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The sun
sun vocabulary
Term | Definition |
---|---|
core | The central region of the sun, where nuclear fusion takes place |
nuclear fusion | The process by which hydrogen atoms join together in the sun's core to form helium |
radiation zone | a region of very tightly packed gas in the sun's interior where energy is transferred mainly in the form of light |
convection zone | the outermost layer of the sun's interior |
photosphere | the inner layer of the sun's atmosphere that gives off its visible light |
chromosphere | the middle layer of the sun's atmosphere, the red layer |
corona | the outer layer of the sun's atmosphere, it is visible only during an eclipse |
solar winds | a stream of electrically charged particles that emanate from the sun's corona |
sunspot | a dark area of gas on the sun's surface that is cooler than surrounding gases |
prominence | a huge, reddish loop of gas that protrudes from the sun's surface, linking parts of the sunspot region |
solar flare | an eruption of gas from the sun's surface that occurs when the loops in sunspot regions suddenly connect |