Question

The term used to describe the glowing surface of the Sun is __________.
A) Photosphere
B) Chromosphere
C) Ionosphere
D) None of these

Answer 1

Hint:
The Sun is a star which is a giant ball of plasma (electrified gas) and it does not have a solid, distinct surface like Earth. The sunlight is created by nuclear fusion in the Sun’s core (centre).

Complete answer:
The sunlight finally reaches a level, after a million – years of journey, where the plasma becomes less dense and the photons stop running into the atoms and can finally escape into space. The temperature in the photosphere varies from place to place. For example, the temperature of the sunspots is relatively cool regions with the temperature as low as 3,000 to 4,500 degree Celsius (5,400 to 8,100 degree Fahrenheit). The area of the sun’s interior just below the photosphere is called the convection zone. The chromosphere is the lower section of the sun’s atmosphere which lies above the photosphere. Sunspots are the indicators of the disturbing magnetic field which are the most common features seen in the photosphere. The sunspots are generally surrounded by the lighter areas which are called faculae and these are sometimes harder to see than sunspots. Patterns of light areas surrounded by the darker borders are shown in the close – up view of the photosphere which is called granulation. The places where the plasma has cooled are the darker boundaries of the cells and these are sinking back down to the Sun’s interior.

Note:
The temperature of the photosphere is about 5,500 degrees Celsius (9,900 degrees Fahrenheit). This layer is much cooler than the Sun’s core as the temperature in the core of the sun is above 10 million degrees.