Verified Answer :

invader5186

the combination of hydrogen atoms to form helium atoms in the sun is called nuclear fusion.

skyluke89

Answer:

D. Nuclear fusion

Explanation:

Nuclear fusion is the process that occurs in the core of the Sun and that provides the energy that keeps it alive.

The type of nuclear fusion that occurs in the Sun is the hydrogen-helium fusion, in which four nuclei of hydrogen, after several processes, fuse into a nucleus of helium-4. The final mass of the helium-4 is slightly less than the total mass of the 4 nuclei of hydrogen, so part of the mass has been converted into energy, according to Einstein's relationship:

\(E=mc^2\)

where m is the mass converted into energy and c is the speed of light. Since \(c^2\) is a very huge number, a lot of energy is released during nuclear fusion.