I've just thought...
Discussion
There are chemical reactions (where elements just swap about to make different molecules) and nuclear reactions (where elements are changed into different elements). This can either be fusion - small atoms joining together, or fission - large elements splitting up.
Thought this was schoolboy stuff?
Thought this was schoolboy stuff?
PSBuckshot said:
(yes it hurt my brain) how do stars/the sun burn in space with no oxygen?
Stars don't "burn".Edit to be more helpful: The primary reaction in a star is Hydrogen atoms fusing into Helium atoms and releasing energy in the form of heat and light. Hence it's called nuclear fusion, not combustion.
Edited by ewenm on Friday 10th February 14:17
Simpo Two said:
There are chemical reactions (where elements just swap about to make different molecules) and nuclear reactions (where elements are changed into different elements). This can either be fusion - small atoms joining together, or fission - large elements splitting up.
Thought this was schoolboy stuff?
Steady on i can see where the misunderstanding came from, to be fair they do call the sun a giant ball of fire making it seem like combustion which you are far more likely to experience than fusion. Thought this was schoolboy stuff?
ewenm said:
PSBuckshot said:
(yes it hurt my brain) how do stars/the sun burn in space with no oxygen?
Stars don't "burn".Edit to be more helpful: The primary reaction in a star is Hydrogen atoms fusing into Helium atoms and releasing energy in the form of heat and light. Hence it's called nuclear fusion, not combustion.
Edited by ewenm on Friday 10th February 14:17
ewenm said:
Stars don't "burn".
Edit to be more helpful: The primary reaction in a star is Hydrogen atoms fusing into Helium atoms and releasing energy in the form of heat and light. Hence it's called nuclear fusion, not combustion.
I know this but I did think they were flames coming off the stars. Thats the bit that confused me. Edit to be more helpful: The primary reaction in a star is Hydrogen atoms fusing into Helium atoms and releasing energy in the form of heat and light. Hence it's called nuclear fusion, not combustion.
Edited by ewenm on Friday 10th February 14:17
PSBuckshot said:
I know this but I did think they were flames coming off the stars. Thats the bit that confused me.
They are "flames" coming off the stars. Flames are caused by charged particles such as ions and electrons falling from high to low electron shells and therefore energy levels emmitting light as they do so. So it is fire - but with a different cause.
Shaolin said:
PSBuckshot said:
I know this but I did think they were flames coming off the stars. Thats the bit that confused me.
They are "flames" coming off the stars. Flames are caused by charged particles such as ions and electrons falling from high to low electron shells and therefore energy levels emmitting light as they do so. So it is fire - but with a different cause.
Nothing is burning. It's just a big controlled hydrogen bomb fusing hydrogen to helium and the lost mass is given off as energy (e=mc2).
To give the idea of the difference in power between a chemical reaction and a nuclear reaction, I heard once that if you converted all the matter in a matchstick into energy, it would raise Mt Everest by an inch. Can't do the maths though; maybe another Pher can?
To give the idea of the difference in power between a chemical reaction and a nuclear reaction, I heard once that if you converted all the matter in a matchstick into energy, it would raise Mt Everest by an inch. Can't do the maths though; maybe another Pher can?
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