Our Sun the Nearest Star (On Grade)_02

Like all stars, The Sun produces energy. The Sun is made of burning gas. At its core, it is very hot. The hot gas gets squeezed together. This squeezing turns the gas into another type of gas. Hydrogen gas becomes helium gas. This process creates a lot of energy. The process is called nuclear fusion. It is this energy that the Sun emits.

Think about a hot summer day. It is hot because of the Sun. You feel its energy as heat. The amount of heat can be measured. Scientists use a tool called a thermometer. It measures how hot or cold something is.  As things absorb sunlight, they get warmer. If the sunlight is removed, they lose heat. When things lose heat, they get cooler.

Our Sun gives us light and heat. Without it, life on Earth could not survive. You have learned the Sun is an average star. It sure seems pretty special.