SUN

Since the birth of mankind, the Earth has been lit by the vibrant light of our closest star, The Sun. The sun, which is roughly 1 au from the earth, is a giant ball of burning gases, without much solid. The Sun was “born” approximately 5 billion years ago, as it began it’s formation in a huge cloud of gases. As the materials condensed, high temperatures and great pressures built up at the center. These conditions set off a nuclear reaction that still releases energy and causes this star to continuously shine. This nuclear reaction, known as nuclear

fusion, produces 386 billion megawatts of energy per second. This solar energy is created deep within the core of the Sun. It is here that the temperature (15,000,000° C; 27,000,000° F) and pressure (340 billion times Earth's air pressure at sea level) is so intense that these nuclear reactions take place. This reaction causes four protons or hydrogen nuclei to fuse together to form one alpha particle or helium nucleus. The alpha particle is about .7 percent less massive than the four protons. The difference in mass is expelled as energy and is carried to the surface of the Sun, through a process known as convection, where it is released as light and heat. Energy generated in the Sun's core takes a million years to reach its surface. Every second 700 million tons of hydrogen are converted into helium ashes.