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Layers of the Sun

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Analyze the processes that occur in each layer of the sun, and how researchers study these layers using indirect methods.

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The solution provides information, assistance and advise in tackling the task (see above) on the topic of Solar layers and how they can be studied. Resources are listed for further exploration of the topic.

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The Sun's Layers

The Sun, a star, is that massive sphere of luminous plasma whose gravity holds its own mass and the planetary system around it. That system is the Solar system of which our planet, Earth is a part of. This makes the sun 'our' star, the source of heat, light, energy and forces that have allowed for the formation of our planet, the systems that govern it and the life that is on it. Our sun and its planetary system is part of the much larger Milky Way Galaxy whose catalogue of stars we see at night in the sky. The Sun burns bright through the process of thermonuclear fusion where hydrogen and helium fuse at its very core and in so doing release energy that passes through the sun's interior, radiating as light, heat and wave energy into space. It is (Cain, 2009), "1,392,000 kilometres or 865,000 miles" in diameter or which could fit about, "1.3 million planets the size of the Earth into the Sun. Everything in the Solar System orbits around the Sun, including 8 planets and their moons, many dwarf planets, asteroids, comets and dust." Formed around 4.6 billion years ago from a massive gas and dust cloud known as the Solar Nebula, it is deemed to be approaching its main sequence phase which means it is about to heat up and will last for another 7 billion years.

According to NASA (2014), there are 2 main layers, the inner and the outer, each divided into zone. NASA (2014) explains- "The inner layers are the Core, Radiative Zone and Convection Zone. The outer layers are the Photosphere, the Chromosphere, the Transition Region and the Corona." Cohen (2007) explains what each of these layers are about as follows:
1. The Core - "The ...

Solution provided by:
Xenia Rochelle Jones, MA, PhD (IP)
Education
  • MPhil/PhD (IP), Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
  • MA, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
  • Certificate, Geva Ulpan (via Universita Tel Aviv)
  • BA, University of the Philippines
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