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Science Test FPT2 Question 4:

The Sun maintains its high expenditure of energy by nuclear fusion reactions. These reactions convert the Sun's mass into both heavier elements and radiation. What is the probable long-range consequence of this process?

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Final answer:

The long-range consequence of nuclear fusion in the Sun is that the Sun will exhaust its hydrogen fuel and go through stages such as becoming a red giant before ultimately ending its life cycle.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question is about the long-range consequence of nuclear fusion in the Sun that converts the Sun's mass into heavier elements and radiation. The principal process at the heart of this question is the conversion of hydrogen nuclei into helium, which happens in a series of nuclear fusion reactions at the Sun's core. Over time, as the Sun converts its hydrogen to helium, it will eventually exhaust its hydrogen fuel and progress through different life stages, eventually leading to changes in size, luminosity, and possibly becoming a red giant before ending its life cycle.

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