Concept explainers
To compare:
The chemical composition of the present-day Sun’s core with its composition when the sun was formed.
Answer to Problem 1Q
Presently, the sun’s core has more Helium and less Hydrogen than when the sun was formed.
The change was brought about by Hydrogen fusion.
Explanation of Solution
Introduction All main-sequence stars convert Hydrogen into Helium by thermonuclear reactions. Sun’s main-sequence stage starts with the beginning of the Hydrogen fusion and ends when all Hydrogens in the core get converted to Helium. The Sun started Hydrogen fusion 4.56 billion years ago and it is less than halfway of its main-sequence lifetime.
The Sun’s primary constituent is Hydrogen. At the center of the Sun, thermonuclear fusion occurs under extremely high temperatures. Four Hydrogen nuclei convert to a Helium nucleus. This is a stepwise process and it is known as a proton-proton chain reaction. This process releases a large amount of energy as heat and light. In 4.56 billion years, the amount of Helium in the Sun’s core has increased and the amount of Hydrogen has decreased.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 19 Solutions
Universe: Stars And Galaxies
- What is the average density of the Sun? How does it compare to the average density of Earth?arrow_forwardExplain how the theory of the Sun’s dynamo results in an average 22-year solar activity cycle. Include the location and mechanism for the dynamo.arrow_forwardDuring the Maunder minimum a. solar brightness dropped slightly b. the average surface temperature of the sun dropped c. few sunspots were observedarrow_forward
- Assume that Hydrogen comprises 79% of the Sun's mass. How much mass is this? 1.57e+30 kg Only about 11% of the initial Hydrogen in the Sun is in the core where it is hot enough to burn. What was the total mass of the inital H in the core of the Sun? Hint: Use the answer above and the percent in the core to determine the total mass. Using the results from above, how much total energy is available to the Sun via nuclear fusion over its lifetime? (HINT: only 0.71% of the total mass of the available H in the core is converted into energy) Hint: E = m c^2arrow_forwardRank the layers of the Sun based on their average temperature, from hottest to coolest. A) Corona B) Radiative Zone C) Convection Zone D) Chromospere E) Core F) Photosphere Answer: Submit All Answers Last Answer: EADBCF Incorrect, ONE try left!!arrow_forwardSuppose thermonuclear fusion in the Sun’s core stopped abruptly. Would the intensity of sunlight decrease just as abruptly? Why or why not?arrow_forward
- why is the sun hot?arrow_forwardWhy does convection develop about 70% of the way from the Sun's center to its surface?arrow_forward1) What is thermal equilibrium? Is the Sun in thermal equilibrium? How do we know this? 2) In order to maintain thermal equilibrium, how much energy must the Sun generate every second?arrow_forward
- AstronomyPhysicsISBN:9781938168284Author:Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. WolffPublisher:OpenStaxFoundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)PhysicsISBN:9781337399920Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana BackmanPublisher:Cengage LearningStars and Galaxies (MindTap Course List)PhysicsISBN:9781337399944Author:Michael A. SeedsPublisher:Cengage Learning
- An Introduction to Physical SciencePhysicsISBN:9781305079137Author:James Shipman, Jerry D. Wilson, Charles A. Higgins, Omar TorresPublisher:Cengage Learning