Chapter IV
Sun
Fig. 4.5 Sun FieldThe sun is the giant of our solar system, with a bigger mass than all planets put together.
Compared to other stars it is small to medium sized. It is the main light source in our solar
system and in this way generates life on our planet. Its main components are hydrogen
and helium. The sun radiates enormous amounts of light particles and radioactivity. It
turns around its axis in 246 days. The temperature in the center of the sun is about 15
million °C.
Each second the sun radiates more energy than man has used since the beginning of
civilization.