Based on E=mc^2,what happens during a nuclear fusion reaction inside a star to create the energy as starlight?

Question

Based on Einstein's famous equation from his Theory of Special Relativity ,E=mc^2, what happens during a nuclear fusion reaction inside a star to create the energy we see as starlight and sunshine?

Answer 1

basically four hydrogen atoms come together to form one helium atom.

but the helium atom weighs a bit less than four hydrogen atoms. this slight difference in mass is released in the reaction as energy. so basically its like 4H => He + energy

the extra mass is given off as energy, like einstein said energy and mass are equivalent.

make sense?

Answer 2

When the temperature of the sun's core becomes high enough to begin fusion, four atoms of hydrogen are fused into one atom of helium, however there is a slight loss of mass, the helium atom weighs a bit less than four hydrogen atoms, the missing mass has been turned into pure energy and it radiates out as visible light. The missing mass has undergone E equals MC squared.

Answer 3

during nuclear fusion in stars two hydrogen atoms combine to form helium and a lot of energy is released

Answer 4

nice one......during a fusion reaction four hydrogen atoms combine to form one helium atom .but in the process the mass of the four hydrogen atoms is less than that of the helium atom...this mass take the the form of liberated energy in the form of light heat and even sound. b'coz it takes place in such a high magnitude the energy released is tremendous.

Answer 5

This is really good! - http://observe.arc.nasa.gov/nasa/exhibits/stars/star_6.html

Now consider that our Sun is a dwarf but still puts out about 400000000000000000000000000000 Watts of energy by hydrogen fusion. I reckon that's about 600 tonnes of hydrogen per second being fused. hmm, about 2millionmillion tonnes per year. and there are a lot of bigger stars out there.

Answer 6

the atoms of light elements like hydrogen are being fused to form heavier elements like helium, which is then fused into carbon, and then in to oxygen and then into silicon and finally at the core into iron.

Answer 7

there is a particle-antiparticle collision. when they collide, their entire masses will be converted into massive energy [nuclear and radiant]. i'm not sure