What is the approximate degree of ionization observed in the Sun's core due to extreme pressure and heat?
Answer
Virtually 100%
The conditions inside the Sun's core are the most extreme environments within the star, facilitating the highest degree of ionization. Given the core temperature exceeding 15 million degrees Celsius and immense internal pressure, the energy input is sufficient to strip virtually every atom bare of its electrons. The text specifies that in this central region, the ionization level is virtually 100%. As one moves outward towards layers like the chromosphere or corona, the temperature drops slightly, leading to a minor decrease in the ionization degree, but the material throughout the vast majority of the star remains firmly in the plasma regime.
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