The Sun powerpoint

Our Star: The Sun

Nick Pineo 9-25-11

Astonomy 9-12th gradehttp://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/

photos/sun-gallery/#

Characteristics

• Milky Way/Center of Solar System

• Hydrogen and Helium

• Life – Middle Aged – 5/10 years

Layers

• Interior

• Photosphere

• Chromosphere

• Corona

Photosphere

• Radiates most of the sunlight we see – “surface”

• Granules – small, bright markings – about the size of texas.

Chromosphere

• Above photosphere• Thin layer of hot gases• Viewed as a red rim around sun• Spicules – located on top of the chromosphere

– flaming structures. (described as trees sticking out)

Corona

• Outer part of sun (atmosphere)

• Looks like a crown of bright light glowing

• Solar wind – particles(ionized gases) escaping the corona at high speeds.

• Ionized referes to the gaining or losing of electrons.

Solar Activities

• Sunspots

• Prominences

• Solar Flares

Sunspots

• Dark spots

• Small (1000 miles) to many times the size of Earth

Prominences

• Cloudlike structures

• Large amount of gases

• Looks like a huge flame coming out of the Sun

Solar Flares

• Brief outbursts of energy

• Brightening of an area of the Sun above the sunspots.

Structure of Sun

http://whyfiles.org/115sun/3.html

Interior

• Source of energy – nuclear fusion – process to fuse particles together to form heavier particles. Hydrogen – Helium

• Proton-Proton Chain is created through nuclear fusion. Chain reaction converts 4 hydrogen protons into the nucleus of a helium atom. Some mass is converted to energy.

P-P Chain Cont.

• When hydrogen is converted to helium, this process – Hydrogen burning.

• The energy that is released from the P-P chain is transmitted through layers of the sun.

What Does the Sun do for Earth?

• Energy – light – Food – life• Events – Good/Bad• Auroras• Solar Eclipses• Disruption of Radio/Satellite communications

Auroras• Effects from strong solar flares – lights up

Earth’s atmosphere• Northern/Southern lights – North/South Pole• Varies in shapes, sizes, and colorsAurora Borealis Aurora Australis

http://geology.com/nasa/aurora-borealis.shtml

http://www.itsnature.org/travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/p6133sv.jpg

Solar Eclipse

• Eclipse of the sun• Alignment between Earth-Moon-Sun• New Moon Phase – casts dark shadow on

Earth

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse

Disruption of Radio/Satellite Communications

• Solar flares – large outburst of particles can reach Earth – affecting radio and satellite communications.

• Very rare events

Summary

• Sun has 4 major layers• Solar activities may include: prominences,

sunspots, and solar flares• Nuclear fusion and P-P chain• Events – auroras, solar eclipses, and disruption

in radio or satellite communications due to solar flares

References

• http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Earth_HSCE_168206_7.pdf

• Twelfth Edition Earth Science, Edward J. Tarbuck and Frederick K. Lutgens