© 2010 pearson education, inc. our goals for learning: why was the sun’s energy source a major...
TRANSCRIPT
CHAPTER 14OUR STAR
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.
14.1 A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SUN
Our goals for learning: Why was the Sun’s energy source a
major mystery? Why does the Sun shine? What is the Sun’s structure?
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.
WHY WAS THE SUN’S ENERGY SOURCE A MAJOR MYSTERY?
Is it on FIRE?
Is it on FIRE?
Luminosity~ 10,000 years
Chemical energy content
Is it on FIRE? … NO!
Luminosity~ 10,000 years
Chemical energy content
Is it CONTRACTING?
Insert TCP 6e Chapter 14 opener
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WHY DOES THE SUN SHINE?
It can be powered by NUCLEAR ENERGY! (E = mc2)
Luminosity~ 10 billion years
Nuclear potential energy (core)
Gravitational equilibrium:
Energy supplied by fusion maintains the pressure that balances the inward crush of gravity.
Weight of upper layers compresses lower layers.
Insert TCP 6e Figure 14.1
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WHAT IS THE SUN’S STRUCTURE?
Insert TCP 6e Figure 14.3
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AT THE BELL: COMPLETE IN YOUR NOTES1. The Sun appears bright orange because of the extremely hot fires
that are constantly burning carbon.TRUE or FALSE
2. The sun fuses Hydrogen atoms together in its core to form Helium.
TRUE or FALSE3. Solar power output is measured in _____.a. solar units b. amperes c. luminosity
4. The equation discovered by Einstein that relates mass and potential energy is _____.
a. PE = mg h b. E = 1/2mv^2 c. E=mc^2
5. The outermost layer of the Sun’s atmosphere which is not usually visible is the _____.
a. corona b. convective zone c. core
Solar wind:
A flow of charged particles from the surface of the Sun
Corona:
Outermost layer of solar atmosphere
~1 million K
Chromosphere:
Middle layer of solar atmosphere
~ 104–105 K
Photosphere:
Visible surface of Sun
~ 6000 K
Convection Zone:
Energy transported upward by rising hot gas
Radiation Zone:
Energy transported upward by photons
Core:
Energy generated by nuclear fusion
~ 15 million K
Radius:
6.9 108 m
(109 times Earth)
Mass:
2 1030 kg
(300,000 Earths)
Luminosity:
3.8 1026 watts
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.
WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
Why was the Sun’s energy source a major mystery? Chemical and gravitational energy
sources could not explain how the Sun could sustain its luminosity for more than about 25 million years.
Why does the Sun shine? The Sun shines because gravitational
equilibrium keeps its core hot and dense enough to release energy through nuclear fusion.
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WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
What is the Sun’s structure? From inside out, the layers are:
Core Radiation zone Convection zone Photosphere Chromosphere Corona
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HOW DOES NUCLEAR FUSION OCCUR IN THE SUN?
Fission
Big nucleus splits into smaller pieces.
(Example: nuclear power plants)
Fusion
Small nuclei stick together to make a bigger one.
(Example: the Sun, stars)
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14.3 THE SUN–EARTH CONNECTION
Our goals for learning: What causes solar activity? How does solar activity affect humans? How does solar activity vary with time?
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WHAT CAUSES SOLAR ACTIVITY?
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SOLAR ACTIVITY IS LIKE “WEATHER”.
Sunspots Solar flares Solar prominences
All these phenomena are related to magnetic fields.
Sunspots
Are cooler than other parts of the Sun’s surface (4000 K)
Are regions with strong magnetic fields
Loops of bright gas often connect sunspot pairs.
Magnetic activity causes solar flares that send bursts of X rays and charged particles into space.
Solar Flares classified from lowest to highest:
B classC classM classX class
Magnetic activity also causes solar prominences that erupt high above the Sun’s surface.
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HOW DOES SOLAR ACTIVITY AFFECT HUMANS?
Coronal mass ejections send bursts of energetic charged particles out through the solar system.
Charged particles streaming from the Sun can disrupt electrical power grids and can disable communications satellites.
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HOW DOES SOLAR ACTIVITY VARY WITH TIME?
The number of sunspots rises and falls in an 11-year cycle.
Insert TCP 6e Figure 14.21a unannotated
Insert TCP 6e Figure 14.21b unannotated
The calm sun on the left (Oct. 2010) is contrasted with a much more active sun on the right as it approaches solar maximum.
http://youtu.be/oOXVZo7KikE
© 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.
WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
What causes solar activity? Stretching and twisting of magnetic
field lines near the Sun’s surface cause solar activity.
How does solar activity affect humans? Bursts of charged particles from the
Sun can disrupt radio communication and electrical power generation and damage satellites.
How does solar activity vary with time? Activity rises and falls with an 11-year
period.