What is the percentage of heavy element of the sun?

In summary, the percentage of heavy element in the sun is estimated to be around 1.6-1.8%, with a metallicity of .0177 according to Wikipedia. This is significantly larger than the mass of Earth, but still a very small percentage overall. This composition is assumed to be the same throughout the interior of the sun, due to the mixing of elements during star formation.
  • #1
magnetar
83
0
what is the percentage of heavy element (heavier than helium) of the sun? (not the photospheric composition)
 
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  • #2
I can't answer this exactly, but I think that during star formation, the collapsing gas cloud is assumed to be a homogeneous mixture. If not, there could be significant convection throughout the majority of the proto-star, which mixes the elements into a homogeneous state. The sun is on the main sequence right now, so no heavy elements are created inside the sun. This means that given a homogeneous initial mixture, the heavy element composition in the interior of the sun should be the same as the photospheric composition.

Wikipedia says that the sun's metallicity = .0177
 
  • #3
It's of order 1.6-1.8%, depending on the model.
 
  • #4
Just know that it's a very small percentage but much larger than the mass of Earth.
 

1. What is the definition of a heavy element?

A heavy element is any element with an atomic number greater than 92 (uranium). These elements are typically produced through nuclear reactions and have a larger number of protons and neutrons in their nucleus compared to lighter elements.

2. How is the percentage of heavy element in the sun determined?

The percentage of heavy elements in the sun is determined through spectroscopy, which involves analyzing the light emitted by the sun and identifying the specific wavelengths that correspond to different elements. By comparing the intensities of these wavelengths, scientists can calculate the abundance of different elements in the sun, including heavy elements.

3. What is the estimated percentage of heavy element in the sun?

The estimated percentage of heavy elements in the sun is around 2%. This means that out of all the elements present in the sun, 2% of them are considered heavy elements.

4. Are heavy elements evenly distributed throughout the sun?

No, heavy elements are not evenly distributed throughout the sun. They tend to be more concentrated in the core of the sun, where the temperatures and pressures are high enough to facilitate nuclear reactions that produce heavy elements. However, they can also be found in the sun's outer layers, just in lower concentrations.

5. How does the percentage of heavy element in the sun compare to other stars?

The percentage of heavy elements in the sun is considered relatively low compared to other stars. This is because the sun is a relatively average-sized star and was formed from the same cloud of gas and dust as other stars in our galaxy. Larger stars tend to have a higher percentage of heavy elements due to their greater ability to produce them through nuclear reactions.

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