It's Gonna Blow!!

Background information: Follow these links to find the necessary background information to answer the following questions.  This information is crucial when determining whether or not "It's Gonna Blow".

1.  What are the layers of the sun's interior?
2.  What are the layers of the sun's atmosphere?
3.  What is the mass of the sun (in Kg)? Find it Here
4.  What is the H-R Diagram and where does the sun fit in?
5.  How old is the sun?  Find it Here
6.  How big is the sun compared to other stars? Find it Here
7.  What will happen as the sun reaches "old age"?
8.  Is she gonna blow?  Stellar Mass is the key.
9.  Using the H-R diagram provided, explain the fate of our sun.
 
 
 
Learn facts about the Sun's interior and structure.
Discover features of the surface and atmosphere. 
Check out some cool 
solar images online.
Complete the H-R Diagram worksheet.

 
 
 

More links to cool Sun stuff 
 
 
 

Astronomy Links 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

Sun Reference Data
Diameter:
1.4 million km 
(870,000 miles)
  
Age:
4.5 billion years
Mass:
330,000 x Earth
Distance from Earth:
149.6 million km (93 million miles)
Density:
1.41 (water=1)
Distance to Nearest Star:
4.3 light years
Solar Wind Speed:
3 million km/hr.
Luminosity:
390 billion billion megawatts
Solar Cycle:
8 - 11 years
Temperature at surface:
5,500o C (9,932o F)
Temperature at Core:
14 milliono C (22.5 milliono F)
Temperature of Sunspots:
4,000o C (7,232o F)
Rotation Period at Equator:
25 Earth days
Rotation Period at Poles:
35 Earth days

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View a  H-R Diagram Slide Show at GMU
View a  H-R Diagram Slide Show at MSUS
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