The Sun

Question 1

What is our nearest star?

Answer 1

The Sun

Question 2

What are the different layers of the Sun?

Answer 2

Core, Photosphere, Chromosphere, Corona

Question 3

What is the inner atmosphere and outer atmosphere of the Sun?

Answer 3

The chromosphere is the inner and the corona is the outer atmosphere.

Question 4

What is considered the “surface” of the Sun?

Answer 4

The photosphere is recognized as the surface.

Question 5

How does energy get produced in the Sun?

Answer 5

In the core, where high pressure and temperature exist, hydrogen atoms smash together and fuse to form helium atoms.
This nuclear reaction (nuclear fusion) produces huge amounts of energy.

Question 6

What is the hottest part of the Sun?

Answer 6

The core; it can reach 15 000 000 degrees Celsius

Question 7

What are sun spots?

Answer 7

Suns spots are formed when there is a disturbance in the Sun’s magnetic field.

• they appear as darker, cooler spots on the Sun’s photosphere (they vary in size and regularity)
• they rotate with the Sun

Question 8

What is the difference between solar flares and prominences?

Answer 8

Solar flares are gases and charged particles that expel above an active sun spot, they are smaller and last for minutes or hours.
Solar prominences are huge streams of matter that shoot out from the Sun and curve back, they are low energy eruptions that extend into space, they may last for days.

Question 9

How are we able to see non-luminous objects in Space?

Answer 9

We are able to see a non-luminous objects in Space because they reflect light from neighbouring stars.