8.2 Exploring the SunHomework: page 340 # 2, 3, 5, 7, 9

Key Concepts: The solar nebula theory says that the Sun

and the solar system formed from a spinning, contracting disk of gas and dust particles.

Evidence supporting the solar nebula theory consists of heavily cratered objects, most planets rotating about in the same direction, most planets revolving in the same direction and in about the same plane and the existence of other planets around the Sun.

Key Concepts: The Sun’s energy source is hydrogen. It converts

matter into energy through nuclear fusion.

Sunspots can produce solar flares, which send gigantic beams of charged particles into space.

Charged particles from the Sun that enter Earth’s atmosphere produce auroras, but the charged particles can also damage electronic equipment, cause large scale power blackouts and pose a danger to astronauts.

Energy absorbed and emitted by Earth’s surface heats Earth and keeps it warm.

Solar Nebula Theory - states that stars and planets form together from contacting, spinning disks of gas and dust.

Nebula - a cloud of gas and dust

FORMATION OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM

How did our solar system form?

a) A supernova (big explosion where the entire outer part of a star is blown off) sends waves in space that triggered a nebula to start spinning

b) As the nebula spins, it begins to collapse as gravity pulls the gas and dust together

c) The cloud spins faster and flattens the dust and gas into a disc

d) The gas and dust collect in the center forming a hot condensed lump of matter (protostar) which eventually becomes a star

e) Small amounts of matter in the disc collect and form bigger, rocky lumps called planetismals.

f) Those planetismals that survive collisions turn into planets

OUR STAR – THE SUN- As the nebula contracts, the gases that collect in the center compress increasing the temperature of the protostar

- When temperatures reach 10 000 000oC we get:

NUCLEARFUSION!

Nuclear Fusion - the process that produces energy in the Sun.- Hydrogen nuclei combine to form helium nuclei.- Takes a lot of pressure and temperature- Nuclear reaction

PARTS OF THE SUN

CORE - gravity pulls all the mass inwards creating intense pressure forcing hydrogen atoms to come together (nuclear fusion) to make helium atoms

- Energy is transferred from core to outer parts by RADIATION.

- The outer layers transfer energy by CONVECTION CURRENTS.

Structure of the Sun

PHOTOSPHERE - called the surface of the Sun (not really a surface since the Sun is made up of gases)- 5500oC; thousands of km deep

CHROMOSPHERE - the inner atmosphere

Structure of the Sun

CORONA - the hot outer part of the Sun (1 000 000 oC)

A GROWING SUN

- Helium is denser than hydrogen and settles in the Sun’s core

- Helium core grows larger as well as the fusion area around it

- Sun is getting larger; 30% larger than when it was born 5 billion years ago

- Sun has enough hydrogen fuel (for fusion) for 10 billion years- Our Sun has 5 billion more years left

SUNSPOTS AND SOLAR FLARES

- Sun spots are areas of strong magnetic fields (dark spots we see on the Sun; 4500oC)

- start off small, then get larger, form clusters and eventually fade and disappear.

- They occur in 22-year cycles and seem to move on the Sun’s surface, which we believe is actually the Sun rotating.

- When a magnetic field is so intense that the solar flare can eject intense streams of charged particles into space called

solar wind.

SOLAR WIND – How does it affect Earth?

1) Disrupt telecommunications and damage equipment aboard spacecrafts

2) Harmful to astronauts (like x-rays on humans)

- The Aurora Borealis are caused by the solar wind interacting with Earth’s magnetic field

- the gases in Earth’s upper atmosphere become charged and produce light (strongest are the Earth’s poles)

3) Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)

IMPORTANCE OF THE SUN

1. Provides radiant energy for all life on Earth

2. Keeps Earth in a steady orbit because of its gravitational pull.

3. Creates winds and ocean currents

4. Microwaves, radio waves, X-rays, gamma rays