Star Formation Process

What happens to the outer shells of a red giant as it evolves into a white dwarf?

They drift off into space as a planetary nebula

Why does a white dwarf star not undergo fusion?

Because the temperature is too low

What prevents a white dwarf core from collapsing?

Electron degeneracy pressure

What is the maximum mass for a stable white dwarf star?

1.44 M☉ Signup and view all the answers

What type of supernova occurs when a massive star's iron core collapses?

Type 2 Signup and view all the answers

What process must occur in the protostar for a star to form?

Nuclear fusion Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary factor that determines the length of the main phase of a star?

Rate of nuclear fusion Signup and view all the answers

What happens to a low-mass star once the hydrogen supplies are low?

It evolves into a red giant Signup and view all the answers

What is produced during nuclear fusion in a star?

Helium nuclei Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the stable equilibrium phase of a star's life?

Main sequence phase Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using the Doppler equation in astronomy?

To calculate the relative speed of a star using the shift in wavelength Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the recessional velocity of a galaxy and its distance from Earth?

The velocity is proportional to the distance Signup and view all the answers

What is the implication of the observation that almost all light from distant galaxies is redshifted?

The galaxies are moving away from Earth Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Hubble's law in understanding the universe?

It suggests that the universe is expanding Signup and view all the answers

What can be estimated using Hubble's law?

The age of the universe Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary location where stars are formed?

Nebulae Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the stage in star formation where gravitational energy is converted to thermal energy?

Gravitational collapse Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the spherical shape formed by the gravitational attraction between dust and gas particles?

Protostar Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic shape of the orbit of comets around the sun?

Eccentric elliptical Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe a celestial body with mass sufficient to take a spherical shape, but without nuclear fusion?

Planet Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of matter is helium nuclei after the production of mass is halted?

25% Signup and view all the answers

How long after the Big Bang do the first stars form?

30 million years Signup and view all the answers

What is responsible for the gain of mass by the first fundamental particles?

Higgs Boson Signup and view all the answers

How long after the Big Bang do the first atoms form?

380 thousand years Signup and view all the answers

What is the current estimate of the percentage of the universe that is understood?

5% Signup and view all the answers

What happens when the remaining core mass is greater than 1.44M?

A neutron star is formed Signup and view all the answers

What can be determined by looking at the position of a star on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram?

The spectral class of the star Signup and view all the answers

What is the result when an electron moves from a lower energy state to a higher energy state?

It absorbs energy in the form of a photon Signup and view all the answers

What is the minimum mass required for a star to form a black hole?

3M Signup and view all the answers

Why do electrons occupy specific energy levels?

Because they are bound to an atom Signup and view all the answers

What is the physical quantity that is proportional to the fourth power of the absolute temperature of a black body?

Radiant heat energy Signup and view all the answers

What is the constant of proportionality in Wein's law?

2.9 × 10^-3 mK Signup and view all the answers

What is the unit of measurement for the absolute temperature of a star?

Kelvin Signup and view all the answers

What is the physical quantity that is proportional to the surface area of a star?

Luminosity Signup and view all the answers

What is the formula that relates the luminosity of a star with its surface temperature?

L ∝ T^4 Signup and view all the answers

What is the physical quantity that is proportional to the surface area of a star?

Luminosity Signup and view all the answers

What is the value of Stefan's constant?

5.67 × 10^-8 W/m^2 K^4 Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of Wein's law?

To calculate the peak wavelength of light emitted by a star Signup and view all the answers

What is the physical quantity that is proportional to the fourth root of the peak wavelength?

Absolute temperature Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the luminosity and radius of a star?

L ∝ r^2 Signup and view all the answers

What is the process by which the gravitational energy of dust and gas particles is converted to thermal energy in a protostar?

Gravitational collapse Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary factor that determines the length of the main sequence phase of a star's life?

Mass of the star Signup and view all the answers

What are the conditions necessary for a star to form from a protostar?

High temperature and pressure to overcome electrostatic forces of repulsion and undergo nuclear fusion. Signup and view all the answers

What is the process by which helium nuclei are fused together to form heavier elements in a star?

Helium fusion Signup and view all the answers

What maintains the stable equilibrium of a star during the main sequence phase?

Gravitational forces, radiation pressure from photons, and gas pressure from nuclei in the core. Signup and view all the answers

What is the stage of a star's life where it expands to become much larger, cooler, and more luminous?

Red Giant Branch Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome of nuclear fusion in a star?

The production of helium nuclei. Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the spherical shape formed by the gravitational attraction between dust and gas particles in the formation of a star?

Protostar Signup and view all the answers

What happens to a low-mass star once the hydrogen supplies are low?

The star collapses inwards and evolves into a red giant. Signup and view all the answers

What determines the length of the main sequence phase of a star?

The mass of the star. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary factor that determines the length of the main sequence phase of a star?

The mass of the star. Signup and view all the answers

What occurs in the core of a red giant when helium nuclei run low?

The core evolves into a white dwarf. Signup and view all the answers

At what temperature does helium fusion occur in the core of a star?

At a temperature high enough for helium fusion to occur, but below the temperature for helium fusion in the core. Signup and view all the answers

What prevents the core of a white dwarf from collapsing?

Electron degeneracy pressure. Signup and view all the answers

What is the end state of a low-mass star after the main sequence phase?

A white dwarf. Signup and view all the answers

What happens when an electron is deexcited in an atom?

It moves towards the ground state and releases energy in the form of a photon with a specific wavelength. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram in understanding stellar evolution?

It allows us to determine the spectral class of a star based on its luminosity and temperature. Signup and view all the answers

What is the minimum core mass required for a star to form a neutron star?

1.44M☉ Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of energy levels in atomic physics?

Electrons can only occupy specific discrete energy levels in an atom. Signup and view all the answers

What is the fate of a star with a core mass greater than 3M☉?

It forms a black hole. Signup and view all the answers

Star Formation Process

Questions and Answers

What happens to the outer shells of a red giant as it evolves into a white dwarf?

Why does a white dwarf star not undergo fusion?

What prevents a white dwarf core from collapsing?

What is the maximum mass for a stable white dwarf star?

What type of supernova occurs when a massive star's iron core collapses?

What process must occur in the protostar for a star to form?

What is the primary factor that determines the length of the main phase of a star?

What happens to a low-mass star once the hydrogen supplies are low?

What is produced during nuclear fusion in a star?

What is the term for the stable equilibrium phase of a star's life?

What is the purpose of using the Doppler equation in astronomy?

What is the relationship between the recessional velocity of a galaxy and its distance from Earth?

What is the implication of the observation that almost all light from distant galaxies is redshifted?

What is the significance of Hubble's law in understanding the universe?

What can be estimated using Hubble's law?

What is the primary location where stars are formed?

What is the term used to describe the stage in star formation where gravitational energy is converted to thermal energy?

What is the term used to describe the spherical shape formed by the gravitational attraction between dust and gas particles?

What is the characteristic shape of the orbit of comets around the sun?

What is the term used to describe a celestial body with mass sufficient to take a spherical shape, but without nuclear fusion?

What percentage of matter is helium nuclei after the production of mass is halted?

How long after the Big Bang do the first stars form?

What is responsible for the gain of mass by the first fundamental particles?

How long after the Big Bang do the first atoms form?

What is the current estimate of the percentage of the universe that is understood?

What happens when the remaining core mass is greater than 1.44M?

What can be determined by looking at the position of a star on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram?

What is the result when an electron moves from a lower energy state to a higher energy state?

What is the minimum mass required for a star to form a black hole?

Why do electrons occupy specific energy levels?

What is the physical quantity that is proportional to the fourth power of the absolute temperature of a black body?

What is the constant of proportionality in Wein's law?

What is the unit of measurement for the absolute temperature of a star?

What is the physical quantity that is proportional to the surface area of a star?

What is the formula that relates the luminosity of a star with its surface temperature?

What is the physical quantity that is proportional to the surface area of a star?

What is the value of Stefan's constant?

What is the purpose of Wein's law?

What is the physical quantity that is proportional to the fourth root of the peak wavelength?

What is the relationship between the luminosity and radius of a star?

What is the process by which the gravitational energy of dust and gas particles is converted to thermal energy in a protostar?

What is the primary factor that determines the length of the main sequence phase of a star's life?

What are the conditions necessary for a star to form from a protostar?

What is the process by which helium nuclei are fused together to form heavier elements in a star?

What maintains the stable equilibrium of a star during the main sequence phase?

What is the stage of a star's life where it expands to become much larger, cooler, and more luminous?

What is the outcome of nuclear fusion in a star?

What is the term used to describe the spherical shape formed by the gravitational attraction between dust and gas particles in the formation of a star?

What happens to a low-mass star once the hydrogen supplies are low?

What determines the length of the main sequence phase of a star?

What is the primary factor that determines the length of the main sequence phase of a star?

What occurs in the core of a red giant when helium nuclei run low?

At what temperature does helium fusion occur in the core of a star?

What prevents the core of a white dwarf from collapsing?

What is the end state of a low-mass star after the main sequence phase?

What happens when an electron is deexcited in an atom?

What is the significance of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram in understanding stellar evolution?

What is the minimum core mass required for a star to form a neutron star?

What is the significance of energy levels in atomic physics?

What is the fate of a star with a core mass greater than 3M☉?

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