The Sun

Learning goals We are learning to identify the different layers of the sun. We are learning to determine the impacts of the sun on the earth.

The Sun Video: The Sun 101

The Structure of the Sun

The Core the hottest part of the sun high temperatures and pressure cause particles to collide and combine together = nuclear fusion nuclear fusion releases massive amounts of energy that moves outward through the next layers

The Radiative Zone the first layer that surrounds the core light takes at least 100 000 yrs to pass up and through it

The Convective Zone hotter substances (plasma) rise and cooler substances fall

The Photosphere (Sun’s surface) light and other types of radiation escape boundary between inside and outside of Sun lowest temp of all layers

Solar Flares gases and charged particles expelled above an active sunspot

Solar Prominences low-energy gas eruptions from the Sun’s surface

Chromosphere the first layer of the Sun’s atmosphere 60 000°C hotter than the photosphere eclipse

The Corona thin outer layer of the solar atmosphere gleaming white, halo-like

Sun Spots dark spots appearing on the suns surface (photosphere) that are cooler than the area around them appear to move as the sun rotates

The Sun’s Effect: EM Radiation the Sun emits radiation (energy) across most of the electromagnetic spectrum creates our weather and climate provides energy to sustain life

The Sun’s Effect on Earth: Solar Winds Sun’s gases/particles constantly in motion and rotating at different speeds resulting in solar winds can cause auroras, communication disruptions and radiation hazards

The Auroras Earth is surrounded by an atmosphere and a magnetic field (strongest at poles) solar winds travelling toward the Earth influenced by the Earth’s magnetic field and follow magnetic lines

The Auroras when solar winds reach the poles they collide with particles in the atmosphere produces a display of colors in the night sky called aurora borealis (or northern lights)

Communication Disruptions particles ejected from the Sun can damage information stored on satellites solar radiation and storms can increase temperature and density of Earth’s upper atmosphere which can slow down or alter the path of satellites

Radiation Hazards charged particles from solar storms can expose people at high altitudes to high a dose of radiation i.e. travelling in a plane or astronauts

Learning goals We are learning to identify the different layers of the sun. We are learning to determine the impacts of the sun on the earth.

Homework Page 312 questions 2, 4, 5, 7-9