The Sun
What Are The Characteristics Of The Sun?
1. Vital Statistics: A. Diameter--865000 miles B. Color--Yellow E. Period Of Rotation--about 35 days at the poles and 25 days at the equator. G. Mass-- Earth=1, Sun= 332000 J, Surface Temperature-- 12000 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to melt any known substance K. Composition-- 76% Hydrogen, 22% Helium, and about 2% heavy elements (like gas giants). How Does The Sun Create Energy? 2. Suns Energy- A. Suns Energy is generated by Nuclear Fusion -Nuclear Fusion is when the atoms lighter elements combine to form new heavier Elements. -in this process Electromagnetic Energy (visible light, UV light, X-rays, Gamma rays) is released. -on Earth, fire is also generates heat and other electromagnetic energy but fire involves the electrons of the atoms only and occurs under relatively cool conditions. -in the core of the Sun, Hydrogen is being fused to make Helium. -This process is called Hydrogen "burning". So Where Does Energy Come From? 2. Suns Energy cont. -hydrogen has an atomic Mass of 1.0079 -helium (takes 4 hydrogen's to make a helium) has an atomic mass of 4.00260 -however 1.0079 X 4 equals 4.0316 -Einsteins Law of conservation of Mass and Energy states that neither Mass nor Energy can be created or destroyed...it just changes form. |
What Are The Suns Structure
3. Suns structure- A. Hydrostatic Equilibrium - balance between the forces holding the sun together (gravity) and the forces trying to rip the sun apart (nuclear Fusion explosions). B. Core- -the innermost 10% of the sun -nuclear fusion occurs in this layer C. Radiative Zone- -85% of the internal mass of the Sun. -Energy is transported by radiation in energy waves from the super hot interior to the cooler exterior. D. Convection Zone- -Outer 15% of the suns radius -Convection causes hotter areas of gas to rise to the surface and cooler areas to sink down into lower layers. E. Photosphere- the visible surface of the sun -the layer at which the density of gas becomes visible enough for us to see-very narrow layer -sunspots, solar flares, and solar prominence's are formed in this layer. 1. Chromosphere- -pink flowing region of gas just above the photosphere. -the spikes around the sun are actually called spicules 2. Corona- -above the chromosphere -layer of extremely hot ionized glowing transparent gas. What Are The Suns Important Features 4. Suns Important Features A. Sunspots- a magnetically disturbed region of the photosphere that is cooler than its surroundings. -there seems to be about an 11 year cycle from solar minimum to maximum back to minimum. B. Solar Prominence's- -huge plumes of glowing gas that erupt from disturbed regions of sunspots. They can be observed on the edge of the sun. C. Solar Flare- -gigantic outbursts of charged particles as well as visible, uv, and x-rays created when extremely hot gas that spouts upward from the surface of the sun. |
-Define: Sunspots- is an area on the suns face that is slightly cooler and darker than the surrounding material.
Solar Active Region- a transient area of the solar atmosphere containing strong magnetic fields.
- Define and Temp: Chromosphere- an irregular layer above the photosphere made up of spicules, 11,000-36,000 F
Convective Zone- highest level of solar interior extending form radiative zone to the surface made up of boiling convection cells, 5800 K
Radiative Zone- spherical shell that emits radiation and diffuses it outwards, 9 million F
Core- region of high temperature and pressure where almost all of the suns nuclear fusion takes place, 27 million F
Corona- the suns outer atmosphere, extending more than half a million miles from its surface where temperature can reach 2 million degrees Fahrenheit.
-How old is the sun?- About 4.6 billion years old.
-How long will the Sun last in its current state?- About 5 billion more.
-Summarize the Sun's role in Climate Change- The suns energy normally waxes and wanes during an 11 year cycle during sunspot activity, increasing slightly when there are more sunspots, and decreasing when there are fewer.
-Name two Solar missions and describe their goals- Acrimsat, its data is used to improve knowledge of the suns role in the global change. Sorce, to monitor the output of energy from the sun, giving scientists context that helps them understand the Earths absorption and radiation of energy.
-What is the Sun's made of (Composition) -92.1% Hydrogen and 7.8% Helium.
Solar Active Region- a transient area of the solar atmosphere containing strong magnetic fields.
- Define and Temp: Chromosphere- an irregular layer above the photosphere made up of spicules, 11,000-36,000 F
Convective Zone- highest level of solar interior extending form radiative zone to the surface made up of boiling convection cells, 5800 K
Radiative Zone- spherical shell that emits radiation and diffuses it outwards, 9 million F
Core- region of high temperature and pressure where almost all of the suns nuclear fusion takes place, 27 million F
Corona- the suns outer atmosphere, extending more than half a million miles from its surface where temperature can reach 2 million degrees Fahrenheit.
-How old is the sun?- About 4.6 billion years old.
-How long will the Sun last in its current state?- About 5 billion more.
-Summarize the Sun's role in Climate Change- The suns energy normally waxes and wanes during an 11 year cycle during sunspot activity, increasing slightly when there are more sunspots, and decreasing when there are fewer.
-Name two Solar missions and describe their goals- Acrimsat, its data is used to improve knowledge of the suns role in the global change. Sorce, to monitor the output of energy from the sun, giving scientists context that helps them understand the Earths absorption and radiation of energy.
-What is the Sun's made of (Composition) -92.1% Hydrogen and 7.8% Helium.
Solar Energy
What Is The Electromagnetic Spectrum?
EM Radiation -described in terms of Wavelength or Frequency. -Wavelength distance between successive crest or troughs in km, m, mm, um. -Frequency wave crest/time 1 sec cycles/sec or Hertz Hz). -the longer the wavelength the lower the frequency. -frequency is inversely proportional so the higher the Frequency the shorter. EM Radiation -pass through liqiuds, solids, gases. -EM radiation can be reflected, refracted, transmitted as well as absorbed. -solar radiation arrives on Earth primarily as visible (0.4-0.7 um) and ultraviolet and is reflected and absorb and re-radiated to space as visible and Infra-red (heat) What is the Interactions with the Atmosphere -scattering -refraction -absorption Absorption -three gases: -ozone (O3): absorbs ultraviolet radiation high is the atmosphere -carbon-dioxide (CO2): absorbs mid and far infrared (13-17.5microm) in lower atmosphere -water vapor (H2O): absorbs mid-far infrared (5.5-7.0 microm)in lower atmosphere. |
How does the energy react with Earths surface?
Interactions With Surface -all EM energy reaches earths surface must be relfecte, absorbed, or transmitted. -their rate depends on: type of features, wavelength, angle of illumination (reflection, absorption, transmission) Vegetation -chlorophyll absorbs blue and red, reflects green. -the spongy mesophyll cells reflect near infrared light that is related to vegetation biomass because the intercellular air space of spongy mesophyll layer is where photosynthesis and respiration occur -vegetation moisture content absorbs mid infrared energy. Soils -soil moisture decreases reflectance -coarse soil (dry) has relatively high reflectance -surface roughness, organic matter, iron oxide affect reflactance. Water -transmission and absorption -water surface, suspended material , and bottom of water body can affect the special response. |