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THE SUN

LESSON 1:  STRUCTURE

INNER LAYERS OF THE SUN

OUTER LAYERS OF THE SUN

FOR YOUR NOTEBOOK:

Lesson 1:  The Sun's Structure 

Key Layers and Functions: 

  1. Core - 27 Million Fahrenheit | Produces energy through Fusion and Fission of atoms.

  2. Radioactive Zone - Transitional area where core energy takes 200,000 years to travel through.

  3. Convective Zone - These superheated (energy filled) atoms convect to the near surface of the sun.

  4. Photosphere - Visible (photo) portion of the sun.  Light takes 8 minutes to get to Earth from here.

  5. Chromosphere - Thin layer of hot gas that starts the surrounding Atmosphere of the sun.  The sun's magnetic field shapes it.

Surface Features:

  • Sunspots - Dark spots on the sun that appear when magnetism fluctuates.  They are colder than the surrounding areas.

  • Corona - Millions of miles thick | Sun's atmosphere | Hot gas seen during eclipses (observe video below) | It produces X-rays and UV rays which is why it's normally tough to see with the human eye.  (We see Visible Light rays)

  • Prominence - glowing hot gas that erupts outward, but then comes back to the surface.

  • Granulation - grainy appearance of the sun due to the convection currents underneath the surface

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Key Drawings:  Make yourself a diagram of the sun based on your notes and the videos.

    READING FOR UNDERSTANDING

    Now that you've drawn the Sun's Structure and added some detail, see what else you can add from this article from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory.

    VISUALIZE A PROMINENCE - LOOK AT THE LOOP TO THE LEFT.

    VISUALIZE GRANULATION - YOU CAN SEE THE LITTLE GRANULES IN THIS FOOTAGE.

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