What is the primary component of the Sun's energy production?

The primary component of the Sun's energy production is the nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium. This process occurs in the core of the Sun, where temperatures and pressures are incredibly high, enabling hydrogen nuclei (protons) to overcome their natural electrostatic repulsion. When they collide at these extreme conditions, they can fuse together to form helium nuclei, releasing a tremendous amount of energy in the form of light and heat as a result of Einstein's mass-energy equivalence principle (E=mc²).

This energy generated from nuclear fusion is what powers the Sun and provides the light and heat that sustains life on Earth. The fusion reaction not only produces helium but also generates neutrinos and other particles, some of which are critical for understanding particle physics and solar processes.

While other processes like gravitational collapse and radiation do play roles in various aspects of stellar dynamics, they are not directly responsible for the ongoing energy production in the Sun as nuclear fusion is. Chemical reactions, such as those involving carbon and oxygen, do not occur in significant ways in the Sun's energy generation; instead, they are more relevant to stellar evolution in different types of stars.