Life Cycle of a Star Quiz

Morning Prayer and Activities

• Begins with a prayer thanking for protection and guidance in learning.
• Emphasizes inspiration by the Holy Spirit during the lesson.

Attendance Check

• A brief process to acknowledge student presence.

Mystery Box Game

• Teams are created to answer questions based on a selected letter.
• Players decide to either keep or give the box, which contains uncertain points that can be beneficial or detrimental.

Life Cycle of a Star

• Stars undergo a definitive life cycle, starting as a nebula.
• The Sun is categorized as a main sequence star, indicating a stable phase in its life cycle.

Formation of Stars

• Stars form from massive clouds of gas and dust, known as nebulae, which unite due to gravity.
• Gravity increases temperature and density, leading to the formation of a protostar.

Protostar Phase

• A protostar is the initial phase where the core isn’t hot enough for fusion but begins to glow.
• Eventually stabilizes and evolves into a main sequence star.

Main Sequence Stars

• These stars maintain a stable state for billions of years, with fusion in the core converting hydrogen to helium.
• Outward pressure from fusion balances gravitational forces, sustaining the star's structure.

Life Stages of Smaller Stars

• After its main sequence phase, a smaller star expands into a red giant, then ejects layers to become a white dwarf.
• Finally, it cools down and becomes a black dwarf.

Stellar Nebula

• Nebulas contain hydrogen gas essential for star formation.
• Gravity draws hydrogen clumps together, transitioning them into protostars.

White Dwarf Characteristics

• Formed after a star has ceased fusion, remaining hot initially but gradually cooling over time.
• Their radiation shifts from high color temperature to a redder hue as they cool.

Black Dwarf Description

• A theoretical stage where a white dwarf cools completely and can no longer produce significant heat or light.
• Formation time of black dwarfs exceeds the universe's current age, leading to uncertainty about their existence.

Large Stars and Their Evolution

• Red supergiants are significantly larger than red giants and exhibit greater brightness.
• They can contract under specific conditions, fusing elements at varying rates and eventually transforming into blue supergiants.

Fate of Massive Stars

• The destiny of massive stars—either becoming a neutron star or a black hole—is dictated solely by their mass following supernova events.
• A remnant mass under 2.16 solar masses collapses into a neutron star, while greater masses lead to black hole formation.