BSCI 10001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Mesozoic

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As you well know, water (h20) is a molecule made of two hydrogen atoms plus one oxygen atom: Atoms have a nucleus with positively charged protons (plus in all cases except hydrogen, some neutrons), orbited by negatively charged electrons: They were all made long ago inside stars. In the center of stars, the huge force of gravity compresses hydrogen nuclei (protons) so tightly together that they begin to fuse to form helium nuclei. 4 protons fuse to form a helium nucleus: Our sun is fusing ( burning ) hydrogen to make helium, and will continue doing so for about another 5 billion years. Basically, our sun is a long, continuous, sustained hydrogen bomb explosion! The energy released in the center of the star by the fusion of hydrogen nuclei to form helium provides an outward force that counteracts the inward force of contraction due to gravity.

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