26.1 The Sun

Main Idea 1

"The sun gives off tremendous amounts of energy. The sun's energy is in the form of electromagnetic radiation. The source of the sun;s energy is nuclear fusion."

Main Idea 2

"The sun has an interior and an atmosphere. The sun's interior consists of the core, the radiation zone, and the convection zone."

Main Idea 3

"The sun's atmosphere consists of three layers: the photosphere, the chromosphere, and the corona."

Answer Key:

1. B. Corona 2. C. Convection Zone 3. Radiation Zone 4. Sunspots 5. False 6. False

Prominences

Huge loops of gas that erupt fro sunspot regions, they start in the photosphere and occasionally extend upward into the corona.

True/False 1

Prominences are released into the radiation zone by convection currents.

Sunspots

Relatively cool areas in the photosphere, they look like dark spots on the surface, often occurring in groups and in cycles.

Solar Flares

Sudden bursts of energy released from the sun, usually occurring near sunspots- they heat the corona and increase the solar winds.

The Core

The Core is the central region of the sun, nuclear fusion produces energy in The Core.

Fill in the blank 1

The ____________ is the middle layer of the sun's atmosphere.

Chromosphere

The middle layer of the sun's atmosphere, it is hotter than the photosphere.

Convection Zone

The outer layer of the sun's interior, energy passes through the convection zone to the atmosphere by convention currents.

Corona

The outermost layer of the sun's atmosphere, the hottest and thinnest layer, it extends outward into space for millions of kilometers.

Photosphere

The photosphere is the innermost layer of the sun's atmosphere, it is the visible surface of the sun, having a bubbly appearance - the bubbles are the convection currents.

True/False 2

The photosphere is the innermost layer of the sun's atmosphere, it is the visible surface of the sun, the bubbles are solar flares.

Radiation Zone

The radiation zone is a region of gas under pressure. Energy passes from the core into the radiation zone, this energy takes thousands if years to pass through because the radiation zone is so dense.

Essential Question

What are the three parts of the Sun's interior? What are the three parts of the Sun's atmosphere?

Multiple Choice 2

What layer of the Sun's interior is the outer layer? A. Chromosphere B. Radiation Zone C. Convection Zone D. Photosphere.

Multiple Choice 1

Which layer of the Sun's atmosphere is the thinnest and hottest? A. Chromosphere B. Corona C. Convection Zone D. Convection Currents.

Fill in the blank 2

_________ are often found in groups, and they occur in cycles.