A geologic feature consisting of permeable rocks, in which the pores in the rocks are filled with water that has a high dissolved salt content. Search the National Academies Press website by selecting one of these related terms.
The National Academies. Our Energy Sources. The Sun. The Sun We consume energy in dozens of forms. Solar radiation reaches Earth with enough energy in a single square meter to run a mid-size desktop computer. There is a reason life that Earth is the only place in the solar system where life is known to be able to live and thrive. Granted, scientists believe that there may be microbial or even aquatic life forms living beneath the icy surfaces of Europa and Enceladus, or in the methane lakes on Titan.
But for the time being, Earth remains the only place that we know of that has all the right conditions for life to exist. One of the reasons for this is because the Earth lies within our sun 's Habitable Zone aka. This means that it is in right spot neither too close nor too far to receive the sun's abundant energy , which includes the light and heat that is essential for chemical reactions.
But how exactly does our sun go about producing this energy? What steps are involved, and how does it get to us here on planet Earth? The simple answer is that the sun, like all stars, is able to create energy because it is essentially a massive fusion reaction.
Scientists believe that this began when a huge cloud of gas and particles i. This not only created the big ball of light at the center of our solar system, it also triggered a process whereby hydrogen, collected in the center, began fusing to create solar energy. Technically known as nuclear fusion, this process releases an incredible amount of energy in the form of light and heat.
But getting that energy from the center of our sun all the way out to planet Earth and beyond involves a couple of crucial steps. In the end, it all comes down to the sun's layers, and the role each of them plays in making sure that solar energy gets to where it can help create and sustain life.
It is here, in the core, where energy is produced by hydrogen atoms H being converted into nuclei of helium He. This is possible thanks to the extreme pressure and temperature that exists within the core, which are estimated to be the equivalent of billion atmospheres The net result is the fusion of four protons hydrogen nuclei into one alpha particle — two protons and two neutrons bound together into a particle that is identical to a helium nucleus. Two positrons are released from this process, as well as two neutrinos which changes two of the protons into neutrons , and energy.
The core is the only part of the sun that produces an appreciable amount of heat through fusion. The rest of the sun is heated by the energy that is transferred from the core through the successive layers, eventually reaching the solar photosphere and escaping into space as sunlight or the kinetic energy of particles. The sun releases energy at a mass—energy conversion rate of 4.
To put that in perspective, this is the equivalent of about 9. This is the zone immediately next to the core, which extends out to about 0. There is no thermal convection in this layer, but solar material in this layer is hot and dense enough that thermal radiation is all that is needed to transfer the intense heat generated in the core outward.
Basically, this involves ions of hydrogen and helium emitting photons that travel a short distance before being reabsorbed by other ions. Temperatures drop in this layer, going from approximately 7 million kelvin closer to the core to 2 million at the boundary with the convective zone. Density also drops in this layer a hundredfold from 0. Here, the temperature is lower than in the radiative zone and heavier atoms are not fully ionized. A lot of people in my town have solar panels on their house.
Apr 23, Ben Apr 8, If a meteor were to hit tilted towers, where would it land? I think it would land in a player camping. Apr 11, Apr 5, Hi, bob!! Jasmin Jan 18, Jan 25, Camposks24 Jan 11, I wonder why the sun is so hot like what started the sun and how did this get so big?
Jan 16, Ruthsmarie Jan 8, Jan 9, What would happen if our sun did erupt? Jan 2, Mia Cook Dec 13, Dec 18, Lily Nov 15, Were glad you like this Wonder!! Nov 21, Oct 18, That's right, kylah! Annoying orange Oct 2, Why do my comments take so long to get posted on a discussion? About a week ago I posted something and it still isn't posted!! Try to answer this question fast! S This wonder is so helpful because I was using it for a school project.
Oct 10, Sep 22, This site it not helpful at all i couldnt find what i was looking for. Jun 7, Feb 15, Hi, Yoyo! Kyle Herman Feb 7, Feb 8, May 8, Kaylee Oct 24, Azlynn Dec 1, Dec 4, Oct 25, Thanks for letting us know what you think, Kaylee!
May 11, Hi, Wonder Friend! Thanks for stopping by! Nate Apr 20, As a 5th grade teacher I am wondering if there is a misconception in this article. You say the sun produces energy, which sounds a lot like making energy. In reality the sun simply reduced energy that is stored at the atomic level. Apr 22, Jan 31, We're glad to have you as our Wonder Friend, Lily!! There are many facts but is not so interesting. But my kid had leaned many things about sun. Hi this is a cool web site but its also terrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jan 19, Dec 20, Kevinnnn Apr 14, Wonderopolis Apr 14, MacKenzie Mason Apr 14, Good to hear, MacKenzie Mason! Two positrons are released from this process, as well as two neutrinos which changes two of the protons into neutrons , and energy. The core is the only part of the Sun that produces an appreciable amount of heat through fusion.
The rest of the Sun is heated by the energy that is transferred from the core through the successive layers, eventually reaching the solar photosphere and escaping into space as sunlight or the kinetic energy of particles. The Sun releases energy at a mass—energy conversion rate of 4. To put that in perspective, this is the equivalent of about 9. Radiative Zone: This is the zone immediately next to the core, which extends out to about 0. There is no thermal convection in this layer, but solar material in this layer is hot and dense enough that thermal radiation is all that is needed to transfer the intense heat generated in the core outward.
Basically, this involves ions of hydrogen and helium emitting photons that travel a short distance before being reabsorbed by other ions. Temperatures drop in this layer, going from approximately 7 million kelvin closer to the core to 2 million at the boundary with the convective zone. Density also drops in this layer a hundredfold from 0.
Here, the temperature is lower than in the radiative zone and heavier atoms are not fully ionized.
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