Lecture 11
HR diagram, luminosity/color/temp/radius/lifetime of stars
Friday July 18, 2008
Introduction to the sun, our star. PDF slides on Angel.
Concepts:
- Structure of the sun: Core, radiative zone, convective zone; photosphere, chromosphere, corona
- Hydrogen fusion: Proton-proton chain converts hydrogen nuclei into helium nuclei, releases energy (and neutrinos)
- Sunspots: : slightly cooler areas on surface of sun, appear dark, associated with magnetic loops breaking surface
- Prominences and flares: hot particles trapped in magnetic field lines; can break, releasing particles/energy
Vocabulary:
- Granulation: visible appearance of convective cells on surface. Centers are hotter/higher/moving upwards
- Differential rotation: The sun doesn't rotate like a solid body; it rotates faster near the equator than the poles
- Zeeman effect: Line splitting due to presence of strong magnetic field; seen in sunspots
Activity:
None
Random link:
None
Updated July 22, 2008