Life Cycle of a Star Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is a nebula?

A cold cloud of dust and gas mainly consisting of hydrogen and helium (correct)

A dense ball of gas

A star in its final stage

The remains of a supernova event

What temperature does a protostar reach?

1 million degrees Celsius

100 million degrees Celsius (correct)

1 billion degrees Celsius

50 million degrees Celsius

What occurs once a star becomes a red giant?

The core expands and lets off energy

It begins nuclear fusion of iron

The hydrogen in its core is used up (correct)

It turns into a black dwarf

What happens to a star after it becomes a white dwarf?

It can turn into a black dwarf. Signup and view all the answers

What is a supernova?

A massive explosion from a core collapse after iron fusion Signup and view all the answers

What forms after a supernova if the core is 3 times greater than the sun?

Black hole. Signup and view all the answers

A low mass star will ultimately end its life as a __________.

Black Dwarf Signup and view all the answers

A high mass star will ultimately end its life as a __________.

Black Hole Signup and view all the answers

Match the stages in the life cycle of a low mass star.

Nebulae = First stage Protostar = Second stage Main Sequence Star = Third stage Red Giant = Fourth stage Planetary Nebula & White Dwarf = Fifth stage Black Dwarf = Final stage Signup and view all the answers

Match the stages in the life cycle of a high mass star.

Nebulae = First stage Protostar = Second stage Main Sequence Star = Third stage Red Supergiant = Fourth stage Supernova = Fifth stage Neutron Star = Sixth stage Black Hole = Final stage Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Life Cycle of a Star

Nebulae: Cold clouds of dust and gas primarily composed of hydrogen and helium; serve as the initial stage in stellar formation.
Protostar: Formed when a nebula condenses under gravity, increasing density and temperature up to 100 million degrees Celsius.
Main Sequence Star: Achieves stability at 100 million degrees, characterized by nuclear fusion in the core that fuses hydrogen into helium, maintaining balance against gravitational collapse.
Red Giant: Occurs when hydrogen in the core is depleted; the core contracts, and helium fuses into carbon and oxygen. Outer layers burn remaining hydrogen; expansion occurs as energy production increases.
Planetary Nebula & White Dwarf: The outer layers of a red giant shed, creating a colorful planetary nebula; the remaining core, heating from helium fusion, collapses into a white dwarf as energy sources diminish.
Red Supergiant: Develops in high mass stars after all hydrogen is fused to helium. The fusion sequence continues: hydrogen to helium, helium to carbon/oxygen, then carbon/oxygen to iron in the core.
Black Dwarf: Formed when a star has exhausted all helium; lack of energy causes it to cool and turn black, marking the end of a low mass star’s life.
Supernova: Happens when core iron fusion leads to rapid core collapse, resulting in a tremendous explosion releasing more energy than the star produced during its lifetime.
Neutron Star: Created from supernova remnants, consisting primarily of neutrons. A variant, the pulsar, emits radio waves and possesses strong magnetic fields.
Black Hole: Formed if the neutron star's core is over three times the mass of the sun; encompasses an extremely dense region with gravity so strong that even light cannot escape.

Star Life Cycles

Low Mass Star Life Cycle:
- Nebulae → Protostar → Main Sequence Star → Red Giant → Planetary Nebula & White Dwarf → Black Dwarf
High Mass Star Life Cycle:
- Nebulae → Protostar → Main Sequence Star → Red Supergiant → Supernova → Neutron Star → Black Hole

Description

Explore the fascinating stages in the life cycle of both low and high mass stars through this set of flashcards. From nebulae to main sequence stars, learn the definitions and key characteristics of each stage. Perfect for students of astronomy or anyone interested in the universe's stellar phenomena.