If we followed a hydrogen proton around, waiting to see the thermonuclear fusion that produces starlight, we'd likely have to wait a few billion years. From there, however, it's just a 20,000-year hop, skip, and a jump away to producing helium-4. But put away your folding chair and that addictive smartphone game; this Princeton astrophysicist can take you through this solar tourist attraction in half an hour. This video is episode 15 from the series Introduction to Astrophysics, presented by Joshua N. Winn Learn more about astrophysics at wondrium.com/youtube 00:00 The Sun's Luminosity and Age Suggest an Energy Source 6:53 Kelvin´s Colleagues Reveal Solar Nuclear Fusion 7:29 Basic Nuclear Physics Shows Low Energy Binding 12:39 The Most Stable Possible Nuclei are Revealed 13:10 Positive Nuclei Result in Fusion, Fission, and Decay 15:42 Symmetry Energy Explains the Binding Energy Curve 17:24 Mostly Hydrogen, the Sun Fuses It to Helium to Shine 18:38 E=mc2 Reveals Exchange Rates for Energy and Mass 20:51 What the Energy Emission Rate Reveals 21:42 Dissecting the Sequence of Reactions in Proton Fusion 25:00 Quantum Theory Aids Protons in Fusing 29:42 Instability of Helium-2 Nucleus Solved ------------------------------------------- The Great Courses is the global leader in lifelong learning and our video-on-demand service The Great Courses Plus gives you unlimited, uninterrupted access to a world of learning anytime and anywhere you want it. With courses on thousands of topics, you are sure to find something that will ignite your curiosity and invigorate your passion for learning. Enjoy a curated sampling of our full catalog of content by subscribing to our YouTube channel. We add new history, science, and math videos every week. ------------------------------------------- Read articles from the smartest experts in their fields: www.Thegreatcoursesdaily.com Find us on all our social channels: -Facebook: www.facebook.com/wondrium -Twitter: twitter.com/wondrium -Instagram: www.instagram.com/wondrium ------------------------------------------- #ThermonuclearFusion #WhyStarsShine #Astrophysics

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