Global Science/Chem Class!:): Exam: The Sun

The sun is the center of our solar system. It is a star composed mainly of hydrogen and helium. It’s almost perfectly round and consists of hot plasma and magnetic fields. (1) Its diameter is about 109 times the size of Earth’s diameter. Sun spots are places on the sun that appear darker than its surrounding surface. These darker spots have lower temperatures than the rest of the surrounding surface. “Sunspots are regions of intense magnetic activity where convection is inhibited by strong magnetic fields, reducing energy transport from the hot interior to the surface.” (1) Sunspots do not always stay at the same spot on the sun; they go through an 11 year cycle called the sunspot cycle. At the start of this cycle few spots are visible, but as it continues more sunspots appear and they move closer and closer to the equator. (1)

A solar flare is described as a sudden, bright, and intense brightening of the sun. Solar flares happen when a buildup of energy occurs and is released. Mass amounts of radiation and energy are released, equivalent to millions of hydrogen bombs being released at once. (2) Solar winds are caused by the suns corona and go in every direction at about a million miles per hour. This is caused because the suns corona is so hot that gravity can’t hold it. (2)

Auroras occur because of electrical discharges from the sun. It charges particles in our upper atmosphere and they release light. (2) Size, shape, and color of these auroras can vary. During space weather storms many electrical currents are going through space and these can affect our radios, satellites, and power grids. (2) It disturbs our magnetic field and communication is interrupted.

Nuclear fusion is an atomic reaction that fuels stars. (3) The cores of stars are so hot that atoms are moving around and collide with each other. This results in the releasing of a lot of energy, which is why the star appears bright. Nucleosynthesis is the creation of new elements by nuclear reactions. When starts hydrogen becomes depleted they can convert helium to oxygen and carbon. After their helium becomes depleted they can convert it into heavier elements such as neon and sodium.