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Smaller nuclei fuse to become larger ones.
The sun is mostly hydrogen and helium. This is how stars start out. They make energy by squeezing the hydrogen nuclei together till they stick:
- two simple hydrogen (H1) nuclei (protons) get stuck into a Deuterium (H2) nucleus. One proton turns into a neutron by absorbing a nearby electron (the two atoms each had an electron to start with but see below).
- the Deuterium nucleus gets another proton stuck onto it and becomes either Tritium (H3) or Helium 3 (He3). Another proton will make it He4 which is regular helium. (or maybe H4 or Li4 but they decay into He4. He4 fills out the inner orbital so it's really stable.)
- and so on and so on. As a star gets older, it starts having more He and Li and Be and heavier elements from this process. If there's enough helium or Lithium, they'll start fusing with each other and make even bigger nuclei, faster.
At each step, energy comes off because it's in a lower energy state - like magnets that are stuck together instead of apart - but in the case of nuclei, it's the Protons that attract the Neutrons and vice versa, thru The Strong Force. But at the same time, all the protons are repelling each other! They're both + charged! Also, if they're cold atoms like you find on earth, they each have electron shells 100,000 times bigger than the nucleus, like a sand particle being suspended in the middle of a big balloon, so two neighboring atoms never get close enough to fuse.
To make it stick together, you have to get the protons and neutrons close enough for The Strong Force to kick in and overwhelm the proton-proton repulsion. Fortunately in the sun, it's so hot (the atoms and atom pieces are flying around so fast) that the electrons have been totally ripped off their nuclei and fly around free with the nuclei - that's called a Plasma. If two protons or other nuclei manage to stumble into each other hard enough, they'll fuse.
As time goes on, heavier and heavier nuclei form. Unfortunately these reactions require more compression and heat. Gravity is still working, so the nuclei keep fusing. the biggest the nuclei become is around where Iron is on the list of elements. At that point, there's no energy coming off at all- it's sortof an energy valley and this is the lowest point. The star becomes a white dwarf, or explodes as a supernova and the core becomes a neutron star or black hole, depending on how big it is.
Heavier nuclei are made either when the star explodes as a supernova, or by a process in red giant stars. The sun is too small for either of these two to happen. The heavy elements on earth are assumed to come from some other supernova like 5 billion years ago.
What else can I help you with?
What is the type of nuclear reaction that results in the production of synthetic elements?
The type of nuclear reaction that results in the production of synthetic elements is nuclear fusion. This process involves combining atomic nuclei to create new, heavier elements. In a controlled environment such as a nuclear reactor, scientists can create synthetic elements that do not occur naturally on Earth.
What nuclear process occurred when light elements combine to form heavier elements?
Nuclear Fusion
What is the nuclear process that converts helium and hydrogen from lighter to heavier elements?
The nuclear process that converts helium and hydrogen into heavier elements is nuclear fusion. In this process, the nuclei of lighter elements combine to form the nuclei of heavier elements, releasing large amounts of energy in the process. This is the process that powers stars like our Sun.
Why are all elements heavier then iron created during a supernova?
The rapid collapse of the star compresses atoms together and may cause nuclear fusion and make heavier elements.
Which object forms by the contraction of a large sphere of gases causing the nuclear fusion of lighter elements into heavier elements?
A star forms by the contraction of a large sphere of gases. This contraction causes the nuclear fusion of lighter elements into heavier elements, releasing energy in the process.
How are heavier elements formed from hydrogen within the core of a star?
Heavier elements are formed through nuclear fusion processes that take place in the core of a star. Hydrogen atoms undergo fusion to form helium, and then this process continues to create heavier elements by fusing helium atoms together. As the star fuses lighter elements, it produces heavier elements through a series of nuclear reactions.
What is the type of nuclear reaction that results in the production of synthetic elements?
The type of nuclear reaction that results in the production of synthetic elements is nuclear fusion. This process involves combining atomic nuclei to create new, heavier elements. In a controlled environment such as a nuclear reactor, scientists can create synthetic elements that do not occur naturally on Earth.
What nuclear process occurred when light elements combine to form heavier elements?
Nuclear Fusion
What process produces the largest amount of energy given off by stars?
Nuclear Fusion
What it a process in which lighter elements stick together to create heavier elements?
This process is known as nuclear fusion. It occurs in stars like the sun when lighter elements such as hydrogen are combined to form heavier elements like helium, releasing a large amount of energy in the process.
What is the nuclear process that converts helium and hydrogen from lighter to heavier elements?
The nuclear process that converts helium and hydrogen into heavier elements is nuclear fusion. In this process, the nuclei of lighter elements combine to form the nuclei of heavier elements, releasing large amounts of energy in the process. This is the process that powers stars like our Sun.
Why are all elements heavier then iron created during a supernova?
The rapid collapse of the star compresses atoms together and may cause nuclear fusion and make heavier elements.
What process turns a star into energy?
Nuclear fusion, of lighter elements onto heavier elements.
What is the term describing the fusing of lighter elements into heavier elements?
That process is known as nuclear fusion. In nuclear fusion, lighter elements such as hydrogen combine to form heavier elements, releasing energy in the process. This is the process that powers stars like our sun.
What process turns a star matter into energy?
Nuclear fusion, of lighter elements onto heavier elements.
The heavier elements in the universe were formed by .?
They were formed in supernovae.
Which object forms by the contraction of a large sphere of gases causing the nuclear fusion of lighter elements into heavier elements?
A star forms by the contraction of a large sphere of gases. This contraction causes the nuclear fusion of lighter elements into heavier elements, releasing energy in the process.
