answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

First off, the sun is basically a giant fusion engine. It smashes two atoms together to form a new atom. This releases massive amounts of energy, which we on Earth see as sunlight. It also releases radiation, but that is deflected by the Earth's magnetosphere. The sun combines hydrogen to make helium and combines hydrogen and helium to make lithium.The heaviest element that our Sun produces is probably silicon; the core temperature and pressure would need to be MUCH higher to produce heavier elements. The heaviest element that can be produced in ANY star is iron.

The reason for this is something called the "packing fraction curve". As light elements are fused into heavier elements, they release energy; this is how the Sun and other stars work, by fusing hydrogen into helium. Toward the end of a star's life, the temperature and pressure increase enough to fuse helium into carbon, and then carbon into heavier elements, but each stage releases less and less energy. Finally, when elements fuse into iron, you can get no more energy out. To fuse iron into heavier things, or anything into elements heavier than iron, you must put energy IN. When a star begins fusing iron into heavy elements, it suddenly stops producing energy to support the star against the tremendous gravity, but instead starts sucking energy OUT of the core of the star to power fusion!

This loss of energy from the core of the star causes a sudden and catastrophic implosion as the core of the star collapses the core into a black hole or neutron star, and the outer layers of the star are compressed and expelled in a shock wave that creates gigatons of heavy elements and throws the remainder of the star's mass into space; a supernova explosion.

So, nothing heavier than iron can be produced in a normal star; heavier elements are only created in supernovas.

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What will the sun turn into when it runs out of fuel for earth?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Astronomy

What will the sun turn into when it runs out of fuel or fusion does this mean the end of life on earth?

At first, the sun will soon run out of its primary fuel, hydrogen. This will cause the sun's layers to expand, becoming a red giant. This will likely happen in 5 billion years. While scientists are unsure whether the expanded the sun will engulf the Earth or not, it will likely end life on Earth nonetheless.After it runs out of all fuel, including the heavier elements, it will begin shedding its outer layers and become a planetary nebula. Life on Earth would've almost certainly ceased by then.


What will the sun turn into when it runs out of fuel for fusion will it end life on earth?

It is postulated that towards the end of its life cycle, the sun will become a red giant, which will consume several of the inner planets, possible including the earth. Even if the diameter of the sun does not expand to the point where the earth is consumed, the increased heat and radiation due to the sun's closer proximity will exterminate life on earth. Eventually, the sun will collapse into a white dwarf.


What will happen if the sun will lost its fuel?

After the sun runs out of fuel is will become a white dwarf, a neutron star, or a black hole.


What will the sun turn in to when it runs out of fuel or fusion?

The Sun will go supernova and destroy the Milky Way. But fear not, this won't happen for another 5 billion years. Humanity will probably kill itself off before the Sun dies.


Does earth move counter or clockwise around Sun?

The earth moves towards the east-this means it turn counter clockwise in relation to the sun.

Related questions

Which progression do astronomers expect our sun to follow as it runs out of fuel?

When the sun runs out of fuel it is expected to turn into a red supergiant engulfing earth. Then it is supposed to shrink into a white dwarf.


What will the sun turn into when it runs out of fuel or fusion does this mean the end of life on earth?

At first, the sun will soon run out of its primary fuel, hydrogen. This will cause the sun's layers to expand, becoming a red giant. This will likely happen in 5 billion years. While scientists are unsure whether the expanded the sun will engulf the Earth or not, it will likely end life on Earth nonetheless.After it runs out of all fuel, including the heavier elements, it will begin shedding its outer layers and become a planetary nebula. Life on Earth would've almost certainly ceased by then.


What will the sun turn into when it runs out of fuel for fushion?

It will turn into a Red Giant and then its corona expands and disintegrates all of the Rocky Planets.


After the sun runs out of fuel for fusion this will be the end of life on Earth?

Yes, but it is a long way off


What will the sun turn into when it runs out of fuel for fusion will it end life on earth?

It is postulated that towards the end of its life cycle, the sun will become a red giant, which will consume several of the inner planets, possible including the earth. Even if the diameter of the sun does not expand to the point where the earth is consumed, the increased heat and radiation due to the sun's closer proximity will exterminate life on earth. Eventually, the sun will collapse into a white dwarf.


What will happen when the sun runs out of fuel?

By that time earth will be no more:c, but just to answer your question, it will eventually become a black dwarf.


If the sun runs out of fuel this would be the end of Earth?

Yes. When the sun runs out of hydrogen in its core, rather than simply dying it will expand to many times its original size, becoming a red giant. It will consume the planets Mercury and Venus and probably Earth.


What will the sun turn it when it runs out of fuel for fusion?

When the sun starts to burn off all of its fuel, however, it will start to lose its mass. The sun will then start to expand into a red giant. After this phase, the remaining part will shrink and become a white dwarf, which is about Earth's size but a million times denser and very hot. The expanded part of the sun will be released into space, creating a planetary nebula, which is basically an enormous ball of gas.


What will the sun turn into when it runs out of fuel?

First a red giant, then a white dwarf and finally after billions of years a black dwarf. See related questions


What happens to your sun when it runs out of fuel?

we would die


What will happen first the earth colliding with the sun or the sun running out of fuel?

Easy answer: The Sun's surface will contact Earth before all of it's fuel has been consumed Not so easy: As the Sun runs out of fuel in it's core, it's pressure will reduce and the surface will expand as the Sun starts fusing hydrogen in a shell outside of it's core. The expansion of the surface will expand beyond the present orbit of the Earth. In this scenario, the Sun is still fusing hydrogen when it's surface comes into contact with the Earth, so it still has fuel. So Sun 1 However, research has suggested that as the Sun looses mass, the Earth will slowly increase it's orbit away from the Sun and the two surfaces will never touch. So Earth 1, Sun 1. Yet, even more research has suggested that tidal interactions will draw the Earth into the Sun. So Sun 2, Earth 1. Wait about 5 billions years and we can be sure what happens!!


What will happen if the sun will lost its fuel?

After the sun runs out of fuel is will become a white dwarf, a neutron star, or a black hole.