The Radiative Zone

The radiative zone is the first layer of the sun with energy trnasfer mechanisms. Energy, as electromagnetic radiation, is emitted by hydrogen and helium ions, and reabsorbed by others. This is known as thermal raditaion, or photon emission. (Another example of thermal radiation is black body ratiation.) This happens so rapidly and randomly thaat photons take an average of about 170,000 years to leave this zone. This process is known as the random walk. As the photons are scattered, they gradually begin to have a longer wavelength. Due to this, the density and temperature greatly outwards from the core. This is the largest zone in our sun, however, the larger the star, the small the radiative zone is, and visa versa. In larger stars, the convective zone is below the radiatie zone.

Facts