Question

The surface temperature of the sun is_____________degree C.
A. 6000
B. 9000
C. 1000
D. 10000

Answer 1

Hint: The core of the sun is around 15 million degrees Celsius where the process of nuclear fusion takes place and hydrogen atoms are compressed and fused together creating helium.

Complete answer:
At the sun’s core due to intense gravity and pressure, the temperature reaches up to 15 million degrees Celsius. At this temperature and pressure, nuclear fusion takes place. Nuclear fusion is a process where atomic nuclei fuse to form different subatomic nuclei. In the case of the sun, at the core hydrogen nuclei fuse to form helium. The difference in mass between reactants and products is due to the release of energy. The sun is arranged in layers, the hottest center, which gradually cools as it reaches the surface. This energy then is passed on to the outer layers which do not have as much pressure to cause fusion. In this zone, there is a temperature drop, and the temperature reaches 7 million degrees Celsius. In the convective zone bubbles of plasma carry heat to the surface this can reach about 2 million degrees Celsius. This energy finally reaches the surface of the sun called the photosphere which produces visible light that reaches earth. This zone is comparatively colder with a temperature of 6000 degrees celsius.

So, the correct answer is 6000.

Note: On the surface of the sun, areas of dark appearance called sunspots are present. Sunspots are relatively cooler areas on the surface of the sun compared to the surrounding surface temperature. The temperature of a sunspot can go down to around 4000 degrees celsius.