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The Sun The Sun Our Nearest Star Our Nearest Star

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The Sun. Our Nearest Star. The Source of the Sun’s Energy. Isotopes of hydrogen. Fusion of light elements into heavier elements. Hydrogen converts to helium - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: The Sun

The SunThe SunOur Nearest StarOur Nearest Star

Page 2: The Sun

The Source of the Sun’s EnergyThe Source of the Sun’s Energy                  

• Fusion of light elements into heavier elements.• Hydrogen converts to helium

– Four hydrogen nuclei (each with a mass of about 4.030 mass units) join to form a helium nucleus with a mass of only about 4.003 energy units.

 

Isotopes of hydrogen

Page 3: The Sun

• The mass that seems to have been lost is converted into energy which is radiated into space.

• Estimates indicate that about 4 million metric tons of matter are converted into energy every second but because the Sun is so massive, this process can continue for another five billion years!

Page 4: The Sun

The Sun’s Structure• Photosphere

– Visible Surface– Currents at top form

granules• Chromosphere

– Inner layer of atmosphere

Corona – Thin outer atmosphere

Page 5: The Sun
Page 6: The Sun

Prominences

• Huge, red, flame-like arches of material that occur in the corona.

• Appear like flames but the light is caused by changes in the cooler, denser parts of the corona.

• Prominences may last for hours and can extend millions of kilometers about the photosphere

Huge curtains of gas >100,000 km long - Relatively cool

Page 7: The Sun
Page 8: The Sun

Sunspots

• Dark spots on photosphere

• Strong magnetic field– 1000 x stronger than

surrounding region• Cooler than

surrounding photosphere

Page 9: The Sun

Sunspots

Page 10: The Sun

SunspotsSunspotsUmbra

Penumbra

Page 11: The Sun

Solar FlaresSolar Flares• Occur near sunspots• Particles ejected from

the sun

Page 12: The Sun

Solar FlaresSolar Flares

Page 13: The Sun

Space WeatherSpace Weather• Space weather happens with a

solar storm from the Sun travels through space and impacts the Earth’s magnetosphere.

• Solar storms can affect the advanced technology we have become so dependent upon in our everyday lives.

Energy and radiation from solar flares and coronal mass ejections can:• Harm astronauts in space

• Damage sensitive electronics on orbiting spacecraft• Cause colorful auroras, often seen in the higher latitudes• Create blackouts on Earth when they cause surges in power grids.

Page 14: The Sun

Protection from Earth’s Magnetic FieldProtection from Earth’s Magnetic Field

Page 15: The Sun

Solar WindSolar Wind

• Stream of charged particles emitted from the Sun’s outer atmosphere.– Mostly protons and

electrons• Hydrogen atom

• Escape due to high kinetic energy and high temperature of the corona

Page 16: The Sun

Solar StormSolar Storm• High levels of radiation occur due to:

– Solar Flares:  Sudden, powerful bursts of magnetic energy that has built up in the Sun's atmosphere.

• They are associated with sunspots • Energy released is equivalent to 10’s of millions of

hydrogen bombs.– Coronal Mass Ejections: Explosions in which

billions of charged particles are blasted into space at high speed.

Page 17: The Sun

Geomagnetic StormGeomagnetic Storm

•  A temporary disturbance of the Earth's magnetosphere

• Associated with solar coronal mass ejections, coronal holes, or solar flare– Caused by a solar wind shock wave which

typically strikes the Earth's magnetic field 24 to 36 hours after the event.

Page 18: The Sun

Radio BlackoutsRadio Blackouts

• Solar events– High energy electromagnetic radiation (e.g., x-

rays– Ions

• Affects the ionosphere– Impacts radio communications– Satellites