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How we determine T, r, P vs depth
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•From theory:
–Pressure (P) and density (r) must increase with depth
•Weight of overlying gas compresses lower material -- “Hydrostatic equilibrium”
–Temperature (T) must increase with depth
•Energy is flowing out of the sun – and it flows from hot to cold -- so hot inside
–Numerical modeling of details let us calculate T(r), r(r), P(r)
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•From observations of “oscillations” or “solar seismology”
–The sun oscillates like a bell (or the air in an organ pipe)
–The frequency depends upon sound speed, and that depends upon T(r), r(r), P(r)
–Observations from the “Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG) telescopes.
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•From interpreting the spectrum using Kirchoff’s laws
–In general the spectrum of the Sun looks like continuous emission
•This must come from a solid – or a very dense gas
–We see many dark absorption lines in the solar spectrum
•This must come from cooler gas between us and the hot dense gas