Star Formation and Life Cycle of Stars
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Questions and Answers

Which is the first stage in the life cycle of a solar mass star?

  • Main sequence star
  • White dwarf
  • Nebula (correct)
  • Protostar

A protostar forms when a white dwarf collapses.

False (B)

What causes a star to become a main sequence star?

Nuclear fusion reactions

After a star enters the red giant stage, it eventually becomes a __________.

<p>white dwarf</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following stages of stellar evolution with their descriptions:

<p>Nebula = Giant interstellar cloud of gas and dust Protostar = Hot ball of gas forming from gravitational collapse Red giant = Star that has expanded and cooled during fusion of helium White dwarf = Remnant of a star after nuclear fusion has ceased</p> Signup and view all the answers

What primarily occurs during the red giant phase of a solar mass star?

<p>Helium fusion (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A white dwarf emits a constant amount of energy throughout its lifetime.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to a solar mass star after it finishes its life cycle as a white dwarf?

<p>It cools down and becomes less luminous.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Nebula

A giant cloud of gas and dust in space where stars are born.

Protostar

A hot, dense ball of gas that forms inside a nebula before becoming a star. It is heated and compressed by gravity, but not yet hot enough for fusion.

Main Sequence Star

A star that is undergoing nuclear fusion in its core, converting hydrogen into helium and releasing energy. This stable stage of a star's life is where it spends most of its time.

Red Giant

A star that has exhausted its hydrogen fuel in its core and has expanded greatly. It is cooler and redder than a main sequence star.

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Planetary Nebula

A shell of expanding gas that is expelled from a red giant star at the end of its life.

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White Dwarf

The dense, hot, and very small remnant of a star's core after it has shed its outer layers. It is about the size of the Earth but has a mass comparable to the Sun.

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Nuclear Fusion

The process that powers stars, where lightweight atomic nuclei fuse together to form heavier nuclei, releasing tremendous amounts of energy.

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Solar Mass Star

A star with a mass similar to that of our Sun. These stars follow a specific sequence of events from birth to death, going through stages like red giant and white dwarf.

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Study Notes

Star Formation

  • Stars begin as a nebula, a giant cloud of dust and gas.
  • Gravity pulls particles in a nebula closer together, forming a protostar.
  • Density increases, causing more collisions and higher temperatures within the protostar.
  • Protostars eventually become main sequence stars when nuclear fusion reactions start in their cores.

Main Sequence Star

  • A main sequence star is stable due to equilibrium between inward gravity and outward pressure from fusion.
  • During the main sequence, fusion of hydrogen fuels the star.

Life Cycle of a Solar Mass Star

  • After the main sequence, the star becomes a red giant.
  • Hydrogen fuel depletes, resulting in weaker outward pressure.
  • Fusion of lighter elements to heavier (helium) occurs, causing expansion.
  • The star's surface cools, making it red.
  • When helium runs out, the star collapses into a white dwarf.
  • Eventually, the white dwarf cools down and emits less energy.
  • The final stage is a planetary nebula, a glowing cloud of gas ejected from the star.

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Description

Explore the fascinating process of star formation and the life cycle of a solar mass star. This quiz covers everything from the initial formation of a protostar within a nebula to the final stages as a planetary nebula. Test your knowledge on key concepts such as main sequence stars, red giants, and white dwarfs.

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