Why is the sun so bright?

Question

This was asked by my 4yr old daughter....

Answer 1

Let an astrophysicist answer you. Solar energy has its origin in the core where matter is in the degenerate state...the atoms are so crushed together the electrons cannot orbit the nuclei. This condition allows for the triple apha process to occur where hydrogen nuclei can be fused to form helium nuclei. During this process, mass is lost. Since Einsteins famous equation tells us that mass can be converted into energy, this "lost" mass is converted into energy...mostly as gamma radiation. Gamma rays are NOT heat rays. Their wavelengths are much too short. Heat (or infra-red radiation) waves are very long. So...the core of the sun is suprisingly cooler than the outermost regions. As this gamma radiation works its way to the sun's surface, taking thousands of years, it loses energy. In other words, the wavelengths get longer. Longer wavelengths mean less energy. Think of the fact that the fewer waves we have per meter, the less energy there must be. As they approach the sun's apparent surface, or photosphere, the wavelengths of energy are now long enough to be classified as visible light. Also there is a lot of the longer infra-red waves of heat present here too. So...that is the origin of our sun's light. The outer atmosphere (corona) of the sun is the hottest part. Here the gas atoms and molecules can travel the fastest because of the low density. Temperature is defined as the average velocity of moving atoms or molecules. Hence, the very hot sun.

Lucky for us, the sun is a very average star in size, temperature and luminosity. When you are outside and feel very hot in the sun, consider what a tiny body you are on the Earth's surface. How much heat then, must the whole Earth be getting from the sun. Now consider the Earth is only the size of a pinhead when compared to a sun the size of a basketball. The sun is sending its energy out in all directions and the rays spread out with distance...according to the inverse square law. So...if you think its hot and bright now, consider what its total output must be like!

I'm sure your four year old daughter will understand.

Answer 2

The sun is actually a large ball of fire, really a sphere of active energy that is the largest thing in the solar system. It is not the biggest star in our galaxy, but it is the closest. A mere 93 million miles separate us from that. Now when you have that intense an event happening at that magnitude so close to us, you could easily see it if you're on the right side of the planet, and you could feel the effects all the time. On Mars the sun is not so bright as it is here, and on Pluto te sun is little more than the brightest star in the sky. On Mercury, of course, the sun is about 11 times brighter and more effective than it is here on Earth.

Answer 3

Because it is so hot. Really hot things glow red. Even hotter things glow white, like a regular incandescent light bulb. The sun is so hot because of nuclear reactions going on deep inside of it. The nuclear reactions use hydrogen gas to make heat and helium gas, but it isn't fire; it is a nuclear reaction, kind of like a nuclear reactor that we sometimes use to make electricity, but not exactly the same. There is enough hydrogen in the Sun for this process to continue for BILLIONS of years before it runs out. That is such a long time that for all practical purposes, it is forever.

Answer 4

The sun is a mass of incandescent gas
A gigantic nuclear furnace
Where hydrogen is built into helium
At a temperature of millions of degrees

Yo ho, it's hot, the sun is not
A place where we could live
But here on Earth there'd be no life
Without the light it gives

We need its light
We need its heat
We need its energy
Without the sun, without a doubt
There'd be no you and me

The sun is a mass of incandescent gas
A gigantic nuclear furnace
Where hydrogen is built into helium
At a temperature of millions of degrees

The sun is hot

It is so hot that everything on it is a gas: iron, copper, aluminum, and many others.

The sun is large

If the sun were hollow, a million Earths could fit inside. And yet, the sun is only a middle-sized star.

The sun is far away

About 93 million miles away, and that's why it looks so small.

And even when it's out of sight
The sun shines night and day

The sun gives heat
The sun gives light
The sunlight that we see
The sunlight comes from our own sun's
Atomic energy

Scientists have found that the sun is a huge atom-smashing machine. The heat and light of the sun come from the nuclear reactions of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and helium.*

The sun is a mass of incandescent gas
A gigantic nuclear furnace
Where hydrogen is built into helium
At a temperature of millions of degrees

Answer 5

because it's big, it's hot, and it's burning.
It's proximity to Earth makes it look brighter than many other stars. The Sun is basically a giant ball of fuel that is burning (though many scientists don't like the word 'burning') , and the result of this is that it gives out lots of light.
They tell little kids that it's a big ball of fire, which it isn't but it's like that.

Answer 6

In the sun atoms of Hydrogen and helium fuse together in a process called nuclear fusion. when they come togther the produce soo much heat and light.

Answer 7

The sun is bright because it studied effectively in school.

Answer 8

The sun is bright

because its a burning star

fire is hot and bright

that should be good enough for her

Answer 9

Because it's a star that is very close and gives off a lot of heat and light.

Answer 10

that's because it a really humongous ball of
burning gas and the thing that saves us from being burnt is the fact that it's 8 light minutes away and it's in a vacuum.
God bless,
gabe