ASTR 1102 Chapter : Astronomy1102
Document Summary
Patterns of vibrations on the surface tell us about what the sun is like inside. Here, vibrations revealed by doppler shifts are shown] Data on solar vibrations agree very well with mathematical models of solar interior. Neutrinos created during fusion fly directly through the sun. Early searches for solar neutrinos failed to find the predicted number. Most recent observations find the right number of neutrinos, but some have changed form. The core"s extreme temperature and density are just right for nuclear fusion of hydrogen to helium through the proton-proton chain. Gravitation equllibrium acts as a thermostat to regulate the core temperature because fusion rate is very sensitive to temperature. Randomly bouncing photons carry energy through the radiation zone. Rising of hot plasma carries energy through the convection zone to photosphere. Mathematical models agree with solar vibrations and solar neutrinos. All the phenomena are related to magnetic fields.
