How does the sun produce energy?

The sun is the star at the center of the solar system and it produces its energy through a process called nuclear fusion. Nuclear fusion is a process in which atomic nuclei combine to form heavier nuclei with the simultaneous release of energy. The sun's energy is produced in its core, which is a region where the temperature and pressure are so high that nuclear fusion can occur.

The sun primarily fuses hydrogen nuclei into helium nuclei. The process starts with the collision of two hydrogen nuclei, or protons, which combine to form a deuterium nucleus, also known as a heavy hydrogen nucleus. When two deuterium nuclei combine, they form a helium-3 nucleus, releasing a single proton in the process. Two helium-3 nuclei can then combine to form a helium-4 nucleus, releasing two protons in the process. This process releases a tremendous amount of energy, which radiates out from the core of the sun into space as sunlight.