-science notebook

Materials

• describe the layers of the Sun

• describe the surface features of the Sun

What we will learn...

Lesson Objectives

• ​Essential for life on Earth

• Provides light for plants to grow.

• Provides heat for life to survive.

• Central in the solar system.

• Composed of several layers

• Made primarily of hydrogen and helium.

Sun Basics

• ​spacecraft that has provided details about the sun.

• Been collecting data for 30 years.

• Has been able to capture images of the sun.

The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)

• Made of plasma (similar to gas).

• 3 main layers

  • the core

  • radiative zone

  • convection zone

• Beyond convection zone is the Sun's atmosphere.

• Let's check out each layer.

The Sun's Layers

• The intense heat comes from the core.

• Hydrogen atoms smash together and forms helium which causes a reaction that produces heat and energy.

• Has been going on for nearly 4.6 billion years.

The Core

• The second section from the middle (core).

• Energy from the core moves outward through this section.

The Radiative Zone

• The third section from the middle (core).

• This section is in motion.

• The deeper hotter zones rise up.

• The cool outer plasma sinks into the radiative zone.

The Convection Zone

• The sun does not have a solid surface like Earth.

• Made of thin layers of gasses.

• Surrounds the three main layers.

• 3 main layers:

  • photosphere

  • chromosphere

  • corona

• Let's explore these three layers.

The Sun's Atmosphere

• First layer

• The sun's surface

• Not solid

• It is the part we see everyday.

• This layer is often illustrated as a solid yellow.

• If viewed through a telescope it is covered in granules.

• The granules are caused by temperature differences.

Photosphere

• Located above the photosphere

• Has fast moving gas particles.

• These gas particles make the outer part of this layer hotter than the lower part.

• Temps range from 7,640-720,000 degrees F.

Chromosphere

• Outer layer

• Very thin

• Stretches out far into space

• Usually invisible to us except during a solar eclipse when the moon covers the center of the sun.

Corona

• Has a magnetic field

• The magnetic field interacts with the gases and plasma making different features on the surface.

• These features are

  • sunspots

  • solar flares

  • solar wind

• Let's explore these features more

Surface Features

• Dark marks on the sun

• Cooler parts of the sun

• Usually last for weeks and then will fade away.

Sunspots

• Sudden eruption on the surface.

• Very violent

• Release high amounts of energy.

Solar Flares

• Constantly coming from the sun.

• Stream of charged particles.

• The Earth's magnetic field protects us from these particles.

• Solar winds can cause northern and southern lights in the sky.

• The solar wind will cause different colors in the sky.

Solar Wind

• Could damage your eyes

• Radiation from the sun can lead to long term damage.

• This can make it hard to study the sun.

• Let's check out a video for more information on this.

Why you should not look at the sun

Review

What did we learn...

• the layers of the Sun and the source of the Sun's heat and energy;

• the layers of the Sun's atmosphere and why the photosphere is considered the Sun's surface;

• features that appear on the Sun's surface; and

• the dangers of looking at the Sun and ways to safely observe it.