Astronomy 4.1 Energy formation and layers of the Sun - IT6230

Unit 4.1The Sun

Basic Sun InformationEnergy Formation

The planets relative to each other!

Basic Sun Information

Sun relative to the planets!



The sun relative to other stars!

Fun Sun Data*All data is approximate

Diameter 1,391,940km

Circumference 4,379,000

Mass 1.989 x 1030 kg

Temp. at Core 15,600,000 K ≈ 15599727 °C

Temp. at Surface 6400 K ≈ 6127 °C


• The Sun is an average sized star. It looks very big from earth because it is so close to us!

• Why do we study the sun?– Sun is very important to earth – without its heat and

light, we would not be able to survive!– Gives us the Seasons– Its gravity keeps us, and the other planets, in orbit– It is the nearest star to us! We study it to learn about

other stars.– It provides earth with A LOT of energy!– Changes in solar activity or surface features effect our

climate, atmosphere, weather & power transmissions!


• Sun is “relatively” stationary, at the center of our Solar System– The Milky Way revolves as a whole, but

relative to earth the sun is stationary!– It does rotate around itself. The center

latitudes take 25 days to rotate, while areas near the poles take 35 days to rotate.


• The Sun is located on one of the arms of our Milky Way Galaxy


• Sun is made of 73% Hydrogen, 25% Helium and 2 % other elements.

– Those other elements consist of 70 different elements!

• Some of these elements are…..

–Oxygen, Carbon, Nitrogen, Silicon, Magnesium, Neon, Iron, Sulfur


• The sun is surrounded by a large magnetic field, which causes most of the activity and features on the sun.– A magnetic field is the area sounding an

object that displays magnetism, or forces of attraction and repulsion

• Because of the uneven rotation of the sun, every 11 years the suns magnetic field flips.

• This means the solar cycle is 22 years, because it takes that long for the magnetic field to flip-flop back to where it began!

Citations

• "Funny Videos, Images, Jokes and Funny Stuff - Fun Mint." Planet Sizes. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 July 2012.

<http://www.funmint.com/planet-sizes-comparison-images-and-video/>.

• Smith, Gene. "University of California, San DiegoCenter for Astrophysics & Space Sciences." The Milky Way Galaxy. Universit of California, San Diego, n.d. Web. 8 Apr. 1999. <http://cass.ucsd.edu/archive/public/tutorial/MW.html>.

• "The Scientific Gamer." The Scientific Gamer. N.p., 25 May 2012. Web. 13 July 2012.

<http://scientificgamer.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/how-is-sunspot-formed/>.

Astronomy 4.1 Energy formation and layers of the Sun - IT6230

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Transcript of Astronomy 4.1 Energy formation and layers of the Sun - IT6230