W9: The Sun

Question 1

What process makes the Sun shine

Answer 1

through nuclear fusion.
nuclear fusion: fundamental process that powers the sun and other stars. occurs when hydrogen nuclei (protons) collide and fuse together to form a helium nucleus. this energy is emitted as EM radiation including visible light.
the fusion release a vast amount of energy in the form of light and heat that causes the sun to shine

Question 2

What percentage of all our Solar System’s mass is taken up by the Sun?

Answer 2

99.86%

Question 3

How long does it take sunlight to reach earth? (in minutes & seconds)

Answer 3

~ 8 minutes and 20 seconds

Question 4

Do all locations on the Sun rotate at the same rate (Yes/No)? Why?

Answer 4

no

different parts of the sun rotate at a different rates due to its gaseous, non-solid nature, a phenomenon known as differential rotation

Question 5

What is a sunspot? Why do sunspots appear darker than the rest of the sun?

Answer 5

sunspot
- cooler areas of the sun and denotes region of magnetic activity

reasons:
* magnetic activity: intense magnetic avitivity, strong enough to suppress the natural convection of heat around sunspots
* cooler temperatures: sunspots are cooler that the surrounding solar surface b/c of the intense magnetic fields

Question 6

How might a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) affect Earth?

Answer 6

CME: release of plasma and magnetic field from the solar corona

effects:
* can trigger geomagnetic storms in earth magnetosphere
* interaction of charged particles from CME with earth magnetic field creates auroras

Question 7

What events cause the Aurora?

Answer 7

caused by the interaction of charged particles (electrons and protons) from the solar wind with earth’s magnetic field and the gases in the upper atmosphere, primarily oxygen and nitrogen.

Question 8

Why do we see different colours during an Aurora Display?

Answer 8

the different colours are the result of the interaction between charged particles from the solar wind with earths atmosphere

green: produces by oxygen at lower altitudes
red: produce from oxygen with higher altitude
blue and purple: nitrogen molecules
pink: combination of nitrogen and oxygen

Question 9

Define the term Space Weather.

Answer 9

• refers to condition caused by the sun to our solar system that affects our satellites and astronauts in space
• affects the moon and other planets we want to explore