Question

Using the solar luminosity, how much hydrogen is used to make helium every second at the solar core? and how much helium is made from the result of the reaction of hydrogen every second?

I know the amount of hydrogen used every second is
600 million tons, but I don't know how to calculate that.
please help :(

Answer 1

The fusion reaction is such that 4 Hydrogen atoms fuse to give a Helium atom.

Energy created per nuclear fusion is:

now, Luminosity of Sun is: 3.828 x 10²⁶ W = 3.828 x 10²⁶ J/s

therefore, Energy liberated per second is: E = 3.828 x 10²⁶ J.

so, the number of fusion events happening will be:

but every fusion requires 4 atoms of hydrogen

therefore, mass of hydrogen needed will be:

converting this to tons gives,

M = 666 x 10⁶ tons or approximately 666 million tons.