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Chapter 16: Problem 27

Describe one explanation for why the corona has a higher temperature than the chromosphere.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The corona has a higher temperature than the chromosphere due to the 'wave heating theory'. This theory suggests that the corona absorbs energy from the Sun’s interior caused by magnetic disturbances and sound waves, resulting in increased temperatures in the corona compared to the chromosphere.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding of Basic Definitions and Concepts

Before tackling the question, it's important to understand what corona and chromosphere are. The corona is the outermost layer of the Sun's atmosphere, extending millions of kilometers into space, and has an extremely high temperature. On the other hand, the chromosphere is the second outermost layer, underneath the corona, which is cooler than the corona.
02

Explaining the Phenomenon

One common theory that explains why the corona has a higher temperature than the chromosphere is known as the 'wave heating theory'. According to this theory, the energy from the Sun’s interior caused by magnetic disturbances and sound waves is absorbed by the corona and not by the outermost layer (chromosphere). This absorption of energy by the corona, results in increased temperatures.
03

Reiterating the Explanation

To summarize, the corona is hotter than the chromosphere because it absorbs the energy from the Sun's interior through magnetic disturbances and sound waves, which heats up the corona and causes it to have a higher temperature than the chromosphere, according to the wave heating theory.

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