Astronomy 1021 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Nuclear Fusion, Convection Zone, Neutrino
16 Dec 2017
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Why does the sun shine: originally people thought the sun was coal or wood burning. Quickly realized this wasn"t possible: next working theory was gravitational contraction. Creation of energy by slowly contracting in size. This was later proven and called nuclear fusion: how fusion started. Started as gravitational contraction until enough pressure and energy was around to start nuclear fusion: the stable sun. Our sun is stable because of gravitational equilibrium. The outward push of internal gas balanced against the inward pull of gravity. The fusion occurring deep within the sun pushes outward against the gravity pushing inward. The rate at which fusion releases energy in the sun"s core and the rate at which the sun"s surface radiates this energy into space. Without this balance too much energy would be released and gravity would not be able to sustain itself. There is the outermost layer of low density gas called the corona.
