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Our Sun & Nuclear Fusion (Chapter 7)
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Student Learning Objectives Compare properties of the Earth and Sun Describe the layers of the Sun and how energy is transported through each layer Analyze sunspots and solar activity.
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What do we know about the Sun? 4 x 10 26 Watts 100 times hotter than Earth’s hottest summer day 300,000 times more mass than Earth 109 Earth diameters 1,300,000 Earth volumes SunEarth Surface Temperature9,944 °F57.2 °F Mass1.988 x 10 30 kg5.976 x 10 24 kg Diameter1,392,000 km12,756 km Density1.5 g/cm 3 5.5 g/cm 3
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Practice The Sun is a low mass star. How does this star compare and contrast with our Earth?
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Energy Transfer Energy is transported from hot to cold, through the layers of a star, by two methods. Radiation (light) Convection (boiling)
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What are the layers of the Sun? The Sun has 6 distinctive layers.
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The Layers 1.Core: energy production 2.Radiative Zone: photons 3.Convective Zone: boiling fluid 4.Photosphere: photons leave star “Surface” of the Sun. Why? Limb Darkening Granulation o bubbles size of Texas o last 10-20 minutes
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5.Chromosphere: thin jets of gas called spicules Transition Zone Temperature spikes 6.Corona: solar wind protons, electrons, & other small particles
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Corona
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Density and temperature change in the layers.
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Practice 1) Why does the corona escape the Sun? 2) How do astronomers know the layers of the Sun? Hint: How do we know about the interior of the Earth?
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What mechanism is responsible for sunspots? A sunspot is a relatively cooler area on the surface of the Sun. T = 4,240 Kelvin (8,155 ○ F) Change in size Last days or months Appear in pairs and groups
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Image Credit: APOD
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Sunspots form where energy is disrupted by magnetic fields. Differential rotations cause "kinks" in the magnetic field lines. Babcock Model
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Practice 1)A 60 Watt light bulb is 250 ○ F. Would an 8,155 ○ F sunspot be bright if it was isolated from the surrounding photosphere? 2)Challenge: How would the energies compare for the 60 Watt Light Bulb and a sunspot? E = T 4
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Different levels in the Sun rotate with different speeds and the surface rotates at different speeds. Equator = 25 days Poles = 27.8 days The sunspot cycle peaks every 11 years. Full Cycle = 22 years http://spaceweather.com/
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Maunder Minimum There is an unexplained absence of solar activity recorded.
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The Zeeman Effect shows strength of magnetic field. Atom in magnetic field Atomic energy levels are split into sublevels Degree of splitting shows strength
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What are the features that indicate solar activity? All activity observed on the surface of the Sun, and in the solar atmosphere, is caused by the Sun’s magnetic field. Prominence
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FilamentFlare
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Practice Does solar activity affect us on Earth?
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(2014)
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How do stars produce photons? The definition of a star is an object that has a core density great enough to sustain nuclear fusion. Proton–Proton Chain 4 H He + energy
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1 Second in Our Sun About 10 38 reactions take place 600 billion kg of hydrogen is converted into helium 4 billion kg of mass becomes energy
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Practice Our star will last another 5-6 billion years. How is this possible with so much mass loss each second?
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