Stars and the Sun

The Hertzsprung- Russell Diagram

● Stars are plotted according to colour
(surface temperature) and luminosity
(relative to the Sun).
● Main sequence stars
○ are found in the band that forms
from the top left to the bottom
right.
○ the Sun is a main sequence
star.
○ Suns are thought to be in the
stable main part of their life
cycle.
● Other stars
○ are often near the end of their
lives such as white dwarves, red
giants and supergiants.

The Sun

● _________________________________________________________
● Its mass is composed of 73%____________________, 25 %
________________ and small amounts of carbon, oxygen and iron.
● First started shining 5 billion years ago and is expected to burn for another
5 billion before it runs out of fuel.
● __________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
● energy generated when hydrogen
converts to helium (“nuclear
fusion”)

The Core
 ●___________________________ and temperatures are at least_______million
degrees Celsius.

●_________________________ happens here and a small amount of matter is

turned into a huge amount of ____________________

Radiative Zone

● A layer of ___________________________ surrounding the core

● _________________ and other forms of _________________ are continuously
______________________ and re-emitted in all directions

● It takes light _________________years to pass up and through it, therefore the

______________we receive now from the sun was generated more than
__________years ago.

Convective Zone
● A layer of ____________________ of hot plasma that surrounds the
_________________zone.

● The hot plasma moves toward the ___________________, carrying energy

● ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

● The constant circulation is called convection , which gives the layer its name.
Photosphere
●The ____________________between the inside and ___________________ of
the Sun.

●This __________________ layer is the part we see from Earth

Chromosphere
●This layer has a _____________ shade to it, but we can see it only during an
eclipse since the _____________________________is so __________________.
Corona
●The ________________________ layer of the Sun extends for millions of
kilometres.

Surface Features of the Sun

 ● Are caused by the __________________________of the Sun which is generated
by the movement of the plasma deep in the Sun’s interior.

Sunspots
● Regions on the Sun’s surface that are
_____________than the surrounding area.
Caused when the magnetic field is extremely
_______________, slowing down
_____________________, and cooling the
________________.

Solar Prominences
● large, bright stream of________________ charged plasma
are shaped by the magnetic field and extends outward from
the______________________ into the corona.

Solar Flares
● Massive ___________________at the surface of
the sun, caused by a sudden release of
______________________________. Hot plasma
is flung out into space and we see a____________
____________________ filament extending out
from the Sun.
● Coronal Mass Ejection (CME):
○ An extremely powerful _________ that may be
pointed directly at Earth. It is diverted by the Earth’s magnetic field – can damage
______________________________ and electrical transmission lines on the ground.

The Solar Wind

● A steady stream of ________________________________ that stream out from
the Sun’s surface

● The Earth’s magnetic field _________________________ most of the solar wind

 but sometimes electronic equipment and devices on Earth may be damaged
_______________________________________________.

The Aurora Borealis (“Northern Lights”)

● Displays of
____________________________________ lights in the skies near Earth’s
northern regions.

● The particles from the _______________________are trapped by Earth’s

____________________________ and are swept toward the
_______________________________________.

● There they collide with the atoms of different Elements in Earth’s

______________________, producing the colours

Crash Course: The Sun

▶ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b22HKFMIfWo
Activities.
Watch “Secrets of the Sun” documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Odt498vw8Vc

Go to http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/ and explore information about the planets in

our solar system.

Homework
Read p. 306-321
Do: p. 311 # 1-5, p. 321 #1-8