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Sun
Updated: May 27
The sun is the star at the center of the solar system. It is a nearly perfect spherical ball of hot plasma, with internal convective motion that generates a magnetic field via a dynamo process. It is by far the most important source of energy for life on Earth. Its gravity holds the solar system together, keeping planets, including Earth, in their orbits.
The sun is classified as a G-type main-sequence star, and is informally referred to as a yellow dwarf. It formed approximately 4.6 billion years ago from the gravitational collapse of matter within a large interstellar molecular cloud. As the cloud collapsed, it began to rotate and flatten into a disk, with most of the material gathering in the center to form the sun.
The sun's internal structure is divided into several layers, including the core, radiative zone, and convective zone. The core is the innermost layer, and is where nuclear fusion occurs. Nuclear fusion reactions in the core fuse hydrogen atoms together to form helium, releasing a tremendous amount of energy in the process. This energy travels outward through the radiative zone, where it is transported primarily by radiation, and then through the convective zone, where it is transported by the motion of hot plasma.
The sun's outermost layer is called the photosphere, and it is from this layer that light and heat are emitted. The sun's surface is constantly changing, with features such as sunspots, granules, and prominences. Sunspots are cooler and darker areas on the surface of the sun, while granules are small, boiling cells of gas that rise and fall. Prominences are large, looping arcs of gas that extend out from the sun's surface.
The sun also has a strong magnetic field that gives rise to a variety of solar phenomena, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections. These events can have a significant impact on the Earth's atmosphere and can disrupt satellite and communication systems.
The sun is a vital part of our solar system, and its energy and gravity play a crucial role in the formation and survival of life on Earth. It is a fascinating and dynamic object that continues to be studied by scientists to better understand its properties and behavior.