1. The Solar System
The Sun

2. Objectives Describe the basic structure and composition of the sun
Explain how the sun generates energy
Describe the surface activity of the sun, and identify how this activity affects Earth

3. Did You Know???
1) 99% of the solar systems mass is concentrated in the sun.
2) Mass: 333,060 X Earth (1,989,100 x 10¹² kg)
3) The temperature of the center of the sun is 26,999,540 oF
4) The surface temperature of the sun is about 11,000 oF
5) Diameter: 1,392,648 km
6) Composition: hydrogen and helium
7) Distance from the sun (average): 150 million km (1 AU)
Source -

4. The Sun

5. The Sun

6. The Structure of the Sun

7. Parts of the Sun Corona – The outer layer of the sun’s atmosphere
Chromosphere – Thin area below the corona
Photosphere – The visible part of the sun we see from earth
Convection Zone – Area where gasses circulate
Radioactive Zone – Dense region below the Convection Zone
Core – Center of the sun where energy is produced

8. The Structure of the Sun

9. Parts of the Sun

10. Is the Sun burning??????
For many years scientists thought the sun burned fuel to generate energy
The Sun does NOT burn fuel
If the sun was burning it would only last for 10,000 years before it ran out of fuel

11. Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear Fusion – The process where 2 or more nuclei join together (fuse)
During this process, a massive amount of energy is created 
Albert Einstein proved this with his famous formula E = mc2
Energy = mass . speed of light2

12. Nuclear Fusion
Because of the high temperatures and pressure of the sun, Nuclei of Hydrogen, which would normally repel each other are smashed together creating helium.
This creates a massive
amount of energy

13. Nuclear Fusion of the Sun

14. Solar Activity
Sunspots – A dark area of the photosphere of the sun that is cooler than the surrounding areas
It also has a strong magnetic field
Sunspots last about 11 years

15. Sunspots

16. Solar Activity Solar Flares – Regions of extremely high temperatures
Solar flares can extend several thousand kilometers within minutes
Solar flares usually occur near sunspots
They can interrupt radio communication on Earth

17. Solar Flares

18. Solar Flares

19. Solar Flares

20. Solar Flares

22. Earth’s Magnetic Field

23. Solar Flares and Earth

24. Review The photosphere is the visible part of the sun on the earth
The Sun is not burning, it creates energy through nuclear fusion
The sun’s nuclear fusion comes from changing hydrogen into helium
Sunspots are colder spots on the suns surface
Solar Flares are hot spots that shoot out from the sun
Earths magnetic field and atmosphere protect it from the sun