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Helium fusion occurs in the core of the stars that are in that stage of life where they have exhausted their hydrogen fuel and begin to burn helium. Wikipedia has some additional information and a link is provided.

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How is a star able to begin helium fusion after it ran out of hydrogen?

The basic idea is that once a star runs out of hydrogen fuel, it starts contracting until it gets hot enough to fuse helium into heavier elements. This happens at temperatures that are quite a bit higher than the temperatures required to fuse hydrogen into helium.


A star that has exhausted it's supply of hydrogen?

It will begin to swell and may start it's red giant phase. The stars preferred fuel is hydrogen, but once this had been used it will start to fuse helium. The temperature of the core will rise and the output energy and gravity battle will shift, causing the star to become larger.


What causes the helium flash to occur in stars?

Well, happy little clouds! The helium flash occurs in stars when helium accumulates in the core and reaches a critical temperature where nuclear fusion suddenly ignites, creating a burst of energy. Just like a beautiful sunrise painting, this process helps our stars to continue shining bright and bringing light to the universe. Every bit of knowledge we gain about these cosmic wonders helps us appreciate the beauty of the stars even more.


How many years does it take a star with mass of the sun to convert its hydrogen to its core?

No star will EVER convert ALL of the hydrogen to helium via nuclear fusion (the process that powers the star) because when the star is less than about 50% hydrogen, the helium gets in the way of the fusion reaction and the star begins to die out. The star will begin to shrink as the star's own gravity now is more powerful than the nuclear reaction, and the star will get more dense and will heat up. If the internal temperature and pressure gets high enough, the star will begin fusing helium into even heavier elements, becoming a red giant. The speed of this reaction depends on the original mass of the star.


When does fusion begin?

Fusion begins in stars when hydrogen atoms combine to form helium through a complex process that releases energy. In the core of a star, the extreme temperature and pressure allow hydrogen nuclei to overcome their electrostatic repulsion and fuse together, resulting in the release of energy in the form of light and heat.

Related Questions

When does helium fusion begin in a star?

Hydrogen undergoes nuclear fusion to form helium at a temperature of 107 K


When does hydrogen first begin to fuse into helium in the star formation process?

Hydrogen fusion into helium typically begins within a star when the core temperature reaches about 10 million degrees Celsius, which is necessary to overcome the electrostatic repulsion between hydrogen nuclei. This process marks the birth of a star's main sequence phase, where hydrogen fusion is the primary energy source.


What are science words that begin with letter h?

Hydrogen, hafnium, helium, holmium and hassium are chemical elements.


How is a star able to begin helium fusion after it ran out of hydrogen?

The basic idea is that once a star runs out of hydrogen fuel, it starts contracting until it gets hot enough to fuse helium into heavier elements. This happens at temperatures that are quite a bit higher than the temperatures required to fuse hydrogen into helium.


Some scientific words that start with an H?

Halogen, Helium and hydrogen are science words. They begin with the letter H.


What heavier element is created when hydrogen atoms fuse together in the suns core?

Normal "main sequence" stars fuse hydrogen into helium during most of the star's life. The core of a star gets so hot that the hydrogen atoms begin to fuse together. As hydrogen only has 1 proton when if fuses with another hydrogen atom it has 2 protons so has become helium.


How does the amount of Hydrogen differ from that of helium in the Sun mass?

The Sun is about 70% hydrogen, 28% helium, and 2% "other". When the Sun gets to about 50% hydrogen, the amount of helium present will seriously interfere with the hydrogen fusion, and the Sun will begin to collapse under its own gravity. The Sun's core is currently around 15 million degrees Kelvin. As the Sun collapses, the increasing pressure will heat the Sun, and when it gets to about 45 million degrees, the Sun will begin fusing helium and with the new power source will expand into a red giant. We expect this to happen in about 4 billion years, perhaps a little more.


What gas makes up the majority of an old star?

Even in an old star just before it explodes, the majority of the star in hydrogen gas. But as the hydrogen is fused, the helium residue begins to interfere with the hydrogen fusion, like ashes in the bottom of a fireplace.


At what temperature do star begin the process of nuclear fusion?

Stars begin the process of nuclear fusion when their cores reach temperatures of around 10 million degrees Celsius. At this temperature, hydrogen atoms in the core of the star are able to overcome the electrostatic repulsion between positively charged protons and fuse together to form helium.


How does nuclear fusion occur in the Sun?

At this time hydrogen to helium burning. 1H + 1H --> 2H + e + ~1 MeV 2H + 2H --> 3H + 1H + ~4 MeV 2H + 3H --> 4He + n + ~17 MeV and several other side reactions. When it runs out of hydrogen, the core will begin helium burning. This is much harder to start so it requires much higher pressure and temperature. 3 4He --> 12C But this will not begin for another 6 billion years.


The sun is mainly composed of helium and what other element?

The Sun is, at present, about 90.1% hydrogen and 9.9% helium and a small mixture of heavy elements(iron, calcium,sodium).This changes slowly over time as the Sun converts hydrogen to helium in its core.


A star that has exhausted it's supply of hydrogen?

It will begin to swell and may start it's red giant phase. The stars preferred fuel is hydrogen, but once this had been used it will start to fuse helium. The temperature of the core will rise and the output energy and gravity battle will shift, causing the star to become larger.