What is the temperature of the sun's core compared to its surface?

The temperature of the sun's core is significantly higher than that of its surface. In the core, temperatures reach approximately 15 million degrees Celsius due to the intense pressure and the process of nuclear fusion occurring there. This is where hydrogen is converted into helium, releasing an enormous amount of energy in the form of heat and light.

In contrast, the sun's surface, or photosphere, has a much lower temperature, around 5,500 degrees Celsius. The stark difference in temperature is essential for understanding solar dynamics and the various processes that drive the sun's activity. Thus, the correct understanding is that the core's extreme temperatures are necessary to sustain the nuclear reactions that power the sun, while the surface temperature represents what is emitted into space as sunlight.