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This PowerPoint discusses the Sun at a high school level. It talks about characteristics, solar activities/events, how energy is created, and many more.
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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