million °K- hot blobs of plasma rise, release energy and cool. The plasma then drops down to heat again. This sets up convection currents. This zone extends to the surface of the sun.

3. 4. Corona- 80,000 to 3 million °K – Upper layer of the Sun’s atmosphere. It can be seen as a fuzzy area around the Sun during a solar eclipse. 5. Prominence- Clouds of gases will rise and align themselves along the magnetic lines from sunspot pairs forming giant arches of gas. Can last two to three months and can extend 50000 km or more above the Sun’s surface. They can erupt for a few minutes to months. 6. Sunspot- 4,500 °K- Cooler areas on the sun’s surface and associated with strong local magnetic activity. Tend to have an 11 year cycle of activity

4. 7. Chromosphere- 4,300 to 50,000 °K- Lower layer of Sun’s atmosphere that is directly above the surface. Magnetic fields in the atmosphere speed up the plasma as energy is transferred to it. 8. Granulation- Lumps on the surface caused by convection of plasma. Each one is several hundred to a thousand km across. The centers are lighter and hotter while the edges are darker and cooler.

5. 9. Solar Flares- caused by sudden magnetic field changes. Release of gas, electrons, visible light, ultraviolet light and x-rays. Interact with the magnetic fields at the poles to produce auroras. Can disrupt communication, satellites and power grids. 10. Photosphere- 5,800 °K- Surface of the sun. Below this layer, photons bounce too much to be seen. They escape the surface as heat and light.