CH 16

standard solar model

A mathematical model that describes the inner workings of the Sun using observational data and theoretical insights.

helioseismology

The science of studying the vibrations on the surface of the Sun to reveal information about its interior.

nuclear fusion

The process of combining light nuclei to form heavier ones, which occurs in the Sun's core.

radiation zone

The layer of the Sun between its core and convection zone where energy is transported by radiation.

convection zone

The outer layer of the Sun's interior where energy is transferred by convection, involving rising and falling gas.

photosphere

The visible surface of the Sun from which most of its light is emitted.

chromosphere

A layer of the Sun's atmosphere above the photosphere where temperature increases with altitude.

granulation

Surface features of the Sun that provide evidence for solar convection, characterized by bright cells on the solar photosphere.

solar constant

The amount of solar energy received per unit area at a distance of one astronomical unit (AU) from the Sun.

sunspot

Dark spots on the Sun's surface caused by magnetic activity, typically seen in cycles of activity.

solar neutrino problem

The discrepancy between the number of solar neutrinos detected and the number predicted by models of solar fusion.

Doppler shift

The change in wavelength or frequency of waves in relation to an observer moving relative to the source of the waves.

supergranulation

A larger-scale convective feature on the Sun's surface, indicative of deeper convection processes.

total solar eclipse

An event during which the Moon covers the Sun completely, allowing us to see the corona.

stellar nursery

Regions in space where new stars are being formed, often containing dense clouds of gas and dust.

solar flares

Sudden eruptions of energy on the Sun's surface that release radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum.

corona

The outermost layer of the Sun's atmosphere, visible during a total solar eclipse.

neutrino

A nearly massless particle produced during nuclear fusion in the Sun, which interacts very weakly with matter.

temperature decrease in the Sun

The pattern observed from the core to the surface, indicating that the Sun's temperature drops as one moves outward.

steady increase in corona temperature

The phenomenon where the temperature of the Sun's outer atmosphere rises with distance from the photosphere.

proton-proton fusion

The dominant fusion process in the Sun, where hydrogen nuclei fuse to form helium, releasing energy.

fusion conditions in the Sun

Requires extremely high temperature to overcome the repulsion between positively charged protons.