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The radiation zone or radiative zone is a layer of a star's interior where energy is primarily transported toward the exterior by means of radiative diffusion, rather than by convection.[1] Energy travels through the radiation zone in the form of electromagnetic radiation as photons. Within the Sun, the radiation zone is located in the intermediate zone between the solar core at .2 of the Sun's radius and the outer convection zone at .71 of the Sun's radius.[1]

Matter in a radiation zone is so dense that photons can travel only a short distance before they are absorbed or scattered by another particle, gradually shifting to longer wavelength as they do so. For this reason, it takes an average of 171,000 years for gamma rays from the core of the Sun to leave the radiation zone. Over this range, the temperature of the plasma drops from 15 million K near the core down to 1.5 million K at the base of the convection zone.[2]

Within a radiative zone, the temperature gradient-the change in temperature (T) as a function of radius (r)-is given by:

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What are the three main parts of the sun?

The three main parts of the Sun are the core, radiative zone, and convective zone. The core is where nuclear fusion occurs, producing the Sun's energy. The radiative zone is where energy is transported by electromagnetic radiation, and the convective zone is where energy is transported by convection currents.


What is the layer of the sun through which energy travels by convection from the radiative zone to the atmosphere?

From the Sun's core, energy moves through the radiative zone, across the tachocline (transition layer) to the convective zone, and then to the outer convective zone with its visible granulation.


How hot is the radiative zone in the sun?

The radiative zone in the sun can reach temperatures of several million degrees Celsius. Energy from nuclear fusion reactions in the core is transported through this region via photons before reaching the convective zone.


What is the radiative zone made of?

The radiative zone is composed of highly compressed gas (mainly hydrogen and helium) where energy is transported by electromagnetic radiation rather than by convection. This zone lies between the core and the convective zone of a star like the sun.


How does energy move in the radiative zone of the sun?

In the radiative zone of the sun, energy moves through the transfer of photons. Photons, which are massless particles of light, are created through nuclear fusion in the sun's core and gradually travel through the radiative zone, bouncing off particles in a zig-zag pattern until they reach the convective zone.

Related Questions

How do the temperatures of the radiative zone and the convection zone compare?

The radiative zone is hotter than the convection zone. In the radiative zone, energy is transferred through electromagnetic radiation, while in the convection zone, energy is transferred through the movement of hot gas or plasma.


Definition of Radiative energy?

Radiative energy is carried by light.


What are the three main parts of the sun?

The three main parts of the Sun are the core, radiative zone, and convective zone. The core is where nuclear fusion occurs, producing the Sun's energy. The radiative zone is where energy is transported by electromagnetic radiation, and the convective zone is where energy is transported by convection currents.


What are the main part of the sun?

The core, the radiative zone, and the convective zone.


What is a interior layers of sun?

They are the Convection Zone, Radiative Zone, then the Core.


What color is the radiative zone?

The radiative zone of the Sun is not visible to the human eye, so it does not have a color. It is located beneath the Sun's visible surface where energy is transported by photons through a process of radiative diffusion.


Middle layer of the sun?

radiative zone


Which energy escape into space?

radiative zone


What are the three main part of the sun?

The core, the radiative zone, and the convective zone.


How thick is the layer of the radiative zone?

The radiative zone extends from the outer edge of the solar core to about 70% of the distance to the solar surface. It is approximately 200,000 kilometers thick.


What is the layer of the sun through which energy travels by convection from the radiative zone to the atmosphere?

From the Sun's core, energy moves through the radiative zone, across the tachocline (transition layer) to the convective zone, and then to the outer convective zone with its visible granulation.


How hot is the radiative zone in the sun?

The radiative zone in the sun can reach temperatures of several million degrees Celsius. Energy from nuclear fusion reactions in the core is transported through this region via photons before reaching the convective zone.