Question

Scientists used to believe that chemical reactions fueled the sun. Why did this lead them to believe that the sun was very young? What kind of reactions do we now think are responsible for the energy released by the sun?

Answer 1

We already know that the Sun emits energy through a process called nuclear fusion. Nuclear fusion can occur when the protons of hydrogen atoms collide in the Sun's core to make helium atoms. This can also be called PP, or proton-proton chain reaction. Our Sun is currently 4.6 billion years old, but early scientists believed the Sun to have been made when a huge cloud of gas and particles (also known as a nebula) collapsed under the force of its own gravity. This is known as the Nebula Theory.

Answer 2

The energy produced by the sun is as a result of nuclear reactions which produces large amounts of energy.

Step-by-step explanation:

Chemical reactions are reactions which occur as a result of a rearrangement of atoms of elements to form new combinations of substances known as compounds.

Since chemical reactions which have relatively short lifespans, scientist would have assumed that the sun is very young.

However, nuclear reactions have been proven to be the means by which the sun produces its energy.

Nuclear reactions release large amounts of energy and have relatively long lifespans.

Therefore, the energy produced by the sun is as a result of nuclear reactions.