In the radiative zone, energy generated by nuclear fusion in the core moves outward as electromagnetic radiation . In other words, the energy is conveyed by photons. When the energy reaches the top of the radiative zone, it begins to move in a different fashion in the convective zone.
What occurs in the convection zone?
A region of turbulent plasma between a star’s core and its visible photosphere at the surface , through which energy is transferred by convection. In the convection zone, hot plasma rises, cools as it nears the surface, and falls to be heated and rise again.
What happens at the radiative zone of the Sun?
Just outside the Inner Core of the sun at a distance approximately 0.25 to 0.7 solar radii lies the Radiative Zone. This zone radiates energy through the process of photon emission and capture by the hydrogen and helium ions .
What is a fact about the radiative zone?
The radiative zone is a thick layer of highly ionized, very dense gases which are under constant bombardment by the gamma rays from the core . It is about 75% hydrogen and 24% helium. Because most of the atoms here lack electrons, they can’t absorb photons for convection to the surface. Most photons just bounce around.
What is happening in the Sun’s core?
This is what happens to the hydrogen gas in the core of the Sun. It gets squeeze together so tightly that four hydrogen nuclei combine to form one helium atom . This is called nuclear fusion. In the process some of the mass of the hydrogen atoms is converted into energy in the form of light.
Why does it take so long to go through radiative zone?
Matter in a radiation zone is so dense that photons can travel only a short distance before they are absorbed or scattered by another particle, gradually shifting to longer wavelength as they do so.
What is Corona of Sun?
Definition: Corona is a luminous envelope of plasma that surrounds the Sun and other celestial bodies . It is extended to millions of kilometres into space and is commonly seen during a total solar eclipse. ... The composition of the corona is the same as the interior of the Sun, mainly made up of hydrogen but ionized form.
How hot is the convection zone?
The convection zone is the outer-most layer of the solar interior. It extends from a depth of about 200,000 km right up to the visible surface. At the base of the convection zone the temperature is about 2,000,000° C.
What is the difference between the radiative and convection zones?
In the radiative zone, energy generated by nuclear fusion in the core moves outward as electromagnetic radiation . In other words, the energy is conveyed by photons. ... In the convective zone, heat and energy are carried outward along with matter in swirling flows called convection cells.
How long does it take for energy to pass through the convection zone?
The hot material follows a direct path through the convective zone and the energy is transferred much faster than it is by radiation. It takes only a little more than a week for the hot material to carry its energy to the top of the convection zone.
How hot is the radiative zone?
Radiative Zone: Temperature falls from about 7 million to about 2 million K across this zone. Convection Zone: drops from 2 million K to 5800K in this zone. Photosphere: about 5800K, although sunspots are about 3800 K – that’s why they are dark.
What percent of the Sun is the radiative zone?
The radiative zone of the sun starts at about 25 percent of the radius, and extends to about 70 percent of the radius . In this broad zone, heat from the core cools dramatically, from between seven million K to two million K. In the radiative zone, energy is transferred by a process called thermal radiation.
How hot is the radiation zone?
The radiation zone is the site where energy transport occurs. This zone can be characterized as the place where we, the photons, bounce around facilitating the ability for energy to be transported to the outer surface of the Sun. The temperature at the radiation zone ranges from 2 to 7 million degrees Celsius .
Is the corona hotter than the photosphere?
Edlén and Grotrian’s finding that the sun’s corona is so much hotter than the photosphere – despite being further from the sun’s core, its ultimate source of energy – has led to much head-scratching in the scientific community.
Is the core of the Earth hot or cold?
Earth’s core is the very hot , very dense center of our planet. The ball-shaped core lies beneath the cool, brittle crust and the mostly-solid mantle. The core is found about 2,900 kilometers (1,802 miles) below Earth’s surface, and has a radius of about 3,485 kilometers (2,165 miles).
Does our Sun have a core?
And, just like a golf ball, the Sun is made up of layers: a core, a surface, and surrounding atmospheric layers, each of which have their own layers. Core: the temperature at the very center of the Sun is about 27 million degrees Farenheit (F).
