Three Guiding Questions:
Why is the Sun important to the Earth?
The Sun provides heat and light energy to the Earth, which enables plants and animals to grow. The Sun's energy also drives the water cycle and weather.
How does the Sun get its energy?
The Sun gets its energy from fusion (atom smashing) of hydrogen into helium; carbon and nitrogen also contribute to the release of energy. The smashing of atoms takes place at millions of degrees.
What is the Sun? What is it made of?
The Sun is a medium sized star. It is a ball of incandescent (glowing/bright) gas (technically it is matter in the plasma state) made of hydrogen and helium. It also has other elements in the gas state- like carbon and nitrogen.
Why is the Sun important to the Earth?
The Sun provides heat and light energy to the Earth, which enables plants and animals to grow. The Sun's energy also drives the water cycle and weather.
How does the Sun get its energy?
The Sun gets its energy from fusion (atom smashing) of hydrogen into helium; carbon and nitrogen also contribute to the release of energy. The smashing of atoms takes place at millions of degrees.
What is the Sun? What is it made of?
The Sun is a medium sized star. It is a ball of incandescent (glowing/bright) gas (technically it is matter in the plasma state) made of hydrogen and helium. It also has other elements in the gas state- like carbon and nitrogen.