Energy of the Sun

[Chiltern Ben]

Hi,

My torch ran out of power last night and I thought about the sun being like a gigantic torch. I wondered if anyone knew how much energy the sun produces. I can't find anything on Google which isn't a ridiculously complicated equation so I came here to see what you think.

Chiltern Ben

[ron1863]

The Sun's energy output (3.86e33 ergs/second or 386 billion billion megawatts)

Googled it

[Jim Ford]

Incidentally, I went to Culham the other day, where the experiments on nuclear fusion are carried out. The temperature reached inside JET (the Joint European Torus) is 10 times that of the inside of The Sun.

For those within striking distance of Culham and who are interested in seriously large engineering, it's well worth a visit. They do open evenings for the public.

Jim