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How does a star exist in space?

Why is it that our sun, or any star (except white/brown dwarfs), can shine in space. I know that a fire cannot exist without oxygen. Since oxygen is rare in space, and a star is a hot ball of fire and gas, how can a star exist in space without it?

9 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Because there is absolutely no fire in the sun. Fire is a chemical reaction, which does require oxygen. The sun (and other stars) is a thermonuclear reaction. In its core, hydrogen is fused to form helium. The fusion reaction generates an enormous amount of energy and requires no oxygen.

  • 1 decade ago

    A fire can exist without oxygen, you need an oxidizing agent. The sun burns its hydrogen / heavier gases towards the end of its life The energy comes from the nuclear fusion within the sun.

  • I really kind of hate you. If you're a troll, then you're an infuriating troll, and if you're not a troll, then you're an idiot.

    Fact: Space exists

    Fact: The sun exists

    Fact: The sun is in space

    Fact: Fire can't burn without oxygen

    Fact: There is no oxygen on/in the sun

    Conclusion: Either our theory about what constitutes a fire is incomplete or the heat of the sun is generated by some other mechanism.

    Fusion.

  • 1 decade ago

    The Sun's energy does not come from chemical fire. Rather, it is generated in the Sun's core by the fusion of hydrogen nuclei into helium nuclei.

    Also, the Sun is no more 'in space' than the Earth is. In fact, its atmosphere is far thicker than that of the Earth. Any oxygen the Sun contains, though, is not in its atmosphere but down in its core. The atmosphere is made of hydrogen.

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  • Bob B
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    Stars are not balls of "fire". Combustion is a chemical process and doesn't take place inside stars.

    Stars produce their energy through nuclear fusion, which being a nuclear reaction has nothing to do with combustion and doesn't need any oxygen to take place.

  • 1 decade ago

    The sun is a quagmire

    It's not, made of fire

    Forget what you've been told in the past

    Source(s): They Might Be Giants
  • 1 decade ago

    Nuclear fusion.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    hydrogen burns by combining with other hydrogen, not oxygen... we call this type of fire "fusion".... hydrogen gas and fusion fire

  • Tom S
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    Fire?

    Try thermonuclear reactions, fire has nothing to do with it!

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