Questions and Answers
What occurs when a star's core contains mostly iron?
What is the temperature in the core just before a star explodes?
What happens to the matter of a star during a supernova explosion?
What remains after a supernova if the original star was not extremely large?
Signup and view all the answers
What occurs in the final phase of a star's collapse?
Signup and view all the answers
What determines whether a neutron star or a black hole forms after the supernova?
Signup and view all the answers
What characteristic defines a black hole after the core collapses?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the term 'super-dense core' refer to following a supernova?
Signup and view all the answers
What primarily causes the forces acting upon the core of a collapsing star?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the end result for a massive star that undergoes a supernova?
Signup and view all the answers
Which stage does a small-to-medium star enter after becoming a red giant?
Signup and view all the answers
What triggers the supernova explosion in a massive star?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT a stage in the life cycle of an average star?
Signup and view all the answers
How does the mass of a star influence its life cycle?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the typical evolution path for a star born in a solar nebula?
Signup and view all the answers
What happens to the core of a massive star before it goes supernova?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following stars is classified as a red supergiant?
Signup and view all the answers
What leads to the spectacular nature of supernova explosions?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Life Cycle of a Star
- A star begins its life in a solar nebula, a dense cloud of gas and dust.
- Stars follow two main life paths based on their mass: average stars or massive stars.
- Average stars develop into red giants, then into planetary nebulae, finally ending as white dwarfs.
- Massive stars evolve into red supergiants and culminate in a supernova, resulting in either a neutron star or a black hole.
- Notable examples of red supergiants include Betelgeuse and Antares.
Creation of a Supernova
- Supernovae occur in stars with a mass eight times greater than that of the sun.
- The explosion arises when fusion reactions cease due to the star exhausting its fuel.
- Without fusion, there is no outward pressure to counteract the gravitational pull, leading to core collapse.
- As the star's outer layers expand, the core contracts, heating and densifying until it primarily consists of iron.
- Fusion stops in the core when only iron is present, leading to a rapid collapse with core temperatures reaching over 100 billion degrees.
- The core’s collapse results in the star exploding, creating a shock wave that disperses stellar material into space.
Neutron Star and Black Hole
- After a supernova, remnants include a neutron star, which is an ultra-dense core primarily composed of neutrons.
- If the original star is exceedingly massive, neutron stars may collapse further to form black holes, regions in space with gravitational pulls so strong that even light cannot escape.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Explore the fascinating life cycle of stars in this quiz. From their birth in a solar nebula to their explosive end as a supernova, discover the different stages of stellar evolution. Test your knowledge on the processes that govern the life of stars!
