16/09/2025
Earth's Structure Explained: Check out the details below in pictures ☝️
The Sun is structured in distinct layers, divided into the solar interior (core, radiative zone, and convective zone) and the solar atmosphere (photosphere, chromosphere, transition region, and corona). Energy is generated via nuclear fusion in the dense, 15-million-K core, then transported outward through radiation and convection, eventually reaching the visible surface (photosphere) and extending into the superheated outer atmosphere.
Solar Interior
Core: The innermost layer, where intense heat and pressure drive nuclear fusion, converting hydrogen into helium and releasing vast amounts of energy.
Radiative Zone: Energy from the core is transported outward by photons in this dense region.
Convective Zone: Energy is carried to the surface via convection currents, similar to boiling water, as hotter gases rise and cooler gases sink.
Solar Atmosphere
Photosphere: The visible "surface" of the Sun, emitting most of the light we see.
Chromosphere: A layer above the photosphere, characterized by burning gases and sometimes visible during solar eclipses.
Transition Region: A region between the chromosphere and corona where temperatures dramatically increase.
Corona: The outermost layer, an extremely low-density atmosphere with very high temperatures that is visible during a total solar eclipse.
Composition & State of Matter
The Sun is primarily composed of hydrogen and helium.
Due to its extreme heat, the Sun is made of plasma – a state of matter where atoms are stripped of electrons, creating a mix of free electrons and positively charged ions.
