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Overview of the Sun Structure - Study Guide | PSC 203, Study notes of Astronomy

South Carolina State University (SCSU)Astronomy

Prof. Jennifer Cash

Material Type: Notes; Professor: Cash; Class: Elementary Astronomy; Subject: Physical Science; University: South Carolina State University; Term: Unknown 1989;

Typology: Study notes

Pre 2010

Uploaded on 08/17/2009

koofers-user-5un 🇺🇸

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1

The Sun:

Structure

PSC 203

Overview



In this section:



What is the sun?



How is it structured?



What causes this structure?



What does the surface look like?

Structure

Core



very center of sun



energy generated through fusion



H

H-

->He

>He

Fusion



Two atoms are forced together to create a

heavier atom



Energy is released in the process



This is a nuclear process

Radiative Zone



outside of core



energy transfered out through radiation



radiation

radiation -

-> light of all wavelengths

> light of all wavelengths

Partial preview of the text

Download Overview of the Sun Structure - Study Guide | PSC 203 and more Study notes Astronomy in PDF only on Docsity!

The Sun:The Sun:

Structure Structure

PSC 203 PSC 203

Overview Overview

^ In this section:In this section:

What is the sun?What is the sun?

How is it structured?How is it structured?

What causes this structure?What causes this structure?

^ What does the surface look like?What does the surface look like?

StructureStructure

CoreCore

very center of sunvery center of sun

energy generated through fusionenergy generated through fusion

HH-->He>He

Fusion Fusion

Two atoms are forced together to create aTwo atoms are forced together to create a

heavier atomheavier atom

Energy is released in the processEnergy is released in the process

This is a nuclear processThis is a nuclear process

Radiative Zone Radiative Zone

outside of coreoutside of core

energy transfered out through radiationenergy transfered out through radiation

radiationradiation - -> light of all wavelengths> light of all wavelengths

Convection Zone Convection Zone outside of radiative zoneoutside of radiative zone energy transfered out throughenergy transfered out through convectionconvection convectionconvection - -> hot gas rises, cooler gas> hot gas rises, cooler gas fallsfalls similar to boiling pot of watersimilar to boiling pot of water Photosphere Photosphere visible surface of sun (in visiblevisible surface of sun (in visible wavelengths) wavelengths) not solid surfacenot solid surface so bright it dominates view withoutso bright it dominates view without filters filters Chromosphere Chromosphere the lower atmosphere of the sunthe lower atmosphere of the sun located above photospherelocated above photosphere this is where most activity occursthis is where most activity occurs

prominencesprominences

flaresflares

magnetic loopsmagnetic loops

Corona Corona the outer atmosphere of the sunthe outer atmosphere of the sun low density, high temperaturelow density, high temperature normally too faint to be seennormally too faint to be seen

(photosphere is too bright)(photosphere is too bright)

can be seen during solar eclipsecan be seen during solar eclipse SOHO sees by blocking out brightSOHO sees by blocking out bright photosphere photosphere Interior StructureInterior Structure What is the interior structure of the Sun?What is the interior structure of the Sun? DensityDensity

The density is highest at the centerThe density is highest at the center

Drops off rapidly toward surfaceDrops off rapidly toward surface

(^) TemperatureTemperature

The temperature is highest at the centerThe temperature is highest at the center

Drops off rapidly toward surfaceDrops off rapidly toward surface

Other wavelengths Other wavelengths

As we look in otherAs we look in other

wavelengths, wewavelengths, we

see other featuressee other features

besides just thebesides just the

photospherephotosphere

Wavelength relatedWavelength related

to temperatureto temperature

animationanimation

Sun SpotsSun Spots

Darker cooler spotsDarker cooler spots

on the photosphere on the photosphere

StillStill veryvery hothot

^ Need filter to seeNeed filter to see

them them

Features?Features?

Granulation Granulation light and dark speckling of thelight and dark speckling of the photospherephotosphere caused by convection underneathcaused by convection underneath very small scale and short timevery small scale and short time animationanimation Chromosphere Chromosphere

Overview of the Sun Structure - Study Guide | PSC 203, Study notes of Astronomy

Related documents

Partial preview of the text

Download Overview of the Sun Structure - Study Guide | PSC 203 and more Study notes Astronomy in PDF only on Docsity!

The Sun:The Sun:

Structure Structure

PSC 203 PSC 203

Overview Overview

^ In this section:In this section:

What is the sun?What is the sun?

How is it structured?How is it structured?

What causes this structure?What causes this structure?

^ What does the surface look like?What does the surface look like?

StructureStructure

CoreCore

very center of sunvery center of sun

energy generated through fusionenergy generated through fusion

HH-->He>He

Fusion Fusion

Two atoms are forced together to create aTwo atoms are forced together to create a

heavier atomheavier atom

Energy is released in the processEnergy is released in the process

This is a nuclear processThis is a nuclear process

Radiative Zone Radiative Zone

outside of coreoutside of core

energy transfered out through radiationenergy transfered out through radiation

radiationradiation - -> light of all wavelengths> light of all wavelengths

prominencesprominences

flaresflares

magnetic loopsmagnetic loops

(photosphere is too bright)(photosphere is too bright)

The density is highest at the centerThe density is highest at the center

Drops off rapidly toward surfaceDrops off rapidly toward surface

The temperature is highest at the centerThe temperature is highest at the center

Drops off rapidly toward surfaceDrops off rapidly toward surface

As we look in otherAs we look in other

wavelengths, wewavelengths, we

see other featuressee other features

besides just thebesides just the

photospherephotosphere

Wavelength relatedWavelength related

to temperatureto temperature

animationanimation

Darker cooler spotsDarker cooler spots

on the photosphere on the photosphere

StillStill veryvery hothot

^ Need filter to seeNeed filter to see

them them

Features?Features?

^ Looking in UVLooking in UV

Features?Features?

Gas extends aboveGas extends above

the photosphere the photosphere

^ Most visible on theMost visible on the

edges edges

Features?Features?

Outer edges ofOuter edges of

atmosphere atmosphere

Overwhelmed byOverwhelmed by

photosphere photosphere

Seen in eclipsesSeen in eclipses

Features?Features?