Ch. 3 Ch. 3 Sec. 2Sec. 2

The sun’s gravity is the most powerful force in the solar system because the sun’s

mass is so large.

99.8 % of the mass of the solar system is in the sun.

Sun’sinterior

coreradiation

zoneconvection

zone

corecore• center of Sun• nuclear fusion • hydrogen atoms helium

atoms• occurs only under conditions

of extremely high temp. (15 million oC) & pressure

• makes sun’s energy

radiation zone• middle layer of

sun’s interior

• region of very tightly packed gas

• energy transferred by electromagnetic radiation

convection zone

• outermost layer of sun’s interior

• hot gases rise & cooler gases sink

layersof sun’s

atmosphere

1.photophotosphere

2.chrommosphere

3.corona

• inner layer• image you see in photophotograph

•mmiddle layer•reddish glow

• outer layer• visible during

total solar eclipse

sends outsolar wind

corona

solar windsolar wind

• stream of electrically charged particles

features on Sun

sunspots prominences solar flares

dark areas on sunthat are cooler

than gasesaround them

loops of gas that link sunspot

regions

explosions that occur when

sunspots connect

# of sunspots variesover a 10-11 year cycle

prominencesprominences

solar flares

• increase solar wind

• cause auroras

ghost

wispy witch

green ghost

The Ring

eerie spirit

SPOOKY SPOOKY AURORAAURORA

SS

NASA eClips-Our Sun

Edible cookie

• Arched Twizzler = prominence

• Mini chocolate chips = sunspots

• Sprinkles = photosphere

• Frosting = convection zone

• Cookie = radiation zone

• Center of the cookie = core

• Straight Twizzler = solar flare

Song to remember layers

Make a model of the sun, identifying layers of the Sun's interior & atmosphere. Also, include features of the sun.

Rubric:

Layers of interior 20

Layers of atmosphere 20

Features 20

Creativity 30

Labels 10