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"Equilibrium" is a fancy word for "balance". There are two major forces at work within the Sun.

First is the explosive power of the Sun's nuclear fusion reactions. The Sun is powered by the equivalent of millions of nuclear bombs going off all at once, every second. That power should be enough to throw plasma beyond the orbit of Neptune.

However, the Sun's mass generates a very strong gravitational field, which tries to crush the Sun into a tiny dot of matter.

So the equilibrium is the balance between the outward thrust of the Sun's energy balanced with the attractive gravity of its mass, like a firecracker wrapped with rubber bands. If the solar reaction were to get more intense, it would cause the Sun to expand; if the solar reaction were to weaken, it would cause the Sun to contract.

In about 5 billion years or so, the Sun will begin to run low on its hydrogen fuel; the solar reaction will begin to weaken. The "balance" will fail. The gravity of the Sun will cause it to shrink - a little! But the compression caused by gravity will increase the pressure and temperature in the Sun's core, and at some point the pressure will be high enough to begin fusing the plentiful helium into oxygen and carbon - re-igniting the Sun's fire and causing it to swell to 50 or more times its size. This will be the "red giant" phase of the Sun's final life, and will incinerate all of the inner planets.

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14y ago
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13y ago

Gravity and pressure.

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Q: What is meant by the Sun being in equilibrium?
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