The correct option is (a).
Explanation
The Sun is a main-sequence star that generates energy through nuclear processes occurring in its core, rather than through chemical reactions.Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Correct: The Sun emits vast amounts of energy in the form of heat and light (electromagnetic radiation) as a result of the energy generated in its core.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: The process is not chemical combustion. Chemical combustion requires a fuel and an oxidant (such as oxygen) to react chemically. The Sun's energy generation is a nuclear process, not a chemical burning process.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: The process involved is nuclear fusion, not nuclear fission. In the Sun's core, hydrogen nuclei combine (fuse) under extreme pressure and temperature to form helium nuclei. This fusion process releases energy. Nuclear fission, conversely, involves the splitting of heavy nuclei (like Uranium) and is the principle behind nuclear power reactors on Earth.
Key Takeaway: The primary source of the Sun's energy is nuclear fusion (specifically the fusion of hydrogen into helium), distinct from chemical combustion or nuclear fission.