Unit 2: Astronomy Space Chapter 26: The Sun and the Solar System

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Unit 2 Astronomy / SpaceChapter 26 The Sun and
the Solar System

• C/S 26.1 The Suns Size, Heat, and Structure
• C/S 26.2 Observing the Solar System

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C/S 26.1 The Suns Size, Heat, and Structure

• The Sun's Energy
• Diameter of the sun is 1,400,000 km.
• A million Earths could fit inside the sun
• Fusion-the combining of the nuclei of lighter
  elements to form a heavier element.
• Why do hydrogen and helium exist as plasma?
• Plasma-Fourth state of matter consisting of
  charged particles-the nuclei, or ions, which have
  a positive electric charge, and electrons, which
  have a negative charge.
• What happens to the mass?

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C/S 26.1 The Suns Size, Heat, and Structure

• The Sun's Layers (see figure p. 573)
• Core-composed of hydrogen and helium in a plasma
  form, which is 100 times denser than water. Has
  a temperature of 15,600,000ºC.
• Photosphere-The visible surface of the sun. Has
  a temperature of 6,000ºC.
• Chromosphere-Inner layer of the Sun's atmosphere.
  Extends a 1000km above the Photosphere. It has
  a temperature of 20,000ºC, which causes hydrogen
  to emit a reddish color.
• Solar Prominence-Dense clouds of material
  suspended above the sun's surface by magnetic
  fields. They can erupt for a few minutes or
  several hours, extending 1000s of km into space.
• Corona-Thin outer atmosphere, which is a million
  times less bright than the photosphere. Has a
  temperature ranging from 1,000,000ºC-3,000,000ºC.

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C/S 26.1 The Suns Size, Heat, and Structure

• Features of the Sun
• Sunspots-Dark spots on the photosphere. Range in
  size and duration.
• Magnetic field is 1000x stronger than the
  surrounding photosphere.
• 11 year cycle
• Solar Wind-a constant stream of electrically
  charged particles from the corona.
• Solar Flare-outbursts of light that rise up
  suddenly in areas of sunspot activity.
• Particles from solar wind interact with Earth's
  magnetic field, causing auroras.
• What are some side effects of solar wind?

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C/S 26.2 Observing the Solar System

• The movements of Planets and Stars
• What does geocentric mean?
• What are the wandering points of light?
• What is the backward motion of planets called?
• Ptolemy's Geocentric Model
• Developed the first model to locate planets.
• Proposed that planets traveled in epicycles.
• Copernicus's Heliocentric Model
• What does the heliocentric model say?
• What causes retrograde motion?

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C/S 26.2 Observing the Solar S

• Tycho, Kepler, and Planetary Motion
• Tycho studied the planets individually. Most of
  his observations were made before the invention
  of the telescope.
• Kepler continued his work and discovered the
  orbits were elliptical.
• Kepler had three planetary laws. What were they?
• Isaac Newton and the Law of Gravitation
• What is inertia?
• What is the big G force?