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The Sun, like other stars similar to it, is sustained by a Nuclear Fusion Reaction at its core. Unlike Nuclear Power here on Earth, which is created by the process of splitting atoms (Nuclear Fission) Fusion creates energy by fusing atoms together. This has proven a difficult objective to achieve here on Earth - though it occurs naturally in stars, on Earth the problem is containment, a problem that has as yet not found a viable solution.

Though the extreme gravity of stars is what initiates a fusion reaction in them, it has been theorized recently that a fusion reaction at smaller levels with chemicals is possible. This is commonly referred to as "Cold Fusion" for the relatively low amount of energy it would produce in contrast to nuclear fusion. Though Cold Fusion has largely been discounted, it continues to be researched. Often the biggest scientific breakthroughs are made by those who do not always hold to conventional scientific beliefs. If we did, we would have never done things like go to the Moon, or broken the Sound Barrier. In the time before it happened, both were considered by mainstream science as "impossible" to achieve.

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What kind of nuclear reactive occurs in the sun fusion or fission?

The nuclear reaction that occurs in the sun is fusion. This process involves the fusing of hydrogen atoms to form helium, releasing a large amount of energy in the form of light and heat. Fusion is the main source of energy for the sun and other stars.


Does nuclear energy have kinetic or potential energy?

Nuclear energy is a kind of potential energy.


What kind of energy is given from a nuclear fission reaction?

The initial release of energy is in the form of kinetic energy of the fission fragments, but they are quickly stopped inside the fuel and the energy appears as heat, which is then passed into the coolant, whether water or gas.


What kind of reactions provide a star with energy?

Stars obtain energy from a reaction called nuclear fusion. Nuclear fusion causes lighter elements to become heavier elements. The most common reaction fuses hydrogen into helium. But helium can fuse further, to even heavier elements. This releases energy until you reach the element iron. Anything heavier than iron consumes energy, rather than releasing it, when it is formed by nuclear fusion.thermonuclear fusion


What is the starting energy in the sun?

The sun's primary source of energy is nuclear fusion, which converts hydrogen into helium. The core of the sun reaches temperatures of about 15 million degrees Celsius, where this fusion process occurs. This process releases an enormous amount of energy that powers the sun's brightness and heat.

Related Questions

Fission and fusion is an example of what kind of energy?

One type of atom (element or isotope) is converted to another. This is called nuclear reaction.


Which kind of nuclear reactions is the source of the sun's energy?

Nuclear fussion of Hydrogen to give helium, positron and energy


What element accumulates in the interior of large stars and does not release energy by any kind of nuclear reaction?

Nickel and iron accumulate in the interior of large stars and do not release energy by any kind of nuclear reaction.


What kind of energy use uranium?

Nuclear energy sometime uses uranium for its energy source.


What kind of reaction occurs to produce energy inside a star?

Nuclear Fusion


What kind of proton causes a nuclear reaction?

A proton with high energy and momentum is required to initiate a nuclear reaction. When this high-energy proton collides with another nucleus, it can cause it to undergo fission or fusion, releasing a large amount of energy.


What kind of energy would be nuclear fusion?

Nuclear energy, which is a kind of potential energy.


What kind of nuclear reactive occurs in the sun fusion or fission?

The nuclear reaction that occurs in the sun is fusion. This process involves the fusing of hydrogen atoms to form helium, releasing a large amount of energy in the form of light and heat. Fusion is the main source of energy for the sun and other stars.


What type of nuclear reaction occurs in nuclear weapons?

Nuclear weapons use nuclear fission reactions, where heavy atomic nuclei, like Uranium-235 or Plutonium-239, split into lighter nuclei, releasing a large amount of energy in the process. This energy release causes a chain reaction, leading to a powerful explosion.


What does initiation of nuclear weapons mean?

starting the fission neutron chain reaction using some kind of pulsed neutron source.


Does nuclear energy have kinetic or potential energy?

Nuclear energy is a kind of potential energy.


Where is the source of nuclear energy found?

Nuclear energy is gained from atoms of any kind, thus the name 'Nuclear'. We generally only use heavy, radioactive atoms for nuclear energy though, as they contain lots of energy and are easier to split than others typically. The most common element used in Nuclear Energy plants is Uranium, which is mined naturally in many world locations.