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Click on image for full size (125K GIF)
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Here is a model of the inside of the sun. Since the sun is a typical star, this
is a good blueprint for the interior of most stars in the sky.
To construct such models, scientists balance, at every place inside the sun, the
downward pull of gravity against the outward push of the heated gases.
This diagram tells an interesting story. As you move deeper into the sun,
the density reaches values of about 150 grams/cc which is about ten times the density
of solid lead. However, the temperature is so high (15.6 million degrees C) that
the hydrogen still behaves as a gas.
This is a perfect place for nuclear reactions to occur.
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