How the Sun works - Fusion and Quantum Tunneling

The video explains why the Sun has lasted for 4.5 billion years, fueled by nuclear fusion. Unlike Earth, where extreme heat is needed for fusion, the Sun uses quantum tunneling to fuse hydrogen atoms into helium, releasing energy. This process allows the Sun to convert its mass into energy, sustaining it for billions of years. Quantum mechanics plays a crucial role in this energy production.

Why doesn't the Sun burn out like gasoline or wood?

• It is constantly refueled by space debris.

• It is powered by nuclear reactions.

• It is made of a special type of gas.

• It is protected by a cosmic shield.

What is the primary process that powers the Sun?

• Solar evaporation

• Chemical combustion

• Nuclear fission

• Nuclear fusion

What elements are primarily involved in the Sun's nuclear fusion?

• Helium and carbon

• Iron and nickel

• Hydrogen and helium

• Oxygen and nitrogen

Why is nuclear fusion challenging to achieve on Earth?

• It requires extremely high temperatures.

• It depends on rare materials.

• It needs a vacuum environment.

• It can only occur in space.

What phenomenon allows the Sun to sustain fusion despite lower temperatures?

• Quantum tunneling

• Gravitational pull

• Magnetic fields

• Solar winds