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The Sun

The Sun was formed from a cloud of dust and gas (called a nebula). The forces of gravity pulled the dust and gas together.

Cloud of gas and dust

Cloud of gas and dust

  • The gas and dust collapsed.
    • The cloud suddenly decreased in volume as the pressure in the cloud increased.
    • This formed a protostar.
Main sequence

Main sequence

  • Materials continued to collide (come together) until the temperature and pressure were high enough for hydrogen nuclei to start fusing and form helium (in nuclear fusion).
  • The star then went into a stable period, called a ‘main star sequence’.
Nuclear fusion

Nuclear fusion

  • The energy released from the nuclear fusion in the Sun keeps the Sun’s core hot.
Stable

Stable

  • The Sun is still in its stable main sequence phase.
  • In this phase, the outward force of the energy released by nuclear fusion is balanced by the force of gravity pulling the Sun inwards.
Jump to other topics
1

Energy

2

Electricity

3

Particle Model of Matter

4

Atoms & Radiation

5

Forces

5.1

Basics of Motion

5.2

Forces

5.3

Effects of Forces

5.4

Pressure

6

Waves

6.1

Wave Basics

6.2

Waves at a Boundary

6.3

Sound Waves

6.4

Electromagnetic Waves

6.5

Lenses

6.6

Heat & Radiation

7

Magnetism

8

Astrophysics

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