The energy produced by the Sun originates from a process called nuclear fusion, which occurs in its core. In this process, hydrogen nuclei (protons) fuse together under the extreme temperature and pressure conditions found in the Sun's core, forming helium nuclei and releasing a tremendous amount of energy in the form of light and heat.
The overall reaction can be summarized in a simplified way as:
\[ 4 \text{H} \rightarrow \text{He} + 2 \text{e}^+ + 2 \nu + \text{energy} \]
where:
- \( \text{H} \) represents hydrogen,
- \( \text{He} \) represents helium,
- \( \text{e}^+ \) represents positrons,
- \( \nu \) represents neutrinos.
This energy is what powers the Sun and, by extension, provides heat and light to our solar system, supporting life on Earth. Fusion occurs in the Sun at an estimated temperature of about 15 million degrees Celsius (27 million degrees Fahrenheit) at the core.