What Is The Definition Of Solar Flare?
According to "The Free Dictionary" the definition of solar flare is "A sudden eruption of magnetic energy released on or near the surface of the sun, usually associated with sunspots and accompanied by bursts of electromagnetic radiation and particles. Ultraviolet and x-ray radiation from solar flares often induce electromagnetic disturbances in the earth's atmosphere."
According to "The Free Dictionary" the definition of solar flare is "A sudden eruption of magnetic energy released on or near the surface of the sun, usually associated with sunspots and accompanied by bursts of electromagnetic radiation and particles. Ultraviolet and x-ray radiation from solar flares often induce electromagnetic disturbances in the earth's atmosphere."
How Often Do Solar Flares occur, and how long do they last?
Usually, solar flares last about one minute, and release energy that is equivalent to more than a million hydrogen bombs. Smaller flares can occur once every day, while larger flares can occur once every week
The Science Behind The Solar Flare
Usually there are three stages to a solar flare. First the precursor stage, where the release of magnetic energy is triggered. In the precursor stage, soft x-ray emission is detected. In the second stage, the impulsive stage, protons and electrons accelerate to energies exceeding 1 MeV( a MeV is equal to 1.60217657 × 10-13 joules). During this stage, radio waves, hard x-rays, and gamma rays are emitted. The slow build up and decay of soft x-rays can be detected in the third, and final, decay stage. These stages can be as long as one hour , or as short as a few seconds long.
Why Do Solar Flares Occur?
According to a"http://hesperia.gsfc.nasa.gov/sftheory/flare.htm" A solar flare occurs when magnetic energy that has built up in the solar atmosphere is suddenly released. Radiation is emitted across virtually the entire electromagnetic spectrum, from radio waves at the long wavelength end, through optical emission to x-rays and gamma rays at the short wavelength end. The amount of energy released is the equivalent of millions of 100-megaton hydrogen bombs exploding at the same time! The first solar flare recorded in astronomical literature was on September 1, 1859. Two scientists, Richard C. Carrington and Richard Hodgson, were independently observing sunspots at the time, when they viewed a large flare in white light.
Published by Sydney, Jewel Middle School, 5/5/14. Last Edited 5/5/14.