Stars
![Picture](/uploads/2/8/6/2/28625537/125192403.jpg?365)
The Sun's Interior
Layer #1-The Core
The Core produces the energy with nuclear fusion, due to its high temperatures. Its diameter is about 400,000 kilometers.
Layer #2-Radiation Zone
The Radiation Zone is the middle layer of the sun. It contains tightly packed gas, where energy can be transferred in the form of electromagnetic radiation. This transfer could take around 100,000 years due to its density.
Layer #3-Convection Zone
The Convection Zone is the outer layer of the sun. As gas moves through this layer, it becomes cooler. When the cool gas sinks, loops of gas form so energy can be moved up to the surface of the sun.
Layer #1-The Core
The Core produces the energy with nuclear fusion, due to its high temperatures. Its diameter is about 400,000 kilometers.
Layer #2-Radiation Zone
The Radiation Zone is the middle layer of the sun. It contains tightly packed gas, where energy can be transferred in the form of electromagnetic radiation. This transfer could take around 100,000 years due to its density.
Layer #3-Convection Zone
The Convection Zone is the outer layer of the sun. As gas moves through this layer, it becomes cooler. When the cool gas sinks, loops of gas form so energy can be moved up to the surface of the sun.
The Sun's Atmosphere
The Photosphere
The innermost layer of the sun's atmosphere is the photosphere. This is the sun's surface layer, which gives off light. When you break down the word photosphere, photos, means "light" in Greek. This layer produces the glare that burns your eyes if you look into the sun.
The Chromosphere
As the middle layer of the sun's atmosphere, the chromosphere gives off a reddish glow. Similar to photosphere, chromosphere has Greek origins as well. Chroma means "color," giving the middle layer the name "color sphere."
The Corona
Appearing to give off a white, halo looking light, the corona is the last layer of the sun's atmosphere. This means "crown" in Latin. This layer goes extremely far into space, around millions of kilometers. When the corona starts to fade, solar winds are created with a stream of electrically charged particles.
Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear fusion is the process of the sun producing its energy. Two atomic nuclei collide to form a larger nucleus. Inside the sun, hydrogen atoms join to form helium. The core has to house the process of nuclear fusion since it has to have high pressure and temperature. It reaches around fifteen million degrees Celsius. When the hydrogen converts to helium, there is a small difference in mass. That small amount of mass is changed into energy and makes its trip outwards from the core.
Sunspots, Prominence's, and Solar Flares
Sunspots are patches of gas on the sun's surface that are cooler than the surrounding gases. They are darker because the cooler gases give off less light that hotter gases, causing the spot to not shine as bright. Prominence's are red colored loops of gas that create a bridge for sunspots. Solar Flares are created when prominence's connect, and the magnetic energy is converted into thermal energy. The gas then erupts, causing a solar flare.
The Photosphere
The innermost layer of the sun's atmosphere is the photosphere. This is the sun's surface layer, which gives off light. When you break down the word photosphere, photos, means "light" in Greek. This layer produces the glare that burns your eyes if you look into the sun.
The Chromosphere
As the middle layer of the sun's atmosphere, the chromosphere gives off a reddish glow. Similar to photosphere, chromosphere has Greek origins as well. Chroma means "color," giving the middle layer the name "color sphere."
The Corona
Appearing to give off a white, halo looking light, the corona is the last layer of the sun's atmosphere. This means "crown" in Latin. This layer goes extremely far into space, around millions of kilometers. When the corona starts to fade, solar winds are created with a stream of electrically charged particles.
Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear fusion is the process of the sun producing its energy. Two atomic nuclei collide to form a larger nucleus. Inside the sun, hydrogen atoms join to form helium. The core has to house the process of nuclear fusion since it has to have high pressure and temperature. It reaches around fifteen million degrees Celsius. When the hydrogen converts to helium, there is a small difference in mass. That small amount of mass is changed into energy and makes its trip outwards from the core.
Sunspots, Prominence's, and Solar Flares
Sunspots are patches of gas on the sun's surface that are cooler than the surrounding gases. They are darker because the cooler gases give off less light that hotter gases, causing the spot to not shine as bright. Prominence's are red colored loops of gas that create a bridge for sunspots. Solar Flares are created when prominence's connect, and the magnetic energy is converted into thermal energy. The gas then erupts, causing a solar flare.
White Dwarf
Color-white Size-about 13,000 km diameter Temperature-6,000-10,000 degrees Celsius Example-Helix Nebula |
Main Sequence
Color-blue or blue-white Size-about 1,4 million km diameter Temperature-20,000-50,000 degrees Celsius Example-Sirius A |
Giant
Color-red or red-orange Size-about 50 million km diameter Temperature-3,000-5,000 degrees Celsius Example-Delta Orionis |
Supergiant
Color-yellow Size-about 500 million km diameter Temperature-6,000 degrees Celsius Example-Cygnus |
Color and Temperature
Cooler stars have a different color than hotter stars. If a star is cool, it tends to have a reddish color. Hotter stars have a cool tone color, mostly blue.
Cooler stars have a different color than hotter stars. If a star is cool, it tends to have a reddish color. Hotter stars have a cool tone color, mostly blue.