Solar interior

Definition

The solar interior is the innermost region of the Sun, comprising various layers where nuclear fusion occurs. It includes the core, radiative zone, and convective zone, each playing a crucial role in energy production and transfer.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The core of the Sun is where nuclear fusion occurs, converting hydrogen into helium and releasing enormous amounts of energy.
2. The radiative zone surrounds the core and transfers energy outward primarily through radiation.
3. In the convective zone, energy is transported by convection currents as hot plasma rises and cool plasma sinks.
4. The temperature in the core can reach up to 15 million degrees Celsius.
5. Neutrinos produced in the core provide critical information about processes occurring in the solar interior.

Review Questions

• What process occurs in the Sun's core that produces energy?
• How does energy primarily travel through the radiative zone?
• What role does convection play in the solar interior?

Related terms

Core: The central part of the Sun where nuclear fusion takes place.

Radiative Zone: A layer of the Sun's interior where energy moves outward by radiation.

Convective Zone: The outermost layer of the solar interior where energy is transferred by convection currents.