Why the Sun is bright

1. What happens inside the Sun
2. The electromagnetic radiation spectrum
3. Radiation and energy
4. Solar convection
5. Basic Sun facts

What happens inside the Sun

The reaction:

Burning Hydrogen and Nucelar Fusion

Before (ARROW) After
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4 Hydrogen nuclei + 2 electrons (ARROW)

4 protons + 2 electrons (ARROW)

2 protons + 2 protons + 2 electrons

v v v v v v v v (ARROW) 2 protons + 2 neutrons + energy

(ARROW) 1 Helium nuclei + energy

The full reaction:
4 H + 2 electrons = 4 He + 2 neutrinos + 6 photons

Notes:
The actual reaction happens in steps. For more details see ...

Periodic table of the elements