Question

Can someone help me with this?

What are the three main fuels that stars use for fusion? Describe the process of burning each fuel and include at least one paragraph for each of the three main fuels.

Answer 1

I won't type as much as required, but briefly:

Fusion occurs by elements of lower mass combining to form elements of higher mass. So stellar fusion is a progression from the core of the star to the outer edges of the star of this process of combining. Each "round", so to speak, of fusing elements together is combining heavier and heavier elements.

The first fuel is the lightest element: HYDROGEN. Hydrogen is normally diatomic, but can split into ion form (proton and electron). These ions can be fused together to form the second fuel: HELIUM. Similarly, helium will be able to fuse to form the third fuel: CARBON.

For more information on this, you can read about the first stage of fusion (hydrogen into helium) here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton%E2%80%93proton_chain_reaction.

For more information on fusion in general, i recommend this short page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermonuclear_fusion

Answer 2

Thank you this helped me alot!

Answer 3

here's a link to a brief article that looks relevant to your question

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/astro/astfus.html

note that these reactions take place between atomic nuclei

Answer 4

Thank you.