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[smeeprocket]

Okay I was discussing this in another topic. I want to get a face tattoo (since I was 19, I am 34 now so I have mulled it over long enough)

I want the formula for nuclear fusion in our sun. Also, I need to understand it better because not being able to break it down would be dumb.

SO first off, is this correct:

4¹H → ⁴He + 2e+ ⁺ 2γ + 2ν_e (26.7 MeV)

and can someone explain it to me?

[Caz]

I want to get a face tattoo

Uh... Don't do this.

[smeeprocket]

I want to get a face tattoo

Uh... Don't do this.

I think you underestimate the amount of tattoos and piercings I already have. Also, I am doing it in white ink.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[~Neri]

Tattoos on arms and legs are fine. Same with piercings on face. But facial tattoos tend to be things that people regret. Fast.

[miauw62]

IIRC it depends on how far along the star is in it's life. older stars fuse heavier elements because they ran out of lighter elements. this may be entirely wrong, though.

[smeeprocket]

I won't regret it. Body modification is my life. Does anyone have answers to my questions?

I already have tattoos on my hands, etc, and my mental illness doesn't allow me to work. And even if I could, it wouldn't be a job where I needed to be seen. I have well thought this out. This isn't an impulsive thing.

Not everyone regrets face tattoos at any rate. Some of us continue to enjoy them.

[Xantalos]

IIRC it depends on how far along the star is in it's life. older stars fuse heavier elements because they ran out of lighter elements. this may be entirely wrong, though.

If they start doing that they've become a red giant and are well on the way to going supernova.

[alexandertnt]

This is the Chemical Equation which represents the fusing of hydrogen into helium, the process that our sun undergoes. This is known as the Proton-Proton chain reaction.

I think it states that 4 molecule's of the first isotope of hydrogen yields one molecules of the fourth isotope of helium, 2 positive electrons, 2 photons, and two electron-neutrino's with a total energy of 26.7 mega-electronvolts.

[smeeprocket]

This is the Chemical Equation which represents the fusing of hydrogen into helium, the process that our sun undergoes.

I think it states that 4 molecule's of the first isotope of hydrogen yields one molecules of the fourth isotope of helium, 2 positive electrons, 2 photons, and two electron-neutrino's

what is a nutrino? And can you give me a better idea of what is going on in the equation. Also, I can't remember at all what an isotope is.

[alexandertnt]

Isotopes are chemicles having differing number of neutrons. Our star produces the Helium-4 isotope.

I don't actually know what a neutrino is, I just know it's a thing that exists in chemistry. There is always the wikipedia article, but that largely assumes you already have a firm grasp of chemistry.

I edited my post to link to the wikipedia's article on the Proton-Proton chain reaction, which should give a better explanation than I could hope to give. There is also this explanation by the CSIRO, and probably many others out there assuming various levels of scientific knowledge.

Ultimately to fully understand it, you would have to have a good understanding of chemistry and nuclear physics. This is something I do not possess.

[smeeprocket]

yea I do not have that either, and if people ask I don't want to just recite info I can't explain.

A layman's explanation would be helpful, what does the equation actually mean?

[Skyrunner]

Under certain conditions,  not specified within the equation itself as given, the matter on the left side goes through one or more reactions to ideally yield the matter and energy on the other side.

[smjjames]

Um, just wondering, what would be mental illness that prevents you from working? Sorry if I'm being too nosy.

[10ebbor10]

Basically, what you got there is the overall formulae. Inside a star, multiple reactions occur, and in the relevant case, those are the start and end resources.

Basically what happens is that you got 4 Hydrogen-1 atoms* fusing, creating 1 atom of Helium-4**, as well as releasing 2 positrons***, 2 gamma ray photons, and 2 neutrinos. The energy noted at the end is simply the energy that is released by this reaction.


*Most common isotope of hydrogen, to the point that the name is barely used.
**Most common helium atom
***antimatter equivalent of the electron. It is annihilated near instantly.

[palsch]

First of all, as someone who took multiple courses on nuclear fusion at university, I'd not consider that a cool equation. Usually people getting science ink have a strong personal relationship with the topic (eg, have studied in intensely for years) or have made art that incorporates elements of their topic (see Carl Zimmer's Tattoo Emporium and book for examples). Trying to make an equation or similar representative of an abstract concept is hard without a deeper understanding of the topic and where that equation comes from.

So I'd say these are the questions I'd ask;

1) What are you trying to represent?
2) What makes you want an equation over an image/other abstract representation?
3) What elements of the equation do you understand?
4) What level of physics knowledge do you have (as a basis of explaining any elements you don't get)?