2006-10-02 03:02:26 · 8 answers · asked by amitabh s 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
A similar question was just asked about hydrogen burnout. Every second in the sun's core, 596 million tons of hydrogen is nuclear fused to produce 592 million tons of helium. The "missing" 4 million tons is converted into pure radiant energy equivilent to 10billion 1 megaton nuclear weapons per second! So your question is good. Why doesn't the sun burnout?
The sun is 300,000 times more massive than the earth or 2000 million million million million tons! Divide this number by about 600 million tons per second of hydrogen-helium converting tonnage gives 3.3 million million million seconds. Therefore, at its current energy production rate the sun should burn for 100billion years. As the sun continues its hydrogen burning, it will increase its burning rate tho(& helium will also produce heavier elements), but burning will last for 5billion years.
2006-10-02 07:27:47 · answer #1 · answered by litesong1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is burning hydrogen, constantly, but since the sun has so much hydrogen it ia taking time. The sun will burn hydrogen for about I think 4 more million years.
2006-10-02 10:08:53 · answer #2 · answered by t_nguyen62791 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The hydrogen doesnt burn out because it doesnt satisfy all the 3 conditions of combustion
1)Presence of a fuel - OK this condition is fulfilled by hydrogen
2)Reaching of the ignition ttemperature- Your question says it
3)A combustion supporting substance- No, its not present
Infact none of the hydrogen burns. It fuses with the others to form helium by nulear fusion to give energy in form of light, heat, gamma rays, ultra violed rays, infra red rays, etc
2006-10-03 00:41:14 · answer #3 · answered by vishal_willpower 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will eventually. As hydrogen will diminishing, the sun will start burning helium which is the product of burning hydrogen in the first place.
2006-10-02 10:30:48 · answer #4 · answered by Dr. J. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The surface temperature of Sun is estimated to be 6000degC. However deep inside the temp. are of the order of millions of degC. At these temp. gas does not remain gas. It behaves like a liquid with a surface and it is called plasma. At these temp. the reactions are no longer burning . These are fission atomic reactions. These reactions cause temp to rise further. due to which there is expansion of gases.However at the same time the gigantic gravity of the Sun causes great compression with great rise in pressures. This makes the fission reactions even more accelerated. This iteration goes on and on. Beneficiaries! We the Earthlings get our life-giving light and warmth!
2006-10-02 10:16:16 · answer #5 · answered by openpsychy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
burning requires OXYGEN! and in sun, hydrogen doesn't burn, NUCLEAR FUSION takes place!!
2006-10-04 09:19:19 · answer #6 · answered by tanayveer007 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will, eventually. That is why there are dead stars out there. Don't worry, we have about two weeks before it does.
2006-10-02 10:10:15 · answer #7 · answered by Spirit Walker 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it will. everything takes time.
2006-10-02 10:12:33 · answer #8 · answered by michaell 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋