2006-11-14 05:10:22 · 10 answers · asked by rambobob 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
Good question with a (fairly) simple answer: nuclear fusion.
Whereas a fire needs oxygen to burn the heat produced in the sun is through hydrogen atoms breaking down and expending huge amounts of energy as they do so.
Have a look at the wikipedia link which will tell you more.
2006-11-14 05:49:57 · answer #1 · answered by Hilary Y 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sun "burns" through a series of fusion reactions during its lifetime. Currently, it is fusing hydrogen into helium. This generates enormous amounts of heat and produces a prodigious amount of photons. This provides the heat and light needed to heat and light up the Earth. If you are interested, get a good book on how stars work and it will give you more details. Depending on how expert your knowledge is or wants to be, you can get some very deep, technical books, or ones that keep the math to a minimum!
2006-11-14 07:25:50 · answer #2 · answered by flyfisher_20750 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A normal fire is a chemical reaction that needs oxygen. The Sun is lit by nuclear reactions that (currently) need hydrogen and there is plenty of that in and around the Sun.
2006-11-14 06:18:11 · answer #3 · answered by beernutuk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sun is not on fire. what we see is the light energy given out in the process of nuclear fusion and not in an ordinary process of oxidation which requires O2
2006-11-14 06:06:13 · answer #4 · answered by Abhinav 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is a fusion reaction taking place inside the sun due to which the hydrogen atoms keep on being produced.
the detailed study of fusion will make it clear.
2006-11-14 05:17:51 · answer #5 · answered by sweety 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is powered by nuclear fusion (Hydrogen becoming Helium and releasing some energy), not burning (Oxygen + Carbon & other elements becoming CO2 etc)
2006-11-14 05:19:00 · answer #6 · answered by Eric 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The sun isn't fire silly. It's a big light bulb.
2006-11-15 13:56:26 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the sun keeps alight through nuclear fusion, which dosen't need oxygen to burn.
2006-11-14 05:17:03 · answer #8 · answered by andyprefab 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
God made it like that. Have you not heard of intelligent design?
Repent ye sinners for the end is neigh.
2006-11-16 13:16:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a light bulb (which is a vacuum, so it will not burn out too soon) burns out eventually, so will the sun.
2006-11-14 06:45:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋