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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
- Anonymous1 decade agoFavorite 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.
- 1 decade ago
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.
- green meklarLv 71 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 BLv 71 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.
- gintableLv 71 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 - Anonymous1 decade ago
hydrogen burns by combining with other hydrogen, not oxygen... we call this type of fire "fusion".... hydrogen gas and fusion fire