ARSC 3010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Standard Solar Model, Chromosphere, Convection Zone
14 Dec 2016
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Document Summary
The core is where nuclear fusion takes place. Luminosity total energy radiated by the sun can be calculated from the fraction of that energy that reaches earth. Total luminosity is about 4 1026 w the equivalent of 10 billion 1-megaton nuclear bombs per second. Mathematical models, consistent with observation and physical principles, provide information about the sun"s interior. In equilibrium, inward gravitational force must be balanced by outward pressure. Doppler shifts of solar spectral lines indicate a complex pattern of vibrations. Solar density and temperature, according to the standard solar model. The radiation zone is relatively transparent; the cooler convection zone is opaque. The visible top layer of the convection zone is granulated, with areas of upwelling material surrounded by areas of sinking material. Spectral analysis can tell us what elements are present, but only in the chromosphere and photosphere. Difficult to see directly, as photosphere is too bright, unless moon covers photosphere and not chromosphere during eclipse.
