The sun plays a vital role as the powerhouse of our solar system. It exists as a sphere composed of hydrogen and helium that is held together by gravity. The constant production of heat emanates from this body. One fascinating fact is that all the planets within our system revolve around the sun due to its force.
Deep within its core the sun undergoes thermonuclear fusion reactions generating a massive amount of energy. These reactions involve hydrogen atoms merging to form helium atoms, which then release energy into space. Remarkably, each individual fusion reaction releases energy sufficient to power a 15W LED light bulb for a staggering 100 years!
In one hour the sun emits 430 quintillion Joules of energy. To put this figure into perspective it exceeds the annual energy consumption by every person on Earth. Harness this power yourself with Solar Panel Installation Yate and visit redbridgeandsons.co.uk/solar-pv-panels/solar-panel-installers-yate
The scientific exploration of the sun began in earnest during the 1960s when researchers started using telescopes and rockets to study it. Subsequently satellites were launched into orbit to investigate its rays and X rays while capturing images of its hot corona.
The atmosphere surrounding our sun comprises layers; namely the photosphere closest to its surface followed by a hotter layer called the chromosphere. The outermost layer is known as the corona and boasts temperatures exceeding one million degrees Celsius.
The sun’s different layers can impact Earth in ways, such as causing sunspots, solar flares and coronal mass ejections. Solar flares are releases of gas and magnetic energy that have the potential to disrupt power grids and communication systems. Coronal mass ejections are clouds of material that can pose a threat to satellites and astronauts in space potentially causing damage or interference.
