The Sun: A Nuclear Powerhouse

Vocabulary flashcards based on the lecture notes about the Sun and its energy production.

Hydrostatic Equilibrium

The balance between the outward pressure of gases in a star and the inward gravitational force acting on it.

Proton-Proton Chain

A series of thermonuclear reactions by which hydrogen nuclei are fused to form helium, releasing energy in the process.

Nuclear Fusion

The process of combining lighter atomic nuclei into heavier ones, releasing energy.

Neutrinos

Fundamental particles with no charge and very little mass that interact weakly with matter; produced in nuclear fusion in the Sun.

Mass-Energy Equivalence

The principle that mass can be converted into energy, described by the equation E=mc².

CNO Cycle

A set of fusion processes in stars where carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotopes act as catalysts to fuse hydrogen into helium.

Helioseismology

The study of the sun’s pulsations to infer the characteristics of its interior.

Luminosity

The total amount of energy radiated by the Sun per second.

Binding Energy

The energy released when particles come together to form a nucleus; related to mass defect.

Conduction

The transfer of heat through a substance by direct contact.

Convection

The movement within a fluid where hotter, less dense material rises and cooler, denser material sinks.

Fission

The splitting of heavy atomic nuclei into lighter ones, releasing energy.

Photons

Quantum particles of light that carry energy and are emitted during nuclear reactions.

Gravitational Contraction

The process by which a star generates energy as its mass contracts under its own gravity.

Electromagnetic Radiation

Energy emitted in the form of photons, including visible light, gamma rays, and X-rays.

Positron

The antimatter counterpart of an electron, with the same mass but a positive charge.

Solar Interior

The internal structure of the Sun, where nuclear fusion occurs and energy is generated.

Joule

The unit of energy equal to the work done when a force of one newton is applied over a distance of one meter.