The Sun

  1. The sun’s atmosphere has 3 layers. The photosphere is the closest to the Sun, followed by the chromosphere and the corona.
  2. A harmful type of radiation from the sun is called ultraviolet radiation. This can cause skin cancer.
  3. Two types of energy provided from the sun are heat and light.
  4. The Sun is our nearest star.
  5. The maximum temperature on the sun is approximately 15000000 degrees Celsius.
  6. Plants and animals both depend on the sun. The sun plays an important role in photosynthesis which involves transforming energy from the sun into chemical energy that helps plant grow. The sun also helps animals by providing warmth, and helping plants grow which creates oxygen.
  7. There would be no oil deposits on earth if there were no sun because plants and animals require the sun to survive. Fossil fuels were created from dead plants and animals. Therefore, if there was no sun, there would be no plants and animals, and no fossil fuel deposits.
  8. Nuclear fusion involves the combination of hydrogen atoms in the core of the sun to produce helium. This causes a huge amount of energy to be released.
  9. Three interesting features of the sun include: (1) it is 4.5 billion years old, (2) it is the main source of light and heat energy for the earth, and (3) it is the closest star to earth.
  10. The sun affects winds and rainfall because different parts of the earth heat up at different times, which creates pressure differences in the atmosphere. These, in turn, create winds that increase evaporation leading to rainfall.
  11. The sun is primarily made out of gas, which is much lighter than the rock and metal the earth is made of. The earth is the densest planet in the solar system and has an iron core.

14. Light travels25,920,000,000km in one day. Light travels 9461000000000 in one year. Light travels 1080 000000km in one hour. Light travels 17, 987,547,480 metres per minute.

15. There is 9461000000000km in a light year.

16. It would take 8mins and 20 seconds. The average the distance between the earth and the sun is 150000000. Light travels at 300,000km per second. 150000000 / 300,000= 500 seconds which equals 8mins and 20 seconds.