AS101 Study Guide - Comprehensive Midterm Guide: Gravitational Energy, Interstellar Medium, Henry Noris
Document Summary
Average distance from earth 1 au (~ 150 million km) > enough to satisfy the earths energy for 500,000 years. The sun is made of gas (mostly h and he) By watching sunspots, it becomes clear that the sun is rotating. In fact, it rotates faster at the equator (once every 27 days) than it does closer to either pole (once every 31 days). Consisting of energetic protons, electrons, ions, and subatomic particles. High temperatures are due to looping magnetic fields which extend up from the suns surface. Many being connected with sunspots in the photosphere. Where most of the suns uv- radiation comes from. Most of the sunlight received by earth comes from the photosphere. Each square millimetre of the sun"s photosphere is radiating more energy than a 60- watt light bulb. A turbulent region of churning, rolling gas created by rising hot has and falling cooler gas. About 1/3 of the way between the surface and the centre.
