Leaderboard
Wiki User
Answered 2008-02-06 05:45:22
The proton-proton chain reaction that fuses hydrogen into helium begins at a threshold of about 10 million degrees Kelvin. The fusion of helium doesn't begin until a temperature of about 100 million degrees Kelvin is reached. All the hydrogen must be exhausted and then a star must undergo further collapse for the new, higher threshold temperature to be reached to cause the initiation of helium fusion. Shazam! Now that's hot! Use the link below to our friends at Wikipedia for details.
Your Answer
Still have questions?
Related Questions
Why doesnt the helium curently in the suns core under go fusion?
The Sun's core is not yet hot enough, or under enough pressure, for helium fusion. Which is probably just as well, since when helium fusion begins, the Sun will swell into a red giant which will incinerate the Earth.
Why doesn't the helium currently in the sun's core undergo fusion?
Fusion reactions need a certain amount of energy to get started. The energy, as indicated by the temperature, is simply too low in the sun's core (at THIS time) to fire up a helium fusion reaction. Wait a few billion years, and the amount of helium will build up so that the core will contract (thus compressing it and raising its temperature) to the temperature that He fusion can start.
Does the sun have hydrogen helium and fusion?
In the core of the sun, helium is formed by the nuclear fusion of hydrogen isotopes.
How is helium related to the solar core?
helium is created in the solar core by combining hydrogen atoms in nuclear fusion.
How does the sun create energy it is core?
Nuclear Fusion from hydrogen in it core and helium
The lightest element is fused into helium atoms in a star's core?
Hydrogen undergoes nuclear fusion in the core of the sun to form helium.
Where does fusion take place in the sun?
Around the core of helium that been formed from hydrogen fusion.
How the helium is formed on sun?
Helium is formed in the core of the sun by the nuclear fusion reaction of hydrogen
Is the sun made out of core?
No, it is formed by fusion of hydrogen and helium molecules.
What does helium have to do with a star?
Helium is formed in the core of the star (like the sun) by the nuclear fusion of hydrogen isotopes.
Why is the sun's temperature so high?
Because of the Thermonuclear fusion that goes on inside the core. Hydrogen nuclei undergo this process to form helium nuclei, giving out massive amounts of heat and light.
What is the sun's source of enegry?
The Sun's energy is generated by nuclear fusion, the fusion of hydrogen into helium in the core of the Sun.
Which star uses helium for fuel?
All red giant stars will start helium fusion when their core is compressed.
What element is transformed in nuclear fusion in the sun's core?
We understand that hydrogen atoms are fused into helium in the sun's core.
Where is the site of nuclear fusion on the sun?
Not "on" the Sun but "in" the Sun, the Sun's core is where the nuclear fusion of hydrogen to helium is taking place.
What is the lightest element that is fused into helium atoms in a stars core?
hydrogen undergoes nuclear fusion to form helium atoms
What does a main sequence star do when it has exhausted its burnable hydrogen?
Hydrogen fusion continues in a shell surrounding the core. Eventually the core is compressed enough to start helium fusion.
What occurs at the core of the sun?
there is nuclear fusion going on in the core. first the sun pull hydrogen together into helium and after hydrogen is used out, helium is fusioned into carbon molecules.
Hypothesize what will happen when the sun exhausts it's supply of hydrogen?
When a main sequence star, such as our sun, exhausts it's supply of Hydrogen, fusion of Hydrogen to Helium ceases in the core. This results in cooling of the core and therefore causes it to contract. As the core contracts, the layers surrounding the star gain kinetic energy until the fusion of Hydrogen is possible in the outer layers. As these layers undergo fusion, they increase in temperature dramatically. The outer layers expand due to heat, and the star becomes massive; the main sequence star has evolved into a red giant. Fusion of Hydrogen to Helium continues in the outer layers, whilst the fusion of heavier elements such as carbon occurs in the core.
How is the sun's energy generated?
The fusion of Hydrogen into Helium in the core of the Sun is the source of the energy.
How is nuclear fusion in a main sequence star different from nuclear fusion in a giant star?
Nuclear Fusion in a Giant Star involves Helium being fused into a hydrogen shell that surrounds the core, and Nuclear Fusion in a Main-Sequence star involves Hydrogen being fused into Helium to produce Energy inside of the core.
Where does helium fusion occur for an intermediate mass star?
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.
Where does the sun get its fuel from?
The sun generates its fuel from nuclear fusion in the core. Like other stars, the sun has a core in which hydrogen nuclei combine in nuclear fusion to produce helium.
What is the source of energy for a star?
The energy source for stars, which produces vast amounts of heat and light, is the fusion of atomic nuclei in the star's core. In our own Sun, hydrogen is fused into helium; in older and heavier stars heavier elements may also undergo nuclear fusion.
Does fusion occur naturally in the core of the sun?
Yes. The temperature and pressure at the sun's core allow nuclear fusion (Hydrogen in to Helium) to take place nonstop - a continuous chain reaction.
