What would happen if the fusion rate in the core of the Sun increased?

Question

But instead of the core changing size like normal, it didnt change?

a)The Sun’s core would start to cool down and the rate of fusion would decrease.

b)The Sun’s core would reach a new equilibrium at a lower temperature.

c)The Sun’s core would reach a new equilibrium at a higher temperature.

d)The Sun’s core would start to heat up and the rate of fusion would increase even more.

Answer 1

Fusion releases heat energy, so eliminate a and b.

I'm guessing d). Since expansion is not allowed by the problem, the increased heat would cause more collisions of particles, leading to even more fusion. This might snowball and lead to a catastrophe, like the sun going supernova or red giant (if it weren't for the artificial constraint of the condition that the core not change in size).

Answer 2

The answer really depends on what you mean by keeping the size of the core constant.

If you increase the fusion rate in the center of the sun, the temperature of the particles in the center of the sun will increase. This will lead to more particles leaving the central region (core) of the sun. When you allow for the leakage of the particles the new equilibrium Fusion rate of the core will depend on the temperature and the number of particles that leaked out. It is hard to say, with out more information, whether that final temperature will be greater or less then the original temperature, but it will reach an equilibrium. If you could somehow prevent the particles from escaping the core, then the suns core would heat up, but it will reach some temperature where the amount heat generated is the same as the amount of heat radiated, so even then you will reach equilibrium. But if you could somehow prevent the heat from escaping, then the temperature will continue to increase until you run out of fuel to burn.

Answer 3

The sun would get hotter and smaller

Answer 4

c

Answer 5

D