The Sun

The sun is our star. All of the planets in our solar system orbit around it. It is made of very hot gases, mostly hydrogen
and helium, that provide the light and heat for our solar system. Answer the questions at the bottom of the page using
what you have learned.

Corona
Sunspots The corona is the
These are areas on outermost surface
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that appear darker visible during a solar
because they are of eclipse, and is much
a lower temperature hotter than the vis-
than surrounding ible surface of the
areas. sun.

Flares
Bursts of energy that
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surface. Core
It is the hottest part
of the solar system.
Almost all of the
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duced here by fusion,
and moves
Prominences
outwards.
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that loop back to the
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Photosphere Chromosphere
This is the visible It is a reddish color but,
layer of the sun, but it is not visible to the eye.
is cooler than the outer
two layers.

Questions
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created by:
Copyright 2010-2011 Education.com www.education.com/worksheets
 The Sun
The sun is our star. All of the planets in our solar system orbit around it. It is made of very hot gases, mostly hydrogen

Answer Sheet
and helium, that provide the light and heat for our solar system. Answer the questions at the bottom of the page using
what you have learned.

Corona
Sunspots The corona is the
What
These are is theondifference between a flare and a prominence?
areas outermost surface
WKHVXQ¶VVXUIDFH of the sun. It is only
thatAappear
flaredarker
flashes off of the sun’s surface, while a prominencevisible
loops back
during a solar
eclipse, and is much
to the sun’s
because they are of surface. hotter than the vis-
a lower temperature
than surrounding ible surface of the
areas. sun.

What part of the sun produces the majority of heat and light?
The core produces the majority of the sun’s heat and light.
Flares
Bursts of energy that
ÀDVKRIIRIWKHVXQ¶V
surface. Core
What two parts of the sun’s outer layer are only visible from Earth during a solar eclipse?
It is the hottest part
of the solar system.
The corona and the chromosphere are both visible during a solarAlmost
eclipse,
all of the
but normally are not visible to the naked eye. VXQ¶VHQHUJ\LVSUR-
duced here by fusion,
and moves
Prominences
outwards.
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that loop back to the
Why are sunspots
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Photosphere Chromosphere
Sunspots are darkerThisthan
is the surrounding
visible areas because they
It is a reddish are
color but,a lower
temperature. layer of the sun, but it is not visible to the eye.
is cooler than the outer
two layers.

Questions
What part of the sun do we see from Earth?
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We can see the photosphere from Earth.
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created by:
Copyright 2010-2011 Education.com www.education.com/worksheets