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What else can I help you with?
Why do stars live so long?
Stars live so long because they are able to maintain a balance between the inward pull of gravity and the outward pressure created by nuclear fusion reactions in their cores. This process allows stars to steadily produce energy for billions of years before eventually running out of fuel.
Who created stars?
Stars are formed from vast clouds of gas and dust in space. The force of gravity causes these clouds to collapse, and as they do, the temperature and pressure increase until nuclear fusion reactions are triggered. These reactions create the energy and heat that make stars shine.
Can you use the energy produced by nuclear fusion for something?
Sure, you can get a tan from it, since the Sun is a big fusion power reactor. In the near future we will be able to build fusion reactors here on Earth. Google "ITER" to see how it's going. In the meantime I suppose you can say the fusion power is actually solar energy.
Why are there no stars with masses less than 0.08 M?
There are no stars smaller than 0.08 Msun because any object smaller than that is not able to become hot enough to burn hydrogen in their cores. The brightest star in the Earth's sky is called Sirius.
How would we be able to detect if fusion reactions in the sun suddenly ceased?
Scientists would be able to detect if fusion reactions in the sun suddenly ceased by observing changes in the sun's energy output, such as a decrease in the amount of light and heat reaching Earth. Additionally, they could study the composition of solar particles and radiation to look for signs of a disruption in the fusion process.
Why dont we use nuclear fusion in nuclear power plants?
Because no one has been able to produce a continuous fusion reaction so far.
What is thermo-nuclear fusion?
Thermonuclear fusion is the process of nuclei joining together with the release of energy. This is the process which powers the stars, including our sun, and also the H-Bomb. Scientists hope to be able to make this work in a controlled way to produce energy which could then produce electric power. The most likely process for controlled use is between nuclei of deuterium and tritium, which are isotopes of hydrogen.
Why doesn't nuclear fusion occur in the core of planets?
Nuclear fusion requires extremely high temperatures and pressures, which are typically found in stars like the Sun. The cores of planets do not have the same conditions necessary for sustained fusion reactions to occur, so the fusion process is not able to take place there.
What are the functions of the deuterium and tritium atoms in nuclear reactors?
All current nuclear reactors are fission reactors, tritium has no function in a fission reactor, in standard water moderated reactors deuterium also has no function, in heavy water moderated reactors deuterium is the moderator. If we are ever able to make a fusion reactor, deuterium/tritium mix will be used as fuel.
How is nuclear fusion fuels is used?
It's used in stars to generate light and heat. Even though we've been trying for decades, humans haven't yet been able to sustain fusion.
How are planets different from stars?
Mainly in that they have a smaller mass. To be a "star", an object would need to be able to start hydrogen fusion. This requires a certain amount of mass and pressure at the core - which in turn require a certain minimum mass.
Why cant you use fusion to produce energy?
Scientists and engineers have not yet been able to build an apparatus to make it work-but they are still trying
