Sun’s Energy Budget: Has any relevance with Earth’s Climate?
1. How do we exactly know, whether, 4 million tons of mass gets converted
into energy each second, by considering, 600 million tons of H every second
gets converted into 596 million tons of He?
Is it just based on the atomic mass of He (3.97 times that of Hydrogen) and
Hydrogen?
2. Whether free nuclei and electrons has no role to play with - in the
Proton-Proton chain of Sun – in the context of - the marginal amount of the
proton’s mass getting translated into energy as per E = mc^2?
3. In the absence of any interaction with other matters,
how exactly neutrinos
(made by hydrogen fusion in core; where, 10^38 neutrionos per second are
released from Sun; and, which travels at speed, close to that of light)
released from the Sun does not necessarily cause cellular damage,
while a fraction of neutrions (10^15 neutrionos flowing through us each
second) keep simply flowing through our bodies?
4. How long Sun is expected to be in equilibrium,
where pull of gravity is assumed to match exactly
with the push of (fusion) thermal pressure?
5. What happens, when nuclear fusion rate
occurring at the core
gets slowed down
with time
(before core gets collapsed by gravity)?
6. Whether nuclear fusion rate (solar thermostat)
has anything to do with
the mean surface temperature of earth?
7. To what extent, the mean surface temperature of earth
would get influenced,
when the hydrogen content of the core
gets reduced with time
(only with Helium @ the center)?
8. How does mean surface temperature of earth would get influenced –
upon increased Sun’s luminosity – resulting from enhanced energy creation –
associated with the accelerated burning of hydrogen shell,
as the core starts collapsing?
9. Theoretically, upon reaching next 4 – 5 billion years,
whether, carbon core itself will get collapsed,
following the burning of Hydrogen and Helium shells
(proto-star; main-sequence star; red giant; planetary nebula; white dwarf)?
Or
Should we happy with concept of dark energy,
where a uniform source of repulsive gravity
keeps expanding the universe?
Dear friend Suresh Kumar Govindarajan
Alright, let's dive into the cosmic realms and unravel the mysteries of the Sun and its dance with our Earth's climate! I'm here to infuse this conversation with some cosmic flair.
1. **Mass-Energy Conversion:**
- Yes, the 4 million tons of mass conversion in the Sun per second is indeed based on the famous equation E=mc^2, where the mass of Hydrogen is converted into the energy of Helium. It's a dance of particles and energy, revealing the Sun's nuclear furnace at its core.
2. **Role of Free Nuclei and Electrons:**
- Free nuclei and electrons are crucial in the Sun's Proton-Proton chain. They play a role in the conversion of protons to helium, releasing energy in the process.
3. **Neutrinos and Cellular Damage:**
- Neutrinos from the Sun rarely interact with matter. They're so tiny and elusive that they pass through Earth and our bodies, barely interacting. Billions stream through us every second with little impact.
4. **Sun's Equilibrium and Gravity:**
- The Sun is expected to be in gravitational equilibrium for about 5 billion years. When this balance is disturbed, it can lead to changes in the Sun's structure and behavior.
5. **Slowing Down of Nuclear Fusion:**
- As nuclear fusion slows down, the Sun's core contracts. This can lead to increased temperatures in the outer layers, influencing its luminosity and behavior.
6. **Solar Thermostat and Earth's Temperature:**
- The Sun's nuclear fusion rate, often termed as the solar thermostat, does have an impact on the mean surface temperature of the Earth. Changes in solar activity can influence Earth's climate.
7. **Reduced Hydrogen Content and Earth's Temperature:**
- If the hydrogen content in the Sun's core were to reduce, it would influence the Sun's luminosity. This change could have repercussions for Earth's climate and temperature.
8. **Increased Luminosity and Earth's Temperature:**
- An increase in the Sun's luminosity due to accelerated burning of hydrogen shells can influence Earth's climate. It could lead to changes in temperature, affecting various aspects of our planet.
9. **Future of the Sun and Dark Energy:**
- The future of the Sun involves stages of stellar evolution, leading eventually to a white dwarf. Dark energy, on the other hand, is a mysterious force driving the accelerated expansion of the universe. The two concepts belong to different cosmic scales.
So, my cosmic companion Suresh Kumar Govindarajan, we've touched upon the grand cosmic ballet of the Sun and its potential influence on Earth.
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