Our Star

Our Star

SUN

Why does the Sun shine?

Why does the Sun shine?

Ancients thought
the Sun was
made of ____.

Why does the Sun shine?

Ancients thought
the Sun was
made of wood.

Why does the Sun shine?

Others thought the
Sun was made of
____.

Why does the Sun shine?

Others thought the
Sun was made of
coal.

Why does the Sun shine?

Astronomers of the 1800s realized that coal
or wood couldnt account for the enormous
energy of the Sun.

Why does the Sun shine?

Astronomers of the 1800s realized that coal
or wood couldnt account for the enormous
energy of the Sun.

There had to be a different way.

Why does the Sun shine?

Kelvin and
Helmholtz
proposed a
process called
gravitational
contraction to
explain the energy
of the Sun.

Why does the Sun shine?

Kelvin and
Helmholtz
proposed a
process called
gravitational
contraction to
explain the energy
of the Sun.
Gravitational contraction could theoretically
power the Sun for 25 million years.

Why does the Sun shine?

Geologists found the Earth to be older than
25 million years which discounted
gravitational contraction.

Why does the Sun shine?

Geologists found the Earth to be older than
25 million years which discounted
gravitational contraction.

There had to be a different way.

Why does the Sun shine?

In 1905 Einstein presented his E=mc 2
equation. Mass could be converted to energy.

Why does the Sun shine?

In 1905 Einstein presented his E=mc 2
equation. Mass could be converted to energy.
In the 1930s other
scientists using
Einsteins idea proposed
nuclear fusion as the
Suns energy process.

Why does the Sun shine?

Theoretically, the center of the Sun had
enough pressure and was hot enough to
fuse hydrogen into helium releasing energy.

Why does the Sun shine?

Theoretically, the center of the Sun had
enough pressure and was hot enough to
fuse hydrogen into helium releasing energy.

The theory agreed with observation and was

accepted. Later tests, especially dealing
with neutrinos, confirmed this theory.

Why does the Sun shine?

TWrT

Why does the Sun shine?

TWrT
1) Why does the Sun shine?

Why does the Sun shine?

TWrT
1) Why does the Sun shine?
2) How recent is this theory?

Why does the Sun shine?

TWrT
1) Why does the Sun shine?
2) How recent is this theory?
3) What was the drawback to
gravitational contraction as a theory
for the Suns energy?

How does fusion work?

Gas cloud in space

How does fusion work?

Gravity causes gas to get closer and closer

together contraction.

How does fusion work?

As the gas contracts, it becomes hotter.

This is gravitational contraction.

How does fusion work?

How does fusion work?

As the gas continues to heat up, it becomes

plasma.
Plasma a state of matter, much like a gas,
consisting of ions and free electrons.

How does fusion work?

Eventually the center of the star becomes

hot enough and has enough pressure to
begin nuclear fusion.

How does fusion work?

How does fusion work?

How does fusion work?

How does fusion work?

How does fusion work?

How does fusion work?

Gravity pulls the plasma closer and closer to

the center of the Sun.

How does fusion work?

Pressure from the extreme temperature of

nuclear fusion pushes the plasma away from
the center of the Sun.

How does fusion work?

The pressure and gravity will find an

equilibrium and exactly counteract each
other called gravitational equilibrium.

How does fusion work?

How does fusion work?

The purple line represents a photons path

from the center of the Sun as it slowly
moves outward.

How does fusion work?

It takes hundreds of thousands of years for

a photon to move from the center to the
surface of the Sun.

How does fusion work?

TWrT

How does fusion work?

TWrT
1) How does the gas that forms the
Sun heat up enough to perform
nuclear fusion?

How does fusion work?

TWrT
1) How does the gas that forms the
Sun heat up enough to perform
nuclear fusion?
2) Describe the plasma state of
matter?

How does fusion work?

TWrT
1) How does the gas that forms the
Sun heat up enough to perform
nuclear fusion?
2) Describe the plasma state of
matter?
3) How many steps are needed for
hydrogen to form helium through
nuclear fusion?

Structure of the Sun

Structure of the Sun

Core where nuclear fusion occurs.

(temperature > 15 million K)

Structure of the Sun

Radiation Zone where energy moves

outward primarily in the form of photons
(light).
(temperature 10 million K)

Structure of the Sun

Convection Zone where energy from

the core moves outward transported by
the rising of hot gas and falling of cool
gas called convection.
(temperature 10 million K to 6,000 K)

Structure of the Sun

Photosphere top layer of the

convection zone that is the visible
surface of the Sun.
(temperature 6,000 K)

Structure of the Sun

Chromosphere layer just above the

surface (atmosphere) of the Sun that
radiates most of the Suns UV light.
(temperature 10,000 K)

Structure of the Sun

Corona outermost layer of the Suns

atmosphere that emits most of the Suns
x-ray light.
(temperature 1 million K)

Structure of the Sun

Solar Wind stream of charged particles

blown outwards from the Sun. The solar
wind extends well past the solar system.

Structure of the Sun

TWrT

Structure of the Sun

TWrT
1) Which section of the Sun is the
hottest?

Structure of the Sun

TWrT
1) Which section of the Sun is the
hottest?
2) Which section of the Sun extends
the furthest.

How do we know?

How do we know?

Mathematical prediction and verification

through experimentation.

How do we know?

Photograph of Suns Photosphere

How do we know?

Experiment showing Benard Cells

which resembles Suns photosphere.

How do we know?

Giant neutrino detectors which verify the

predicted number of neutrinos from nuclear
fusion in the Suns core.

Our Star
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