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Mobile App Chapter 14: Problem 5
Place the following regions of the Sun in order of increasing radius. a. corona b. core c. radiative zone d. convective zone e. chromosphere f. photosphere g. a sunspot
Short Answer
Expert verified
b. core, c. radiative zone, d. convective zone, f. photosphere (including g. sunspot), e. chromosphere, a. corona.
Step by step solution
01
- Identify and Understand the Regions
Determine the characteristics of each region of the Sun mentioned in the exercise. The regions in question are the core, radiative zone, convective zone, photosphere, chromosphere, corona, and sunspot.
02
- List Regions in Terms of Position
Arrange the regions based on their position starting from the innermost to the outermost region.
03
- Core
The core is the innermost part of the Sun where nuclear fusion occurs. Its radius is the smallest.
04
- Radiative Zone
The radiative zone surrounds the core. Energy is transferred outwards by radiation.
05
- Convective Zone
The convective zone is outside the radiative zone where energy is transferred by convection currents.
06
- Photosphere
The photosphere is the visible surface of the Sun.
07
- Chromosphere
The chromosphere lies above the photosphere and appears as a red ring during solar eclipses.
08
- Corona
The corona is the outermost layer of the Sun's atmosphere and extends millions of kilometers into space.
09
- Sunspot
A sunspot is a temporary region on the Sun's photosphere that appears dark and is cooler than surrounding areas. Location-wise, it is part of the photosphere.
10
- Arrange in Order of Increasing Radius
Order the regions from smallest to largest radius: core, radiative zone, convective zone, photosphere (including sunspots), chromosphere, and corona.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Sun's Layers
The Sun is comprised of several distinct layers, each having unique properties and functioning vital to the Sun’s overall structure. Understanding these layers is crucial for comprehending how the Sun works. In order of increasing radius, the main layers are the core, radiative zone, convective zone, photosphere, chromosphere, and corona. Each layer plays a specific role in the transfer and generation of the Sun's immense energy.
Solar Core
The solar core is the innermost part of the Sun. It is the powerhouse, where nuclear fusion occurs. During fusion, hydrogen atoms combine to form helium, releasing an enormous amount of energy. This energy is crucial as it sustains life on Earth. Temperatures in the core reach around 15 million degrees Celsius, and the pressure is incredibly high due to gravitational forces.
Radiative Zone
Surrounding the core is the radiative zone. Here, energy produced in the core is transferred outwards via radiation. The radiative zone extends to about 70% of the Sun's radius. Photons, or light particles, can take millions of years to travel through this layer because they are continuously absorbed and re-emitted by solar material.
Convective Zone
Outside the radiative zone is the convective zone. In this layer, energy is transferred by convection currents. Hot plasma rises towards the surface of the Sun, cools down, and then sinks back down to be reheated. These movements create a boiling-like effect on the Sun's surface, leading to the granulated appearance typically seen when observing the Sun.
Photosphere
The photosphere is considered the Sun's visible surface. Although not solid, it is the layer from which sunlight escapes into space and is visible from Earth. This layer is about 500 kilometers thick and has a temperature of approximately 5,500 degrees Celsius. Sunspots, which are cooler, darker areas on the photosphere, often appear here due to magnetic activity.
Chromosphere
Above the photosphere lies the chromosphere. It is about 2,000 kilometers thick and appears as a reddish glow during solar eclipses. The chromosphere's temperatures rise with altitude, reaching up to 20,000 degrees Celsius. It is characterized by spicules, which are dynamic jets of gas that shoot up from the chromosphere into the corona.
Corona
The outermost layer of the Sun is the corona. It extends millions of kilometers into space and can be seen during a total solar eclipse as a beautiful white halo. Despite its lower density, the corona is extremely hot, with temperatures soaring to over a million degrees Celsius. The corona's high temperature influences solar wind, streams of charged particles that travel throughout the solar system.
