What happens to energy in the Sun's convection zone?
A)Energy is produced in the convection zone by thermal radiation.
B)Energy is transported outward by the rising of hot plasma and sinking of cooler plasma.
C)Energy slowly leaks outward through the radiative diffusion of photons that repeatedly bounce off ions and electrons.
D)Energy is produced in the convection zone by nuclear fusion.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In the Sun's convection zone, energy is transported outward by the rising of hot plasma and sinking of cooler plasma. This is because the temperature and pressure gradients are steep enough to drive convective motions, which transport energy from the interior to the surface. The hot plasma rises because it is less dense than the cooler plasma, and as it rises it transfers heat to the cooler plasma. The cooler plasma then sinks back down to the base of the convection zone, completing the convective cycle.

What Happens to Energy in the Sun's Convection Zone