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chapter 10
cosmic perspective chapter 10
21
Astronomy
Undergraduate 1
12/15/2013

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Cards

Term
Why does the sun Shine?
Definition
Gravitational Contraction made its core hot enough to sustain nuclear fusion.
Term
How does the sun sustain balance?
Definition
1. gravitational equilibrium – a balance between the outward push of pressure and the inward pull of gravity
2. Energy balance between the energy released by fusion in the core and the energy radiated into space front he sun's surface.
Term
What is the sun's structure?
Definition
Interior- core, radiation zone, and convection zone.

exterior- photosphere, chromosphere, and corona
Term
What is important about the Chromosphere (sun)
Definition
radiates most of the sun's ultraviolet radiation
Term
What is the Photosphere (sun)
Definition
the sun's surface, where the sun spots happen because of extreme magnetic fields
Term
what happens in the Convection Zone (sun)
Definition
hot air raises, cold air falls
Term
what happens in the Radiation Zone (sun)
Definition
energy moves outward primarily in the form of photon of light.
Term
What happens in the Core (sun)
Definition
nuclear fusion transforms hydrogen into helium.
Term
what is the correlation of temperature with depth in the sun?
(sun)
Definition
temperature rises with depth
Term
How does nuclear fusion occur in the sun?
Definition
proton-proton chain, due to high temp in the core
Term
Proton-proton chain
Definition
4H --> 1He + Energy
Helium nucleus has less mass than the combined 4H nuclei. When they fuse, the disappearing mass becomes energy according to E=mc^2
Term
Neutrinos (proton-proton chain)
Definition
provide a direct way to measure nuclear fusion in the sun and recent results indicate that fusion occurs as our models predict
Term
Types of Neutrinos (proton-proton chain)
Definition
a.) electron neutrinos b.) muon neutrinos c.) tau neutrinos
Term
Sun Spots
Definition
cooler than the plasma around it because magnetic fields.
sunspots tend to happen in pairs.
Term
Solar prominences (sun)
Definition
the loops connecting sun spots
Term
What causes Solar activity (sun)
Definition
convection combined with the rotation pattern of the sun. Which is faster at the equator than at the poles. Because the gas motions stretch and twist the sun's magnetic field.
Term
Four types of solar activity (sun)
Definition
1. sunspots 2. solar flares 3. solar prominences 4.coronal mass ejections
Term
Solar flares
Definition
dramatic storm from energy released when the magnetic field lines snap which sometimes eject burst particles into space.
Term
coronal mass ejections
Definition
the huge bubbles full of energetic particles ejected during solar flares
Term
sunspot cycle
Definition
Number of sunspots on the sun's surface has an average of 11 years.
magnetic field flip-flops every 11years.
Term
what is the magnetic cycle of the sun?
Definition
22-year (flips every 11 years)
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