High School

The two most important processes by which energy is transported from the core of the Sun to the photosphere are:

A. Convection and conduction
B. Convection and radiation
C. Conduction and radiation
D. Convection, conduction, and radiation

Answer :

The correct answer is convection and radiation. Convection currents move thermal energy to the outer layers of the Sun, while radiation initially transports energy away from the core, despite being less efficient due to the opacity of the solar interior.

The two most important processes by which energy is transported from the core of the Sun to the photosphere are convection and radiation. Conduction is too slow to adequately bring heat to the Sun's surface and is therefore not considered a primary mode of energy transfer . In the Sun, energy is generated in the core by nuclear fusion, producing heat and light. This energy is initially transported outward by radiation, which involves the absorption and reemission of photons—though this method is not highly efficient since the stellar gases are quite opaque and photons do not travel far before being absorbed again. As energy moves towards the surface and the outer layers of the Sun, it is primarily carried by convection, where hot plasma rises and cooler plasma sinks, forming circulation patterns that efficiently transport the energy. These convection currents are especially prominent in the Sun's outer envelope, helping to transfer energy from the radiation zone to the photosphere, from which it is emitted into space as sunlight.