Life Cycle of a Star Flashcards
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Questions and Answers

What is a nebula?

  • A large cloud of gas and dust (correct)
  • The remains of a high mass star
  • A stage of a star's life
  • A type of star explosion
  • What is a protostar?

    The contracting cloud of gas and dust in a nebula.

    When is a star born?

    When nuclear fusion starts.

    What happens when a main sequence star runs out of hydrogen fuel?

    <p>It becomes a red giant or a red super giant.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the stages of a star's life cycle:

    <p>Nebula = Ineffable clouds of gas and dust Protostar = Early stage of star formation White dwarf = Core left after a planetary nebula Supernova = Explosion of a red super giant</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a white dwarf?

    <p>The star left at the core of a planetary nebula.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines a neutron star?

    <p>Remains of a high mass star.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a black hole?

    <p>An object with a gravitational pull so strong that no light escapes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a black dwarf?

    <p>What a medium-mass star becomes at the end of its life.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Life Cycle of a Star

    • All stars originate from a nebula, which is a vast cloud composed of gas and dust.
    • A protostar forms when gravity pulls together portions of the gas and dust within a nebula.
    • The process of star formation begins when the temperature and pressure in a protostar increase sufficiently to trigger nuclear fusion.
    • A star shines when hydrogen atoms fuse together, releasing enormous energy.
    • As a main sequence star exhausts its hydrogen fuel, it will expand into a red giant or red supergiant.

    Stages of a Star's Life

    • Stars begin as diffused clouds of gas and dust known as nebulae, where the initial formation occurs.
    • Gravity causes the nebula to collapse into denser clumps, leading to the protostar stage.
    • During protostar formation, heat and pressure culminate in nuclear fusion, marking the start of a star's lifecycle.
    • When fusion ignites, the star becomes luminous and enters the main sequence phase of its life.
    • The subsequent transformation into a red giant or red supergiant depends on the star's available fuel and mass.

    End Stages of a Star

    • A white dwarf forms as the remnant core left when a medium-mass star sheds its outer layers in a planetary nebula.
    • A supernova occurs when a red supergiant star reaches the end of its fusion processes and undergoes a catastrophic explosion.
    • The remnants of high-mass stars result in neutron stars, which are extremely dense.
    • A medium-mass star eventually becomes a black dwarf when it has cooled and ceased nuclear fusion.
    • Black holes represent the end state of massive stars, characterized by an intense gravitational pull that prevents light from escaping.

    Additional Terms

    • Nebula: A large gas and dust cloud in space where stars form.
    • Protostar: The earliest stage in the lifecycle of a star before nuclear fusion starts.
    • Supernova: An explosive death of a star, often leading to a neutron star or black hole formation.
    • Neutron Star: The dense remains of high-mass stars after a supernova explosion.
    • Black Dwarf: The final state of a medium-mass star at the conclusion of its life cycle.
    • Black Hole: An astronomical entity with a gravitational field so strong that not even light can escape its pull.

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    Description

    Explore the fascinating life cycle of a star with these flashcards. From the formation of a nebula to the birth of a star, each card provides essential terms and definitions to enhance your understanding of stellar evolution.

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