sun Flashcards
1/30/24
movement of an object in a circular/elliptical course around another object
revolution
circular motion of an object around its center
rotation
unit of measurement
distance from the center of the earth to the center of the sun
astronomical unit
luminous spheroid of plasma held together by self-gravity
star
center of the solar system; massive hot ball of plasma inflated by energy
sun
shows the position of the sun at the same time of so many days
analemma
converts hydrogen into helium by reactions with carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen
thermonuclear fusion
balance between inward gravity force and outward hot gas
hydrostatic equilibrium
cooler and darker spots on the suns surface
sunspots
suns equator rotates faster than the poles of the sun
differential rotation
convection from inside the sun causes the photosphere to be divided into cells
granules
dense clouds of material above syns surface by magnetic loops
solar prominences
large explosions on the surface of the sun
solar flares
huge bubbles of gas threaded with magnetic field lines
Coronal Mass Ejections
continuous flow of charged particles from the sun in every direction
solar wind
layer where hydrogen fusion occurs
core
layer where energy from the core radiates outward to a distance of 0.7
radiative zone
layer where responsible for energy transport to the suns outer layers
convection zone
layer where sun emits most of its visible light
photosphere
layer where its hotter, less dense gas and has a reddish color
chromosphere
layer where gases are hot but have the lowest density
corona
What are the 3 most common elements in the sun?
Hydrogen
Helium
Magnesium
Why is the sun’s core the perfect environment for fusion to occur
The very high temperature and pressure in the sun’s core allows the nuclear reaction fusion to occur.
What happens during a solar maximum?
large numbers of sunspots appear, and the solar irradiance output grows by about 0.07%.
What happens during a solar minimum?
the Sun has the least sunspots
How long is the cycle from one solar minimum to another?
about 11 years
Do sunspots move?
Yes, they move in the direction of its magnetic field lines
Are sunspots hotter or cooler than the surrounding surface of the sun?
cooler
Does the sun output more or less energy during a period of maximum number of sunspots vs minimum number of sunspots?
More energy during a maximum number of sunspots
Less when during a minimum number of sunspots
Tangling is caused by the _____ of the sun?
differential rotation rates
Which layer of the 3 most outer layers do we see when we look at the sun?
corona
What natural protection does earth have from coronal mass ejection?
Earth’s magnetosphere, ionosphere, and atmosphere
What causes auroras?
the ions of the solar wind collide with atoms of oxygen and nitrogen from Earth’s atmosphere
How often does solar wind occur?
once every 27 days
Where does solar wind come from?
created by the outward expansion of plasma (a collection of charged particles) from the Sun’s corona (outermost atmosphere).
Whats the difference between granules and sunspots?
Solar granules cover the entire photospheric surface, except where there are sunspots.
Whats the difference between solar flare and coronal mass ejection?
solar flare is a brilliant flash of light. A CME is an immense cloud of magnetized particles hurled into space in a particular direction, sometimes toward Earth.
