Sun Structure: Convective Zone Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the convective zone?

The region of the sun's interior that is between the radiative zone and the photosphere where energy is carried upward by convection.

What is the photosphere?

The visible surface of the sun.

What is the corona?

The outermost layer of the sun's atmosphere.

What is the radiative zone?

The zone of the sun's interior that is between the core and the convective zone where energy moves by radiation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the chromosphere?

The thin layer of the sun that is just above the photosphere and that glows a reddish color during eclipses. Signup and view all the answers

What is a prominence?

A loop of relatively cool, incandescent gas that extends above the photosphere and above the sun's edges as seen from Earth. Signup and view all the answers

What is a solar flare?

An explosive release of energy that comes from the sun and is associated with magnetic disturbances on the sun's surface. Signup and view all the answers

What is a coronal mass ejection?

Coronal gas that is thrown into space from the sun. Signup and view all the answers

What is a sunspot?

A dark area of the photosphere of the sun that is cooler than the surrounding areas and has a strong magnetic field. Signup and view all the answers

What is an aurora?

Colored light produced by charged particles from the solar wind and from the magnetosphere that react with and excite the oxygen and nitrogen of Earth's upper atmosphere. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Solar Structure and Phenomena

Convective Zone: Area within the sun's interior located between the radiative zone and the photosphere; energy is transferred upward by convection currents.
Photosphere: The sun's visible surface, from which light and heat radiate outward.
Corona: The sun's outermost atmospheric layer, extending millions of kilometers into space; visible during solar eclipses as a halo.
Radiative Zone: The layer situated between the core and the convective zone where energy transfer occurs primarily via radiation rather than convection.
Chromosphere: A thin layer above the photosphere; appears reddish during solar eclipses due to its emission spectrum.
Prominence: Features composed of cool, incandescent gas that form loop shapes extending into the atmosphere, visible at the sun's edges from Earth.
Solar Flare: A sudden and intense eruption of energy on the sun's surface; closely tied to magnetic field disturbances and can affect space weather.
Coronal Mass Ejection (CME): Large expulsion of plasma and magnetic field from the sun's corona into space; can impact satellites and power systems on Earth.
Sunspot: Dark regions on the photosphere that are cooler than their surroundings; indicate magnetic activity and can vary in size.
Aurora: Natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly seen in polar regions; caused by solar wind particles interacting with the Earth’s atmosphere, particularly oxygen and nitrogen.

Description

Test your knowledge of the sun's structure with these flashcards focused on key terms such as the convective zone, photosphere, and corona. Each card provides essential definitions to help you understand the different layers of the sun's atmosphere and interior.