Facts about the Sun

The Sun radiates light at all wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Yes! The Sun radiates light at all wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum including the wavelengths of the visible spectrum.

The star at the centre of our solar system is called the Sun.

Yes! The energy that the sun emits is electromagnetic radiation which is also called light or sunlight.

Sunlight, also known as daylight or visible light, refers to the portion of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the Sun that is detectable by the human eye. It is one form of the broad range of electromagnetic radiation produced by the Sun. Our eyes are particularly sensitive to this specific range of wavelengths, enabling us to perceive the Sun and the world around us.

• Sunlight is only one form of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the Sun.
• Sunlight is only a very small part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
• Sunlight is the form of electromagnetic radiation that our eyes are sensitive to.
• Other types of electromagnetic radiation that we are sensitive to, but cannot see, are infrared radiation that we feel as heat and ultraviolet radiation that causes sunburn.

Thermonuclear fusion, also known as nuclear fusion, is a powerful process where atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus. This process releases enormous amounts of energy, millions of times greater than what we get from traditional chemical reactions like burning fossil fuels.

• There are two forms of thermonuclear fusion (nuclear fusion):
  • Uncontrolled Fusion: This is the process where atomic nuclei merge spontaneously and release a tremendous amount of uncontrollable energy.
  • It is the natural process happening within stars and the principle behind thermonuclear weapons.
  • Controlled Fusion: Scientists are actively researching ways to achieve controlled fusion, where atomic nuclei are combined in a controlled environment.
  • This would allow us to harness the immense energy released for constructive purposes like generating clean and sustainable power, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and potentially powering future space exploration endeavours.

Electromagnetic radiation is a type of energy more commonly simply called light. Detached from its source, it is transported by electromagnetic waves (or their quanta, photons) and propagates through space at the speed of light.

• Electromagnetic radiation (EM radiation or EMR) includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared, (visible) light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.
• Man-made technologies that produce electromagnetic radiation include radio and TV transmitters, radar, MRI scanners, microwave ovens, computer screens, mobile phones, all types of lights and lamps, electric blankets, electric bar heaters, lasers and x-ray machines.
• At the quantum scale of electromagnetism, electromagnetic radiation is described in terms of photons rather than waves. Photons are elementary particles responsible for all electromagnetic phenomena.
• The term quantum refers to the smallest quantity into which something can be divided. A quantum of a thing is indivisible into smaller units so they have no sub-structure.  A photon is a quantum of electromagnetic radiation.
• A single photon with a wavelength corresponding with gamma rays might carry 100,000 times the energy of a single photon of visible light.