where does the sun get its fuel from , how come it hasnt burnt out by now ?

Answer 1

Fusion.

Stars obtain their energy from nuclear fusion, a process in which several small, extremely-fast-moving atomic nuclei join to form a single larger nucleus (the nucleus, plural nuclei, is the tiny positively charged part of the atom that has nearly all the mass). In this process, some mass is lost and converted into a huge amount of energy, as per Einstein’s famous formula, E = mc2. In the sun, 4 million tonnes of matter are converted into energy every second—this is huge, but negligible compared to the sun’s enormous total mass of 1.99x1027 (1,990,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000) tonnes.

Fusion in stars generally combines four hydrogen nuclei into one helium nucleus.1 Thus, the sun is like a huge hydrogen bomb.2 Fusion produces a vast number of extremely low-mass particles called neutrinos.3 These ghostly particles could go through light years of solid lead. They are now known to switch between ‘flavours’ (types).4

A large, heavy nucleus (such as helium) takes up much less room than four small nuclei (such as hydrogen), so there is a lot more mass in a given volume, i.e. greater density.5 So, as the sun ‘burns’ hydrogen in the core, it contracts. The higher pressure and temperature then make fusion easier, so the core will heat further. Therefore, over billions of years the sun should become much brighter.

Answer 2

At the center of the sun, there is a large amount of hydrogen. The core of the sun is exceptionally hot and under enormous amounts of pressure. Due to these extreme conditions, the process of nuclear fusion takes place, where some of the hydrogen is fused into helium. In doing so, an enormous amount of energy is released, as defined by Einstein's equation, (e=mc2) The hydrogen in the sun will eventually run out (in about 5 billion years), resulting in the sun changing from a main sequence star to a red giant. In doing so, the sun will expand dramatically, engulfing the inner planets including earth. From here, the outer layers of the sun will be blown off, turning the sun into a nova. The nova will flare brightly for a while, before turning into a white dwarf. From here, the star will cool and virtually disappear in front of the eyes of the observer over time.

Answer 3

The sun uses its own chemical processes for fuel. It mainly comes from the nuclear fusion of Hydrogen,our sun is about 1/2 way through its life cycle and has roughly 4-5 billion years worth of energy left. If humans are still around when this happens then mostly all life will tend to die out,humans included,if we haven't found a way to colonize another solar system by then.

Answer 4

E = mC^2 very little mass can create large amounts of energy. This is what happens in the sun, Nuclear Fusion. The sun combines hydrogen to helium and so on, to create energy from every combination. This is the entire concept Nuclear Fusion and that is how the sun lasts so long.

Answer 5

Because the nuclear reactions powering the Sun don't use much fuel to make a lot of energy, and because the sun is so large and has so much fuel, it can shine for billions of years.

Answer 6

the sun is a star. It looks so big and bright because it is the closest one to us. It is made from mixes of hydrogen, helium, sodium, and calcium. It hasn't burnt out yet becuase it is a medium aged one. Stars age like people , but they go from blue to red(blue being the hottest and red being the coolest)and fade. Then finally die and you can't see them anymore. The lifetime of a sar depends on how much mass it has. The smaller the star, the longer it lives because it burns its fuel more slowly. The sun is a medium mass star so it is expected to live about 10 billion years. it is about 4.6 billion years old right now so it will live for another 5.4 billion years.When the sun finally burns out it will form a giant black hole

Answer 7

It has a huge amount of fuel reserve; enough for 10 billion years of shine (which will use only a fraction of the fuel, as only the core is hot enough to fuse hydrogen, so the outer layers are only there to provide gravitational bulk that makes he core compact and hot).
The sun is about 5 billion years old, so it is about halfway in its life.

Answer 8

The sun IS its fuel - a highly compressed ball of flammable gasses. It hasn't burnt out by now because it's young yet, (in star terms) but it will, eventually.

Answer 9

the answer is e=mc^2

Which means that matter contains enormous amounts of potential energy, such that an H-bomb is no bigger than a conventional bomb but with millions of times the energy because it is tapping the energy of the atom.

Multiply the H bomb up trillions of trillions of times and you have the sun. So much mass (m in Einstein's equation) multiplied by the speed of light squared (c^2) and you get energy that lasts for billions of years. It is said einstein said the sun would go out in 2060. They have been testing the theory.

Answer 10

the quick answer is e=mc^2

Which means that matter contains enormous amounts of potential energy, such that an H-bomb is no bigger than a conventional bomb but with millions of times the energy because it is tapping the energy of the atom.

Multiply the H bomb up trillions of trillions of times and you have the sun. So much mass (m in Einstein's equation) multiplied by the speed of light squared (c^2) and you get energy that lasts for billions of years.