The Sun

1. Name: Raven St. Clair
Make sure you cite the sources you use. Don’t forget to use your notes and other
items in the module if you need help. Type responses in med. blue, bold font.
16.3 Solar Activity Study Guide16.3 Solar Activity Study Guide
1) Find a picture of the sun’s layers online. Cite the source – full URL.
Copy/Paste the sun below.

2. http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/171926main_heliolayers_label_lg.jpg
2) Explain the following properties or characteristics of the sun:
a. Core: center of the sun, hot and dense, where nuclear fusion is
made
b. Radiative Zone: where energy is transported to outer layers by
photons
c. Convective Zone: where energy is transported by large bulks of
gas through convection to outer cooler layers
d. Photosphere: "light sphere" where photons make it to space
e. Chromospere: thin, pink layer seen in solar eclipses where
temperature rises away from the photosphere
f. Corona: very hot crown that can be seen around the moon
during a total solar eclipse
3) How do sunspots work? They occur where Sun's magnetic field rises from
below Sun's surface and poke through. They are darker and cooler than
the area around it. They can last for days or weeks. Sunspots can affect
Earth a little in ways such as the power plants, knocking out satellites,
and creating auroras. Find a picture, copy/paste it here and cite the
source.
http://www.exploratorium.edu/sunspots/images/active2.jpg
4) What is a prominence? An eruption of gas on the Sun's surface hundreds
of thousands of miles into space that are caused by strong magnetic
fields and may last for months. How does this differ from a flare? They
are much stronger than flares. Flares only last for a few seconds or
minutes and don't go as far out in the universe as prominences do.
Find a picture, copy/paste it here and cite the source.

3. http://cdn.recomparison.com/images/community/topics/1299/129907222011135819.j
pg
5) How does an aurora work? Auroras are caused solar winds that come
close enough to Earth's atmosphere to brush up against it and spiral
down into it. The gases from the solar winds light up when they hit
Earth, forming the aurora. Find a picture, copy/paste it here and cite the
source.
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/0710/aurora_kuenzli_big.jpg