(a) [5 pts] How many hydrogen atoms are converted into helium per second in the
ID: 3308013 • Letter: #
Question
(a) [5 pts] How many hydrogen atoms are converted into helium per second in the core of the Sun, assuming all of the Sun's luminosity is produced through the pp chain? (b)[5 pts] Based on part (a), how long would it take for the Sun to fuse 10%, 50% and 100% of its hydrogen into helium at the current luminosity? Why is the last number probably not realistic? (c) [5 pts] What is the mass loss rate of the Sun due to fusion in M.lyr at the current luminosity? How long would it take for the Sun to shrink to zero mass? (d) [5 pts] Is the mass loss rate due to the solar wind larger or smaller than the mass loss rate due to fusion? (e) [5 pts] The Main Sequence lifetime of the Sun is 1o1° yr. What fraction of hydrogen is converted into helium, and what percentage of mass is lost by the Sun over this period from fusion and solar wind?Explanation / Answer
A..The main sequence- star sun generates its energy by nuclear fusion of hydrogen molecule into helium.. In its core, it fuses 620MMT of hydrogen per second..
B..The sun has mass of 1.989×10^30kg.If 10% of that Maas is available fusion.That is0.1×0.0068=6.8×10^-4 of it's total mass.For 50% it is =34×10^-4times the total mass.For 100% the life time would be 10 billion years which is not perhaps realistic.
C..The mass loss rate pee year is about 10^-13.It takes nearly 5 billion years as sun has used up about half of its hydrogen in the last 5 billion years..
D..As sun losses 4 million tonnes of mass per second due to fusion compared to solar wind which hardly kills 1.5 million tonnes of material ,the mass loss due to fusion is greater..
E..Almost all the hydrogen converted to helium it will become a dwarf after losing 50 % of the mass or becomes redgiant...
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