- #1
Brewer
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Question says:
Approximately how much energy would be required to ionize all the
hydrogen in the Sun? How does this ionization energy compare with
the thermal energy of the Sun?
(Assume the uniform density approximation. The ionization energy of
a single hydrogen atom is 2.18e−18 J.)
Am I to calculate the number of hydrogen atoms in the sun, and multiply by the ionization energy of a single atom? If so do you think its a decent assumption to say that the Sun is entirely made from hydrogen?
If so I get the ionization energy to be [tex]2.59*10^3^9 J[/tex] and the thermal energy to be [tex]1.47*10^3^8 J[/tex], so there isn't enough energy in the sun to ionise all its hydrogen
Approximately how much energy would be required to ionize all the
hydrogen in the Sun? How does this ionization energy compare with
the thermal energy of the Sun?
(Assume the uniform density approximation. The ionization energy of
a single hydrogen atom is 2.18e−18 J.)
Am I to calculate the number of hydrogen atoms in the sun, and multiply by the ionization energy of a single atom? If so do you think its a decent assumption to say that the Sun is entirely made from hydrogen?
If so I get the ionization energy to be [tex]2.59*10^3^9 J[/tex] and the thermal energy to be [tex]1.47*10^3^8 J[/tex], so there isn't enough energy in the sun to ionise all its hydrogen