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Questions and Answers
At what point is a star born?
At what point is a star born?
When the core of a protostar has reached about 10 million K, pressure within is so great that nuclear fusion of hydrogen begins.
What causes a star to die?
What causes a star to die?
All stars eventually run out of fuel and collapse due to gravity.
Describe the life cycle of the sun.
Describe the life cycle of the sun.
The sun began as a nebula, will spend much of its life as a main-sequence star, and then will become a red giant, planetary nebula, white dwarf, and finally, a black dwarf.
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Study Notes
Star Birth
- A star is born when its core temperature reaches approximately 10 million Kelvin.
- At this temperature, the pressure is sufficient to initiate nuclear fusion of hydrogen.
Star Death
- All stars eventually run out of nuclear fuel, leading to gravitational collapse.
- The process of dying varies by star size and type.
Life Cycle of the Sun
- The sun originated from a nebula, a cloud of gas and dust.
- It will exist primarily as a main-sequence star throughout its stable phase.
- As it evolves, it will transform into a red giant.
- After the red giant phase, it will shed its outer layers, forming a planetary nebula.
- The core will remain as a white dwarf, and over time, it may cool to become a black dwarf.
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