Layers of the Sun

The sun is comprised of many layers that work together to produce energy and provide life on earth.

From the Earth, the sun looks rather small. In reality, the diameter of the sun is around 860,000 miles. It is the closest star to the earth with a distance of 93 million miles. The sun is made of several complex layers, each with their own unique job that ultimately produces energy. This energy controls the Earth's climate and weather and provides life for all living things on earth.

The Foundation Layers of the Sun

The core is the inner layer. Heat from this layer is 15 million degrees Kelvin which translates to roughly 27 million degrees Fahrenheit. Kelvin is a temperature scale that picks up where the Celsius degree ends. The core is comprised of the radiative layer which emits radiation and the convective layer that transfers heat. The heat inside the core causes the protons and electrons to rub together creating an energy source in the Sun.

The radiation zone is just outside of the core. Its job is to transfer energy from the core to the other layers. The temperature at this layer is 7 million degrees Fahrenheit causing thermal radiation. The temperature in this layer is cooler than in the core. This layer has 60 percent mass and 90 percent volume.

The Middle Layer of the Sun

The convection layer is where photons and solar energy are created. This layer moves heat to the surface of the sun. Once on the surface, the air cools and drops back into convection zone where it reheats. This process allows energy to be transferred to the next layer.

The Outer Layers of the Sun

The photosphere is the layer that can be seen from the Earth. The temperature of the photosphere is about 10 million degrees Fahrenheit. Areas above the photosphere are known as the solar atmosphere. This area can be seen with telescopes.

The chromosphere layer is located just above the photosphere. It is the same diameter as the Earth and is about 35 million degrees Fahrenheit. Sometimes the chromosphere can be seen during an eclipse.

The outermost layer of the sun is the corona and can be seen during a solar eclipse when the sun is blocked by the moon. This layer is hotter than the surface of the sun.

The sun has many chemical elements but since it is so hot they are in a gaseous state. The color of the sun is actually white, but from Earth it appears yellow. The sun is so dense that there is no surface.

References

Fusion Energy Education. "From Core to Corona: Layers of the Sun." Fusedweb.llnl.gov Accessed June 14, 2010.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration. “The Sun's Layers and Temperatures.” Nmp.jpl.nasa.gov Accessed June 14, 2010.

Space Station Info. "Layers of the Sun." Spacestationinfo.com Accessed June 14, 2010.

Universe Today. "Layers of the Sun." Universetoday.com Accessed June 14, 2010.