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The Sun's Characteristics — Reading Comprehension

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MS-ESS1-1
MS-ESS1-2

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This engaging science passage introduces middle school students to the Sun’s key characteristics, such as its classification as a G-type main sequence star, its impressive size, mass, composition, and energy output. Students will learn how the Sun’s features, including its hydrogen and helium composition and differential rotation, make it unique among stars and essential for life on Earth. By integrating scientific thinking, the passage explores how scientists gather evidence about the Sun’s temperature, distance, and age, encouraging critical thinking about systems and interactions in the universe. The passage is aligned with NGSS standards MS-ESS1-1 and MS-ESS1-2, making it ideal for classroom instruction. Audio integration enhances accessibility, and the included glossary, reading comprehension questions, writing prompts, and graphic organizers support diverse learners. This resource helps students connect astronomical knowledge to broader scientific principles and real-world applications.

CONTENT PREVIEW

The Sun by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly of NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory - 20100819 — "The Sun" by NASA / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain).

The Sun is the largest and most important object in our solar system. It provides the energy necessary for life on Earth and drives many natural processes, including weather and photosynthesis. Scientists classify the Sun as a G-type main sequence star, also known as a yellow dwarf. Understanding the Sun’s characteristics helps us learn more about our place in the universe and how Earth is able to support life.

Structure and Composition of the Sun

The Sun is a medium-sized star, but its scale is immense compared to planets. Its diameter is about 1.4 million kilometers, which is roughly 109 times that of Earth. The Sun’s volume could fit approximately 1.3 million Earths inside. Its mass is about 333,000 times Earth’s, making up 99.86% of all the mass in the solar system. The Sun is made up of about 73% hydrogen, 25% helium, and 2% other, heavier elements. This composition is critical because hydrogen atoms fuse together under intense pressure and temperature in the Sun’s core, producing the enormous energy that lights and heats our planet.

Energy, Temperature, and Rotation

The Sun’s energy comes from nuclear fusion in its core, where temperatures reach about 15 million degrees Celsius. The surface, called the photosphere, is cooler at around 5,500°C (9,900°F). The Sun outputs about 400 trillion trillion watts of energy, and its light takes about 8 minutes to travel the 150 million kilometers (1 Astronomical Unit) to Earth. One interesting feature is the Sun’s differential rotation. Because the Sun is made of gas, not solid material, its equator completes a rotation in about 25 days, while the poles take about 35 days. Scientists measure these properties using telescopes, satellites, and mathematical models, helping them understand the Sun’s behavior and predict space weather.

The Sun and Life on Earth

The Sun is about 4.6 billion years old and is considered middle-aged for a star. Its stable energy output and the right distance from Earth have allowed life to develop. Too much or too little energy would prevent life as we know it. The Sun’s size and temperature put it in the perfect range for supporting complex ecosystems. Studying the Sun also helps us understand the life cycles of stars, the formation of planets, and the potential for life elsewhere in the universe. The balance between the Sun’s gravity and energy output is essential for maintaining the orbits of planets and the structure of the solar system.

In summary, the Sun’s unique combination of mass, composition, temperature, and distance from Earth makes it the perfect star for supporting life. Ongoing scientific research continues to uncover new details about our closest star, deepening our understanding of astronomy and our place in the cosmos.

Interesting Fact:
Every second, the Sun converts about 600 million tons of hydrogen into helium, releasing energy that powers our entire solar system!

What type of star is the Sun classified as?

G-type main sequence starRed giantWhite dwarfNeutron star

What percentage of the Sun’s mass is hydrogen?

73%25%2%99.86%

How long does it take for sunlight to reach Earth from the Sun?

About 8 minutesAbout 1 hourAbout 24 hoursAbout 1 second

What is the process called that powers the Sun?

Nuclear fusionChemical reactionEvaporationPhotosynthesis

In the passage, what does 'differential rotation' mean?

Different parts of the Sun rotate at different speedsThe Sun rotates backwardsThe Sun doesn’t rotateThe Sun rotates the same at all points

What is the Sun’s approximate age?

4.6 billion years1 million years460 million years10 billion years