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Questions and Answers
What is the surface temperature of the sun and its central temperature?
What is the surface temperature of the sun and its central temperature?
The surface temperature of the sun is 5800K and its central temperature is 15 million kelvin.
What class of star is the sun?
What class of star is the sun?
The sun is a G2V star.
What elements is the sun comprised of?
What elements is the sun comprised of?
91.2% Hydrogen, 8.7% Helium, 0.1% other.
How many times bigger is the sun than the earth?
How many times bigger is the sun than the earth?
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What is hydrostatic equilibrium?
What is hydrostatic equilibrium?
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What is the force that keeps stars together inward?
What is the force that keeps stars together inward?
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What is the force that keeps the sun from collapsing on itself?
What is the force that keeps the sun from collapsing on itself?
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What is the job of a star?
What is the job of a star?
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For the sun's interior, what are the three ways that the sun moves energy out of its core?
For the sun's interior, what are the three ways that the sun moves energy out of its core?
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What is the job of the thermonuclear core?
What is the job of the thermonuclear core?
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What is the radiative zone?
What is the radiative zone?
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Do all small stars have a radiative zone?
Do all small stars have a radiative zone?
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What is the convection zone?
What is the convection zone?
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What is the order of really big stars to moving energy out of its core?
What is the order of really big stars to moving energy out of its core?
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What is helioseismology?
What is helioseismology?
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How can we use the Doppler effect to look at a star?
How can we use the Doppler effect to look at a star?
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What makes the sun shine?
What makes the sun shine?
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Do stars use fusion or fission?
Do stars use fusion or fission?
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What is fission?
What is fission?
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What is fusion?
What is fusion?
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Why do stars use fusion and not fission?
Why do stars use fusion and not fission?
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What is the output of all the energy stars make?
What is the output of all the energy stars make?
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What is a positron?
What is a positron?
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What type of chain do smaller stars use to make their energy?
What type of chain do smaller stars use to make their energy?
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What type of chain or cycle do bigger stars use to make their energy?
What type of chain or cycle do bigger stars use to make their energy?
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Is the CNO part of the cycle ever actually used up or consumed?
Is the CNO part of the cycle ever actually used up or consumed?
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Can energy be created or destroyed?
Can energy be created or destroyed?
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Study Notes
The Sun: Key Facts
- Surface temperature of the Sun: 5800K; central temperature: 15 million K.
- Classified as a G2V star, indicating it's an average star compared to others.
- Composition: 91.2% Hydrogen, 8.7% Helium, and 0.1% other elements.
Size and Scale
- Radius of the Sun: 109 times that of Earth, categorizing it as an average-sized star.
- Hydrostatic equilibrium: Outward pressure balances inward gravitational force, maintaining stability.
Forces at Play
- Gravity is the inward force that keeps stars together.
- Pressure force counteracts gravitational collapse, preventing the Sun from collapsing.
Energy Production
- The Sun’s primary function is to generate energy and radiate it into space.
- Energy moves from the core through three regions:
- Thermonuclear core (where fusion occurs).
- Radiative zone (energy is transported by photon movement).
- Convective zone (energy is transported via convection).
Energy Transport Mechanisms
- In the thermonuclear core, fusion happens due to high temperatures and pressures.
- The radiative zone allows photons to bounce around before reaching the surface.
- Smaller stars might lack a radiative zone, relying solely on a thermonuclear core and convection.
- Larger stars may utilize a combination of thermonuclear core, convection, and radiation for energy transport.
Helioseismology and Doppler Effect
- Helioseismology analyzes seismic motions to study the Sun’s interior structure.
- Doppler effect allows observation of red and blue shifts of gases to deduce star motion and energy output.
Fusion vs. Fission
- Stars utilize nuclear fusion, combining small atoms (like hydrogen) to release energy.
- Fission involves splitting large atoms and is not a process used by stars.
- Output of energy from fusion: 4 hydrogen atoms fuse to create 1 helium atom, producing energy in various light forms, along with positrons and neutrinos.
Reaction Chains
- Smaller stars use the proton-proton chain (4 H to 1 He) for energy production.
- Larger stars utilize the CNO cycle, a six-step process reliant on catalysts that are not consumed in the reaction.
Conservation of Energy
- Energy cannot be created or destroyed but can change forms.
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Description
Test your knowledge about our celestial star, the Sun, with these flashcards. Learn about its surface temperature, classification as a G2V star, and its elemental composition. Ideal for astronomy enthusiasts looking to enhance their understanding of stellar properties.
