Sun and solar system

why is the sun so important when studying stars

Because it is the only star that astronomers can study the surface of.

when does the sun rotate the fastest

The sun rotates the fastest at its equator

when does the sun rotate the slowest

The sun rotates the slowest at its poles.

what is the average distance from the Earth to the Sun

93 million miles or a AU

what is the sun made of

hydrogen and helium

Plasma is what state of matter

4th

when does plasma occur

at high temperatures and pressure

what happens as plasma occurs

hydrogen and helium atoms to pull apart and creating electrons and protons to form a electrically charged loups of matter.

how does the sun get the energy

from fusion

what is fusion

The process where hydrogen combine to form helium, releasing a tremendous amount of energy in the form of light and heat.

when does fusion occur

Extreme heat and pressure

why does fusion only naturally of the sun or stars

extreme heat and pressure that are present in their cores, allowing hydrogen nuclei to overcome their electrostatic repulsion and combine.

what happens in core

the core is where fusion happens producing light and energy and reaches temperatures of over 15 million degrees C

what happens in the Radiative zone

radiates heat and plasma towards the surface.

what happens in the convective zone

rising & falling currents of plasma that carry energy to the sun’s surface. This zone is where heat is transported by convection

what is convection

Convection is the process of heat transfer where warmer, less dense fluid rises, and cooler, denser fluid sinks, creating a continuous circulation pattern.

what is the photosphere

The photosphere is the visible surface of the Sun, emitting light and heat.

what is the author name for the photosphere

light sphere

where are sun spots found

photosphere

what do sun spots look like

dark spots that apear in groups and are much cooler area of the sun

how did sciences new that the sun rotated left to right

They observed sunspots moving across its surface left to right

what are solar storms

are areas on the sun that have intense magnetic activity

how are solar storms shown on the sun

they are shown as sunspots

solar cycle is

the periodic change in solar activity over approximately 11 years, marked by variations in the number of sunspots and solar storms.

how may years does it take for sunspots on the sun reaches a solar maximum.

11 years

the chromosphere is located

the inner layer of the suns atmosphere

the corona is located

the outer layer of the sun atmosphere

the corona is shown in what type of eclipse

during a total solar eclipse

CME stand for

Coronal Mass Ejection

what is a CME

cloud of charged particles

solar flares

sudden bursts of energy and radiation from the Sun's surface,

solar prominences

Huge, arching columns of plasma.

solar winds

electrically charged wind particles that flow outward from the Sun's corona at high speeds.

how does earth magnetic field protects us

Deflects most of the solar wind and radiation particles that are harmful for life.

how do solar winds effect the earth

disrupt radio waves, interfere with satellite signals and cause aurora.

how are aurora created

solar wind interacting with Earth’s magnetic poles,

where are aurora found

in the polar regions of the Earth

where is the Kuiper Belt located

beyond the orbit of Neptune

what objects are found in the Kuiper Belt

dwarf planets, comets, and icy bodies

where is the Oort Cloud located

outermost edge of the solar system, far beyond the planets and the Kuiper Belt

what objects do the Oort Cloud hold

comets and frozen bodies

TNO mean

Trans-Neptunian Object, objects beyond Neptune

comets made of

Chunks of ice, gases & dust that orbit the sun. 

another name for comets

dirty snowballs

what are the three parts of a comet

the nucleus and coma and tail

what is a coma

dust and gas that surrounds the nucleus of a comet

what is the nucleus

the center of the comet

tail of comet

dust and gas pushed out into space by the solar wind (particles from the sun) 

the shape of the comets position and orbit

is typically highly elliptical and comets tail is always facing away from the sun

The Oort Cloud is where _______ period comets are located

long

The Kuiper Belt is where _______ period comets are located

short

how are comets are pulled out of the Oort Cloud or Kuiper Belt

gravitational interactions with nearby stars or massive objects, which can alter their orbits

how do comets die/end

Comets die when they approach or orbit the sun to many time, causing their ice and gas to vaporize

comet leaves behind pieces of rock called

meteoroids

what is a meteor shower

when earth is passed by a comet dropping meteoroids which become meteors

what are asteroids, meteoroids, meteors,and meteorites made of

rocks and metals

where asteroid located

in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

astroids have a very ___ size

big

meteoroids and meters have a very ___ size

small

meteorites ——- in size

can vary significantly

meteoroids are found

through out the solar system

meteors located

in earth atmosphere

meteors are also known as

shooting stars or falling stars

meteorites are found

on the surface of the Earth