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Last Post 3/24/2011 10:35 AM by  Terry Kucera
Sun
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3/24/2011 7:14 AM

    Carly S (cst)

    How can science really tell, or estimate the temperature of the sun, especially deep inside its core? thank you...

    Tags: temperature, sun, core

    Terry Kucera



    Basic Member


    Posts:328
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    3/24/2011 10:35 AM
    Hi Carly,

    To determine the Sun's interior temperature scientists have develop models based on physics and what we know about the Sun's age, mass, volume, and light output. For instance, the only energy source we know of that could keep the Sun going for billions of years is nuclear fusion.
    We can use these things to calculate the temperature and density as a function of radius in the sun.
    (see http://solarscience.msfc....a.gov/interior.shtml for examples)

    In the last couple decades we have also started studying the solar interior by studying solar vibrations (this is called helioseismology). What we have found that way backs up the solar interior models pretty well.

    cheers,

    Terry


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