The Sun rotates at different speeds because it is made of plasma rather than solid rock.

The Sun's unique rotation is a result of its state as a fluid-like plasma. Unlike solid planets like Earth, where every part of the surface rotates at the same rate, the Sun exhibits differential rotation. This was first observed by astronomer Richard Christopher Carrington in the 1850s while tracking sunspot movements across the solar disk.The Sun's equator rotates once every 24.47 days, while the polar regions can take up to 35 days to complete a single turn. This discrepancy occurs because the Sun is not a rigid body. Deep inside the Sun, the convection zone plays a critical role in transporting energy and maintaining these varied speeds. The shear between these different layers of rotation is known as the tachocline.This uneven spinning has massive consequences for the solar system. As the plasma moves at different speeds, it stretches and twists the Sun's internal magnetic field lines. This process, known as the solar dynamo, generates intense magnetic tension. When these twisted fields snap or break through the surface, they create sunspots and trigger massive solar flares.NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and the ESA's SOHO spacecraft continuously monitor these patterns to predict space weather. Understanding this rotation helps scientists forecast geomagnetic storms that can disrupt satellite communications and power grids on Earth. The speed of the Sun's equator, roughly 7,000 kilometers per hour, is nearly four times faster than Earth's rotational speed at its equator.