What generates the heat and light produced by the sun?

Answer 1

The energy produced by the sun is produced by the conversion of matter (mass) into energy. Albert Einstein worked out the energy equivalent of matter (mass) in his famous equation:-

E = MC2

where E= Energy, M= the mass, and C = the velocity of light (299,792,458 meters per second).

The Sun is made mainly of Hydrogen Gas (H2) and in its core (center) it is squishing together 4 Hydrogen atoms to make 1 Helium (He) - the process is called nuclear fusion. The Helium atom made has slightly less mass than the 4 Hydrogen atoms that went in to make it and the mass difference is released as energy which powers the sun.

Each second about 700,000,000 tons of hydrogen are converted to about 695,000,000 tons of helium and the 5,000,000 tons missing is equal to 3.86e33 ergs of energy in the form of gamma rays. As it travels out toward the surface, the energy is continuously absorbed and re-emitted at lower and lower temperatures so that by the time it reaches the surface, it is primarily visible light. For the last 20% of the way to the surface the energy is carried more by convection than by radiation. The Sun's power output is about 386 billion billion megaWatts and this output will continue for at least another 5000 million years.

Answer 2

== It is nuclear fusion or stellar nucleosynthesisthat powers the sun. The massive nuclear engine, which would "explode" if not held together by gravity, derives its energy by fusing light atomic nuclei into heavier ones. The forces of fusion, with its massive release of energy, are balanced by the massive gravity to hold together our neighborhood star. The sun continues to be in a "first stage" where it is burning hydrogen and making it into helium. As hydrogen runs out, the sun will begin burning helium and then will go through heavier and heavier elements until it reaches an "iron stage" where it cannot continue fusion. Consider that as the sun ages, it will increase in radius in its so-called red giant phase, and it will eventually burn earth to a crisp. At the end of life, it will shed its outer layers and emerge as a white dwarf to finish its life. Note also that the sun lacks sufficient mass to go supernova. Fusion, fusion and more fusion will continue over billions of years. The sun is a nuclear fusion engine, and will live its life that way until it fuses all its fuel to fade away at its end. Links are provided to relevant Wikipedis posts, and you'll find those links below. === ===

Answer 3

Nuclear Fusion at a star's core generates the heat and light that eventually makes it way to the star's surface and is then radiated into space.

On Earth, the ITER machine being built in the south of France hopes to generate clean energy in this manner and will surpass current nuclear fission plants in use. It is due to come on-line ~2016 and may take 10 years to achieve a stable Fusion reaction.

Answer 4

The sun produces heat and light with the help of the hydrogen in it that constantly changes to helium around it

Answer 5

In the centre or core, where temperatures reach 13,600,000 kelvins

Answer 6

The photosphere.