The Sun

What are all of the layers of the sun in order (outside to inside)?

corona, chromosphere, photosphere, convective zone, radiative zone, and the core.

What is the core like?

The solar core is made up of an extremely hot and dense gas (in plasma form), where nuclear fusion occurs at extremely high temperatures and pressures, generating energy that powers the Sun in the form of electromagnetic energy (gamma rays) and particles (in particular neutrinos).

When does fusion inside of the stars occur?

Fusion in the core of the stars is achieved when the density and temperature arising from the gravitational pressure are high enough.

Our sun is in the first stage of this fusion, what is that stage called?

Hydrogen burning stage (fusion of Hydrogen into Helium)

In what type of stars can the Carbon-Nitrogen-Oxygen (CNO) cycle can take place

In stars with a very high temperature (greater than 16 million degrees Kelvin)

Describe CNO

Here the Carbon atom is a catalyst for the reaction: it participates but it is not "burned". At still higher temperatures, Helium burning produces Carbon. Finally, at even higher temperatures the heavier elements up to Iron are formed by fusion of Carbon, Oxygen and Silicon

 Corona

 hot! (few million degrees), emits high energy radiation, earth's atmosphere absorbs the x-rays, but satellites can detect them

Chromosphere

2500 km thick, thin reddish ring, dark features called filaments (prominences), spicules (massive jets of plasma) are visible 

Photosphere

most energy is white light, coolest regions of the sun, only a small fraction is plasma, thin compared to earth's atmosphere, sunspots have magnetic fields, solar interior bubbles, churning pattern called solar granulation

 Convection zone

above the radiation zone, convection occurs where hot plasma rises and cooler plasma sinks, facilitating energy transfer to the surface.

 Radiation zone

energy from atom to atom in the form of electromagnetic waves/radiation

Core

extremely hot dense gas, 15 million degrees, energy is produced, density allows for nuclear fusion

3 solar activities

sunspots, solar flares, coronal mass ejections

sunspots

dark spots on the Sun's surface caused by magnetic activity, cooler than surrounding areas.

solar flares

sudden eruptions of energy on the Sun's surface that release intense radiation and can affect space weather.

coronal mass ejection

a significant release of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun's corona, often resulting in solar storms that can impact Earth's magnetosphere.

the solar cycle

the cycle of solar activity, including variations in sunspots and solar flares, occurring approximately every 11 years.

solar eclipses

occurrences when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking sunlight partially or completely.