What is the difference between photons emitted from the core of a star to those emitted from the star's surface?
2 Answers
The surface of sun does not emit any photons by itself
Explanation:
Sun is a star,A star is formed in nebula which is a huge cloud of hydrogen.The tremendous mass of the stars causes phenomenal gravity which is so strong that the nuclei of atoms fuse releasing a tremendous amount of energy.This energy from the core balances the gravitational force preventing the star from collapsing onto itself.
The photons released travel slowly from the core of the star to the surface taking millions of years to do so due to collision with other particles such as nuclei of atoms,electrons and other photons.Hence, the photons produced in the core of the sun are same as ones produced by the surface although the surface doesn't produce any energy.
It is so hot due to the heat from the core and nothing else.
The photons emitted by the core are higher energy than those emitted from the surface.
Explanation:
Photons emitted by the fusion reactions in the core of the Sun are high energy gamma rays. Due to the high pressures in the core these photons get absorbed and re-emitted by particles in the core. It can take millions of years for a photon to escape the core having been absorbed and emitted many times.
Once a photon reaches the surface of the Sun they can escape. They are lower frequency and include infra red, visible light and ultra violet. There are relatively few gamma rays.
So the main difference is that photons emitted in the core are mainly gamma rays the those emitted from the surface are closer to the visible range.
