Heat and its Effects

Earth’s Energy Source:

The Sun

Part 5
 Facts about our Sun
Our Sun is the closest star to Earth and the centre of our
Solar System

• Age is ± 4.6 billion years.

• Estimated life remaining ± 4-5 billion years.
• Temperature at surface is ± 5510 °C ⇒ ‘yellow’ colour.
• Mass is ± 1.99 ×1030 kg (± 330 000 times more than Earth)

• Is an ordinary star of average brightness.

• Converts matter into energy through
fusion at a rate of 4 x 1026 W
 Facts about our Sun
Sunspots
• ‘darker’ regions on the surface of
the Sun
• positioned where the Sun’s magnetic
field is very strong.
• caused by a lower surface temperature of 3,700° C

Flares
• caused by a build up of magnetic
energy in magnetic fields.
• When released, a large amount of
plasma is fired from the surface,
usually directly over a sun spot.
 Structure of the Sun: Interior

Core = 70% hydrogen; 28% helium; 2% heavier elements

 Structure of the Sun: Exterior

Granulation

(Magnetically driven plumes of hot

gas, from chromosphere to
corona)
 Day & Night
The Earth rotates (spins) anticlockwise on an axis…so the
Sun always ‘rises in the East’.
The axis is inclined at 23.5° from vertical.

Earth’s rotation takes:

• about 23 hours, 56 min relative to the
stars (sidereal period)
• exactly 24 hours relative to the Sun
(synodic period = 1 day).
Half facing the Sun = DAY.
Half facing away from the Sun = NIGHT
How Long is a Day in our Solar System?
Planet Tilt of the Axis Length of a Day
(relative to Earth)
Mercury 0° 59 days
Venus 177° 243 days
Earth 23.5° 24 hours
Mars 25° 24 hours & 27 min
Jupiter 3° 9 hours & 50 min
Saturn 27° 10 hours & 47 min
Uranus 98° 17 hours & 14 min
Neptune 28° 16 hours & 7 min
(Pluto) 123° 6.4 days