29.4k views
5 votes
The primary source of the sun’s energy is

User Young Emil
by
8.7k points

2 Answers

3 votes

Final answer:

The Sun's energy primarily comes from nuclear fusion, where hydrogen nuclei fuse to form helium within the Sun's core, releasing energy through the proton-proton chain.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Primary Source of the Sun's Energy

The primary source of the Sun's energy is nuclear fusion, specifically the fusion of hydrogen to form helium through a process known as the proton-proton chain. In the Sun's core, where temperatures reach approximately 15 million K, hydrogen nuclei (protons) fuse to create helium nuclei. The mass of the helium atom is about 0.71% less than the total mass of the hydrogen atoms that fused, and according to the theory of relativity, this lost mass is converted into a huge amount of energy, represented by Einstein's famous equation E = mc².

The Sun's energy, emitted as photons, originates from its extremely dense core. These photons travel outward, eventually reaching the photosphere, where they escape into space. This process contributes to the Sun's energy output, which is about 4 × 10²26 watts, illuminating and warming our solar system.

User Laune
by
7.8k points
6 votes
Hello!

I believe Nuclear Fusion is the primary source of the sun's energy. Hydrogen atoms fuse to make helium atoms and some energy is released as Gama Rays.
User Marcus Leon
by
8.4k points