10.13 Study Guide

10.13 Study Guide

1. Features of the sun

   • Atmosphere (exterior of the sun)
     • Photosphere: the visible surface of the sun "light sphere"
       • Chromosphere: the red-orange layer of the sun "color sphere"
         • Corona: white halo around the sun - thins into particles called "solar wind"
         • Prominences: huge loops of gas
         • Sunspots: darker areas of cooler gas
         • Solar Flares: short bursts of erupting gas
   • Layers (interior of the sun)
     • Core: nuclear reactions, extremely high temps, H turns into He
       • Radiation Zone: most dense layer, energy from the core moves outward
         • Convection Zone: outermost layer, hot gases rise - they cool and sink

2. Types of Telescopes

   • optical
     • Reflecting: type of optical telescope. Uses curved mirrors to collect light. The largest optical telescopes.
     • Refracting: type of optical telescope. Uses convex (curved) lenses. Light enters and is bent toward the eyepiece
   • Radio: detect radio waves, very large, not weather dependent
   • X-ray: detects high energy waves