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Chapter 16: Problem 18

Briefly describe the three layers that make up the Sun's atmosphere. In what ways do they differ from each other?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The three layers of the Sun's atmosphere are the photosphere, chromosphere, and corona. The photosphere is the outer shell from which light is radiated and is characterized by granulation. The chromosphere is above the photosphere and is characterized by gas eruptions, and is usually only visible during a solar eclipse. The corona is the outermost layer, extending into space, and is seen as an aura of plasma surrounding the sun also usually only visible during a total solar eclipse.

Step by step solution

01

Identification of the Three Layers

Identify the three layers of the Sun's atmosphere. These are: The photosphere, the chromosphere, and the corona.
02

Describing the Photosphere

Describe the photosphere. This layer is the sun's outer shell from which light is radiated. It's what we see when we look at the sun directly. The photosphere is known for its granulation caused by the convective motions below it.
03

Describing the Chromosphere

Describe the chromosphere. It's the layer above the photosphere and is usually only visible during a solar eclipse, when it appears as a reddish ring. The chromosphere is characterized by eruptions of gas, known as spicules.
04

Describing the Corona

Describe the corona. It's the outermost layer of the Sun's atmosphere, extending millions of kilometers into space. It is most commonly seen during a total solar eclipse, when it's seen as an aura of plasma surrounding the sun.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Why do astronomers say that the solar cycle is really 22 years long, even though the number of sunspots varies over an 11-year period?

What is Kelvin-Helmholtz contraction? Why is it ruled out as a source of the present-day Sun's energy?

Suppose thermonuclear fusion in the Sun stopped abruptly. Would the intensity of sunlight decrease just as abruptly? Why or why not?

High-resolution spectroscopy of the photosphere reveals that absorption lines are blueshifted in the spectrum of the central, bright regions of granules but are redshifted in the spectrum of the dark boundaries between granules. Explain how these observations show that granulation is due to convection.

Astronomers often use an \(\mathrm{H}_{\alpha}\) filter to view the chromosphere. Explain why this can also be accomplished with filters that are transparent only to the wavelengths of the \(\mathrm{H}\) and \(\mathrm{K}\) lines of ionized calcium. (Hint: The \(\mathrm{H}\) and \(\mathrm{K}\) lines are dark lines in the spectrum of the photosphere.)
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