Sun

The sun is the largest star in the solar system. It is found at the center and the planets orbit around the sun.

The sun has a spherical; shape and scientists believe that it contain a mass of hot plasma. The sun is a very important part of the earth as it supplies us with the energy that is required for life on earth to exist.

This star is very far away from the earth and no rocket has ever land on the star due to its very high temperatures.

How old is the sun?

The age of the sun is approximated to be the same age of the solar system. Scientists have dated the sun to about four and a half billion years old. The age was gotten by studying rocks from the moon which is believed to have existed for the same number of years as the sun. It was formed as a result of the collapse of a big cloud that contained hydrogen and helium molecules. Scientists believe that the sun is half way through its expected life. After another 5 billion years, the sun will burn out. This is after it has exhausted its nuclear fuel.

What the sun is made of?

The sun is a large sphere that glows due to the hot gas contained within it. The major gases that make up the sun include hydrogen and helium. It contains 70% of hydrogen and 28% of helium. There are also other hot gases that are contained in the sun including carbon, oxygen and nitrogen. It is also composed of elements like silicon, iron, neon, sulfur and magnesium. What makes the sun to shine is the conversion of the hydrogen gas into helium. This is through a process known as the nuclear fusion which takes place at the hot core of the sun. In this process, the two gases are heated up which makes their atoms to disintegrate and hence the gases are turned into plasma. The reason why scientists believe that the sun will burn out in four to five billion years is because the hydrogen gas that is converted to helium will get depleted.

How bright is the sun?

The sun is a very bright star. It is four hundred thousand times brighter than the full moon. The brightness of stars in the solar system is measured using magnitudes. The sun has a magnitude of -26.74 which is very bright. This is the reason as to why it is easy to look at the moon with our bare eyes but it difficult to look directly at the sun.

Solar system

The solar system can be described as the sun and all the things that rotate around it. This includes the planets, the moon, comets, asteroids and meteoroids. The solar system was formed billions of years ago. A large cloud full of gas and dusts known as the Solar Nebula collapsed as a result of gravity and the collapse made it to rotate very fast and it formed a flattened disk. Material from the collapsed cloud accumulated at the center forming the sun while the rest of the material collided and combined forming the moon, planets, comets, asteroids and meteoroids. The solar system is composed of;

1. The sun is the largest component of the solar system that is found at the center. All the planets rotate around it. Due to the energy that it produces, it makes possible life on earth.
2. The planets are also a component of the solar system. There are eight planets that orbit around the sun. This includes Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Planets are composed of rocks and iron. Mercury is the smallest and the hottest planet as it is closer to the sun. Venus is closer to the earth and it can be seen as the brightest star in the sky. Life exists only on planet earth. Mars is a red planet as its surface is reddish in color. Jupiter is the largest planet as it is twice the size of other planets. Saturn is a planet with a beautiful view due to the rings that are found around it. Uranus and Neptune are dark planets as they are far from the sun.
3. The moon is also a part of the solar system that gets its light as a result of reflecting the sun’s light. Earth has one moon but there are other planets that have more than one moon. There is no gravity in the moon.
4. An asteroid is a large rock that is found in space that orbits around the sun.
5. Meteoroids are smaller than asteroids and they may enter the earth’s atmosphere to become meteors which are seen as shooting stars.
6. A comet is a body made of ice that contains gases. When it passes close to the sun, it heats up to release the frozen gases.

Uses of the sun’s energy

1. The sun provides solar energy. This is an alternative source of energy from electricity that can provide electricity through solar cells.
2. The sun’s energy is also used to grow crops. Crops depend on the sun to grow and to make their own food.
3. The sun’s energy also warms up the earth. Without the sun, the earth could be a cold planet that cannot support life.
4. The sun’s energy also enables the water cycle. This is when rain water on the surface evaporates to form clouds which then form rain.
5. The sun’s energy can also be used at home to serve functions like drying food and clothes.

Conclusion

The sun is a very important component of the solar system. The sun has made it possible for life to exist on earth due to its numerous benefits.