The Solar Core


An artist's picture of the solar interior. Energy is generated in the solar core
Click on image for full size (19K GIF)
Image courtesy of NASA

The center of the Sun is called the core. The core is made up of a really hot gas (in the plasma state). The temperature in the core is 15 million degrees Kelvin! That's REALLY HOT!

The core is where the energy of the Sun is made. Things are just right for nuclear fusion reactions to take place. These reactions release energy in two forms, light and particles (in particular neutrinos).

The Solar Core


An artist's picture of the solar interior. Energy is generated in the solar core
Click on image for full size (19K GIF)
Image courtesy of NASA

The solar core is made up of a really hot and dense gas (in the plasma state). The temperature of 15 million degrees Kelvin (27 million degrees Faranheit) keeps the core at a gaseous state.

The core is where the energy of the Sun is made. The density and temperature are just right for nuclear fusion reactions to take place. These reactions release energy in two forms, light (electromagnetic radiation) and particles (in particular neutrinos). Despite the reactions, the Sun's core is a very dark place!

The Solar Core


An artist's picture of the solar interior. Energy is generated in the solar core
Click on image for full size (19K GIF)
Image courtesy of NASA

The solar core is made up of an extremely hot and dense gas (in the plasma state). Despite a density of 160,000 Kg/m3, the temperature of 15 million degrees Kelvin (27 million degrees Faranheit) prevents the core from reaching the solid state.

The core is the region where the energy of the Sun is produced. The density and temperature are such that nuclear fusion reactions can take place: these reactions release energy both in the form of electromagnetic energy (gamma rays) and particles (in particular neutrinos). Despite the reactions, the Sun's core is a very dark place!


Last modified prior to September, 2000 by the Windows Team

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