Comments on: if theres no oxygen in space how does the sun have fire?

By: P.U.M.A

P.U.M.A — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 10:02:59 +0000

u r right on the fact that the sun doesnt have any oxygen

its fires relies on nuclear fusion
nuclear fusion keeps the fire going …
hydrogen into helium ,,,, ,
mass into energy ,,
keeps the sun shining and .. bright . . .
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By: lindajune

lindajune — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 09:15:59 +0000

If the sun were actually a fire, you’re right, it would need oxygen.
But since the sun is not a fire, it doesn’t.

The sun creates energy by the nuclear fusion of hydrogen to helium (I guess they just don’t teach any basic science in school anymore – such a shame).

The "flames" are not flames – they are called solar flares and are the result of explosions in the sun’s atmosphere when magnetic field lines interact with the superheated plasma of the sun’s outer layers.
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By: Bob K

Bob K — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 09:05:59 +0000

Two things. One, as everyone else has said the sun does not combust, it is powered by hydrogen fusion. Two, in actuality the sun does require oxygen to work. In stars of our sun's size and smaller (approximately) the fusion chain is dominated by the so called CNO (Carbon-Nitrogen-Oxygen) reactions. The reactions don't go straight from Hydrogen to Helium as they do in large stars, but rather take a more circuitous route through the heaver elements.
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By: grayure

grayure — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 08:50:59 +0000

The sun isn't on fire. It's hot because it's massive and large, and the pressure inside it is high enough to force atoms together. They then give up some of the energy which was holding them together and that becomes heat.
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By: Ethan

Ethan — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 08:01:59 +0000

You’re correct, space has ‘almost’ no oxygen, and fire does require oxygen to burn. But the sun doesn’t burn like fire. The sun relies upon fusion, which is a nuclear reaction, as opposed to the chemical process of combustion, that’s responsible for fire.

The fusion that powers the sun is caused by the huge amount of substance, mostly hydrogen, that the sun is made of. The mass of this substance is actually great enough to create such extreme pressure at the core of the sun that fusion occurs. The result of this process is lots of energy (heat and light).

Regarding the sun’s flames, these are solar flares and they’re not really flames but hot gasses that are expelled from the surface of the sun, kind of like popcorn on a hot frying pan.
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By: campbelp2002

campbelp2002 — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 07:17:59 +0000

The Sun doesn’t have any fire.
It is nuclear powered.
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By: Asst Prof

Asst Prof — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 06:27:59 +0000

It is not a chemical fire, it is "nuclear burning" as a result of the fusion of hydrogen atom nuclei to form helium atoms, releasing energy.

And, before you ask, a substance CAN be a liquid without being made with water…
References :
4th-grade and common sense.

By: Geoff G

Geoff G — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 06:10:59 +0000

The Sun doesn't have fire or flames. It is a huge ball of plasma with a thermonuclear reaction going on in its core. This fusion reaction doesn't need oxygen, just hydrogen for fuel, and is much more powerful and efficient than a simple combustion reaction like fire.
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By: matty

matty — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 05:52:59 +0000

You see…

"The sun is a mass of incandescent gas. A gigantic nuclear furnace, where oxygen is turned into helium at a temperature of millions of degrees.
The sun is hot.
The sun is not
a place where you could live.
But here on Earth, there would be no life without the light it gives."
References :
They Might Be Giants

By: LoveBabe

LoveBabe — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 05:34:59 +0000

There aren't really flames on the sun, it isn't a ball of fire. The sun is made of various gases and the flame like appearance is multiple chemical reactions and explosions occurring on the surface that stretch out over many miles.
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