ASTR 1210 Chapter Notes - Chapter 14: Solar Core, Nuclear Fission, Electron Neutrino
18 Feb 2016
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Document Summary
Why does the sun shine: einstein"s special theory of relativity includes e=mc2. This equation shows that mass itself contains an enormous amount of potential energy. Nuclear fusion requires extremely high temps and: but how does the sun convert the energy of mass into, the stable sun densities. In the sun, these conditions are found deep in the core b/c for the sun to shine steadily, it must have a way of keeping the core hot and dense. It maintains these conditions through a natural balance b/t 2 competing forces: gravity pulling inward and pressure pushing outward: this balance is called gravitational equilibrium. The outward push against gravity comes from the internal gas pressure. Deep in core, pressure makes the gas hot and dense enough to sustain nuclear fusion. The energy released by fusion, in turn, heats the gas and maintains the pressure that keeps the sun in balance against the inward pull of gravity.
