What is the nuclear reaction happening in the Sun?

In the core of the Sun hydrogen is being converted into helium. This is called nuclear fusion. It takes four hydrogen atoms to fuse into each helium atom. During the process some of the mass is converted into energy.

Which nuclear reaction is responsible for a very long lifetime of the Sun?

Learn how the Sun uses nuclear fusion. proton-proton chain, also called p-p chain, proton-proton cycle, or proton-proton reaction, chain of thermonuclear reactions that is the chief source of the energy radiated by the Sun and other cool main-sequence stars.

What is the most common nuclear reaction inside the Sun?

2: (left) The Sun is a main-sequence star, and thus generates its energy by nuclear fusion of hydrogen nuclei into helium. In its core, the Sun fuses 620 million metric tons of hydrogen each second.

What causes nuclear fusion in the Sun?

The gravity of the Sun, which is almost 28 times that of Earth, ”traps” hydrogen from its atmosphere and this hydrogen fuels the Sun’s fusion reaction. At temperatures of 15 million degree Celcius in the Sun’s core, hydrogen gas becomes plasma, the fourth state of matter.

What keeps the Sun from exploding or collapsing?

The pressure of the energy generated in the solar core pushes outward and would cause the Sun to expand if it were not exactly balanced by the gravitational pressure of the Sun’s outer layers. The outward pressure from the fusion reactions keeps the stars from collapsing.

What kind of nuclear power is responsible for sunshine give an example?

Thermonuclear fusion is responsible for sunshine. Thermonuclear reactions take place at very high temperatures. In the Sun, hydrogen atoms fuse together to form helium atoms. In this process radiant energy is produced and reaches the Earth.

What causes nuclear fusion inside the Sun?

The Sun’s gravitational force confines the positively-charged hydrogen nuclei and work with the high temperatures that cause the nuclei to move around furiously, collide at high speeds overcoming the natural electrostatic repulsion that exists between the positive charges and fuse to form the heavier helium.

What happens in sun fission or fusion?

Fusion occurs when two atoms slam together to form a heavier atom, like when two hydrogen atoms fuse to form one helium atom. This is the same process that powers the sun and creates huge amounts of energy—several times greater than fission.

Does nuclear fission occur in the Sun?

The energy in the Sun is not because of fission. It is generated in the Sun by nuclear fusion reaction of hydrogen nuclei into helium. The fusion process occurs in the core of the Sun.

Why can’t the Sun explode?

Why doesn’t the Sun fuse all its hydrogen at once and explode like an H-bomb? Fortunately for life on our planet, the Sun gradually releases its nuclear energy over billions of years. The Sun is powered by the energy released when the nuclei of its hydrogen atoms slam together so hard they fuse together.

Why does nuclear fusion occur in the Sun?

What happens when beryllium is struck by alpha particles?

This nuclear reaction is: Neutrons are liberated when beryllium nuclei are struck by energetic alpha particles producing the nuclear reaction is a carbon-12 nucleus. Beryllium also releases neutrons under bombardment by gamma rays.

What happens when beryllium reflectors are used in nuclear reactions?

The beryllium nuclear reactions depicted in Chain 2 of Figure 1 also reveal two additional aspects of reactor operations when beryllium reflectors are involved. One of the significant reaction products in Chain 2 is tritium (3H), a radioisotope of concern in nuclear reactor waste streams.

Why does beryllium release more neutrons than it absorbs?

Thus, for high-energy neutrons, beryllium is a neutron multiplier, releasing more neutrons than it absorbs. This nuclear reaction is: Neutrons are liberated when beryllium nuclei are struck by energetic alpha particles producing the nuclear reaction is a carbon-12 nucleus. Beryllium also releases neutrons under bombardment by gamma rays.

How many reaction chains does beryllium undergo in a nuclear reactor?

Figure 1 lists a number of nuclear reactions involving beryllium. Examination of the six reaction chains in Figure 1 reveals that helium is a reaction product in every chain. Reaction chains 2, 3, and 4 are especially of interest relative to the intense neutron and gamma radiation environment of an operating reactor.