Sun gives off what kind of energy

But it is only in the past few centuries that the processes that power the sun have come to be understood. Thanks to ongoing research by physicists, astronomers and biologists, we are now able to grasp how the sun goes about producing energy, and how it passes that on to our solar system. The study of the known universe, with its diversity of star systems and exoplanets — has also helped us to draw comparisons with other types of stars.

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The interior structure of the Sun. Illustration of the structure of the Sun and a red giant star, showing their convective zones. Credit: ESO. The Photosphere of the Sun, where visible sunlight and heat are sent into space. Provided by Universe Today. Citation : How does the sun produce energy?

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. Synthesizing nanomaterials from nature's blueprints 10 hours ago. The sun has an amazing amount of heat and even though we only get a small amount of that heat, it's just the right amount for us.

You also may have realized how much light it provides us. Without the sun, we couldn't see. What about the moon? It reached temperatures of Today, there are many different types of solar cooker s being used for cooking, drying and pasteurization, which slows the growth of microbe s in food.

Because they do not use fossil fuel s, they are safe, do not produce pollution or cause deforestation. Solar cookers are used in many parts of the world in growing numbers.

It is estimated that there are half a million installed in India alone. In Nicaragua, a modified solar cooker is being used to sterilize medical equipment at clinics. Solar thermal energy can be used to heat water. First introduced in the late s, the solar water heater was a big improvement over stoves that burned wood or coal because it was cleaner and cost less to operate.

They were very popular for American homes in sunny places, including Arizona, Florida, and California. However, in the early s, low-cost oil and natural gas became available and solar water systems began to be replaced. Today, they are not only popular again; they are becoming the norm in some countries, including China, Greece, and Japan.

They are even required to be used in any new construction in Australia, Israel, and Spain. Besides heating water, solar energy can be used to make it potable , or suitable for drinking. Developed in the s, SODIS involves filling plastic soda bottles with water then exposing them to sunlight for several hours. This process reduces the viruses, bacteria and protozoa in water. More than 2 million people in 28 developing nations use this method daily for their drinking water. Solar power —the conversion of sunlight into electricity —is yet another application of solar technology.

This can be done in a number of ways. The two most common are photovoltaic solar cells and concentrating solar power. Solar cells convert sunlight directly into electricity. The amount of power generated by each cell is very low. Therefore, large numbers of cells must be grouped together, like the panels mounted on the roof of a house, to generate enough power.

The first solar cell was constructed in the s. The earliest major application was on the American satellite Vanguard I , launched in A radio transmitter powered by solar cells operated for about seven years; one using conventional batteries lasted only 20 days. Since then, solar cells have become the established power source for satellites, including those used in the telecommunications industry.

On Earth, solar cells are used for everything from calculators and watches to homes, commercial buildings, and even stadiums.

Kaohsiung World Stadium in Taiwan, completed in to host the World Games, has more than 8, solar panels on its roof. Lenses or mirrors focus sunlight into a small beam that can be used to operate a boiler. That produces steam to run turbine s to generate electricity.

When completed in , Solana will be one of the largest solar power stations in the world. Once operating at full capacity, it will serve 70, homes. Janet Napolitano. There are some challenges with solar power. First, it is intermittent , or not continuous. Examples of things that have radiant energy are the Sun, lightbulbs and our computer screens. Plants convert light energy into chemical energy food which helps them to grown, this is known as photosynthesis.

Sound - The louder we shout the more sound energy we are using. Apart from our voices there are plenty of other examples of sound energies - guitars have sound energy when plucked using kinetic energy. The sun gives off thermal energy, as do radiators and fires. Gravitational - Ever fallen out of a tree? Then you were a victim of gravitational energy. Gravitational energy is the force which keeps us on the ground.

Gravitational energy is why cycling downhill is faster than cycling up hill and why ski jumpers always come back to earth. Chemical - Chemical energies come in many different forms. We get chemical energy from foods, which we use to run about, and move and talk kinetic and sound energy.