The document discusses the life span and energy production of the Sun. It states that the Sun will become a red giant in about 10 billion years after fusing hydrogen into helium in its core and releasing energy as electromagnetic radiation. It also explains that this radiation reaches Earth's atmosphere and about half is absorbed by the surface, some is reflected, and sunspots are cooler areas on the Sun associated with magnetic activity that peak every 11 years.

1. The Sun

2. Life Span of the Sun
• Based on its initial mass; will become a red giant and engulf Earth;
total life span would be about 10 billion years

3. How does the sun produce energy?
• The nuclear fusion of hydrogen
into helium in the core;
releases energy as
electromagnetic radiation

4. Main Source of Energy on Earth:
• Electromagnetic radiation travels
through space (a vacuum) to Earth
• Some of that radiation is absorbed
or reflected by Earth’s
atmosphere
• About half is absorbed by Earth’s
surface
• Some is reflected by Earth’s
surface

5. What are sunspots?
• Cooler areas of high magnetic
activity on the Sun’s surface;
their abundance peaks about
every 11 years

6. Solar Flares:
• Eruption of energy/radiation
from release of magnetic energy
associated with sunspots

7. Effects of Solar Flares:
• Can effect our upper atmosphere (create auroras) or potentially
disable our communications satellites

8. What protects us from solar storms/wind?
• Earth’s magnetic field provides a barrier to most of the sun’s
disturbances