Question

Suppose the sun were powered by chemical energy alone. The total chemical energy content of the sun is 6.0 x 10³8 J. What would be the total lifetime of the sun if it were powered by chemical energy alone? Express your answer in years.

Answer 1

The total lifetime of the Sun can be estimated by considering its energy output and the amount of hydrogen available for nuclear reactions. Models indicate that only about 10% of the total hydrogen in the Sun will participate in nuclear reactions, since it is only the hydrogen in the central regions that is at a high enough temperature.

Step-by-step explanation:

The total lifetime of the Sun can be estimated by considering its energy output and the amount of hydrogen available for nuclear reactions. Models indicate that only about 10% of the total hydrogen in the Sun will participate in nuclear reactions, since it is only the hydrogen in the central regions that is at a high enough temperature. The total energy radiated per second by the Sun is approximately 3.8 x 10^26 watts. By estimating the lifetime based on this energy output, the answer will be in seconds. To convert the answer to years, you would need to divide the answer by the number of seconds in a year.