• Question: why is the sun so hot

    Asked by to Rosie, Rory, Kate, Juan, Joe on 17 Mar 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Kate Salmon

      Kate Salmon answered on 17 Mar 2014:

      Hi @theboss25- the sun is hot because it is essentially a big ball of hydrogen which is held together by the gravity of all its mass. The sun has a lot of mass which means the force of gravity pulling it inward is enormous. But the Sun is actually in perfect balance. Gravity is trying to squeeze it together into a little ball, but this creates the right conditions for fusion. The fusion releases radiation, and it’s this radiation that pushes back against the gravity, keeping the Sun as a sphere and making the sun hot.

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