Transcript Our Sun
Our Sun 93 million miles (150 million kilometers) from Earth 99.8% of the mass of our solar system Vocabulary words 1. Corona – The outer layer of sun’s atmosphere. 2. Sunspot – A dark area of gas on the sun’s surface that is cooler than surrounding gases. 3. Prominence – A huge, reddish loop of gas that protrudes from the sun’s surface, linking part of sunspot regions. 4. Solar Flare – An eruption of gas from the sun’s surface that occurs when the loops in sunspot regions suddenly connect. 5. Solar Wind – A stream of electrically charged particles that emanates from the sun’s corona. Corona http://www.space.com/21830-monster-sun-prominence-and-strong-flare-kick-off-julyvideo.html Events on the Sun • Sunspots • Prominences • Solar flares http://www.pond5.com/stock-footage/80035/solarflares-17-2997.html Sunspots HD picture captured by the largest telescope https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML-zSagzOzw Prominences Solar Flares Solar Wind http://www.sciencechannel.com/video-topics/space-videos/the-planets-the-sunsolar-wind.htm The Sun’s Energy • The core of the sun acts like a furnace. • The sun’s energy comes from nuclear fusion. • Nuclear fusion- Hydrogen atoms join together to form helium atoms at extremely high temperatures. • Sun’s core- 15 million degrees Celsius • Conservation of Mass - The total mass of the helium atoms produces is slightly less than the total mass of the hydrogen atoms. The difference is the amount of heat and light energy given off by the sun. Stop and Think - Hydrogen and helium are the most abundant elements in the universe. Why? (ans. on page 36 of your INB) The Sun’s Atmosphere 3 layers: 1) Photosphere : • Inner layer of the sun’s atmosphere • the part of the sun we see when we look at the sun 2) Chromosphere : • Middle layer • Reddish glow just around the photosphere seen during a solar eclipse 3) Corona : means “crown” • Outer layer that looks like a halo ( seen during a complete solar eclipse) • Gives off solar wind which cause the aurora borealis at the North and South Poles. Answer on these questions on page 36 of your INB Match the following pictures to the solar event they represent: 1. 2. 3. 4. explosions on the sun’s surface finger like sun’s surface projections electrically charged particles leaving the suns’ corona dark areas on sun’s surface A B C D 5. Which part of the sun acts as it’s furnace? 6. Where does the sun’s energy come from? 7. What are the 2 most abundant elements in the universe? 8. Which layer of the sun is what we see from Earth? 9. Which layer of the sun’s atmosphere is called it’s crown or halo? 10. Which layer of the sun’s atmosphere provides a reddish color during a solar eclipse?