The Sun
It is a supercharged ball of glowing plasma millions of kilometres away, but it produces the energy needed to power every single living thing on our planet. Join Bill Nye the Science Guy as we investigate the immense heat, light, and power of the Sun!
Welcome to the Star of our Solar System!
Over one million! The Sun is absolutely massive. It takes one million three hundred thousand Earths to completely fill up the space inside the Sun.
The Sun! Fossil fuels like oil are made from ancient plants. Millions of years ago, those plants captured their energy directly from the light of the Sun.
Put Your Instincts to the Test
Think about how light and heat move through our world. Pick an answer for each question, then see if your instincts were right.
Black! As Bill Nye the Science Guy demonstrates with his water bowl experiment, dark black objects absorb the most solar energy and heat up the fastest.
To let light in but trap the thermal energy inside! Glass acts like a greenhouse roof, keeping the heat insulation perfectly secure so temperatures can rise over one hundred degrees.
A solar eclipse! The moon completely blocks the sun and casts a round shadow onto the surface of the Earth, temporarily turning day into night.
Understanding the Science
Tap each card to uncover the spectacular physics and high energy states of matter that power our local star.
Key Concepts
Solar Energy
Tap to learn moreThe radiant light and thermal heat produced by the Sun that serves as the primary power source for all life on Earth.
Photovoltaic Cells
Tap to learn moreSpecialised electrical panels treated from silicon dioxide that directly convert particle light energy into clean electricity.
Core
Tap to learn moreThe intensely hot and crushed centre of the Sun where immense gravitational pressure drives continuous nuclear explosions.
Plasma
Tap to learn moreThe fourth state of matter. This is an electrically charged, superheated fluid where electrons have been completely stripped away from atomic nuclei due to extreme temperatures.
Sunspots
Tap to learn moreSlightly cooler and darker regions formed temporarily on the star surface by highly concentrated magnetic fluctuations.
Solar Flares
Tap to learn moreMassive eruptions of glowing plasma bursting violently from the star surface that reach blistering temperatures of ten thousand degrees Celsius.
Solar Eclipse
Tap to learn moreThe visual phenomenon when the passing moon shifts perfectly between the Earth and Sun, casting its shadow across the globe.
Melanin
Tap to learn moreThe natural biological pigment found inside human skin cells that acts to defend tissues against damaging ultraviolet rays.
Try It: Space Weather Watch
A flare on the Sun sends three things racing towards Earth at very different speeds. As soon as you see the flare, protect the astronauts, the satellites and the power grid before each one arrives.
Apply Your Knowledge
Let us see if you can trace how cosmic solar energy moves into items we use every day.
Match the Concepts
Click an energy item to select it, then click the matching solar source description to place it.
Real World Challenge
Bill Nye the Science Guy explains that even a sidewalk surfer gets their energy directly from the Sun. Thinking carefully about how food webs operate, trace the complete path of solar energy from a photon leaving our star all the way to the muscle cells contracting inside your legs.
What Has Changed Since This Episode Aired
This episode originally aired in 1994. While the core physics of our star remain perfectly accurate, solar engineering and astronomy technologies have lept forward significantly.
Updated: Scientists have tracked multiple solar cycles since then using advanced space telescopes like the Solar Dynamics Observatory. Instead of just projecting shadows onto paper, we now monitor magnetic fields constantly to predict massive space weather disruptions that could affect modern satellite communications and global power grids.
Updated: Today, massive grid scale solar farms operate worldwide, providing clean power to millions. Structural engineers have recently created transparent solar glass materials. This innovation allows building teams to turn entire skyscraper windows into invisible photovoltaic power collectors without blocking any incoming view.
Updated: In an incredible achievement, space agencies launched the Parker Solar Probe, which became the very first human built spacecraft to fly directly through the sun's outer atmosphere. Protected by advanced carbon composite heat shields, it gathers live data on solar flares and solar wind directly from the edge of the star itself.
Test Your Understanding
Answer these questions and get instant feedback. How many can you get right?
Results
Your score:
Reflection
Think about the four states of matter you encounter (solids, liquids, gases, and plasma). Since the Sun is made entirely of plasma, how do you think its behavior and magnetic fields differ from a regular ball of hot gas?
Episode Discussion
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