Star Lifecycles and Fate
45 Questions
3 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to Lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What happens to a stable star when the hydrogen runs out?

  • It collapses into a black hole.
  • It remains unchanged until it cools down.
  • It explodes into a supernova.
  • It begins fusing helium into carbon. (correct)

What is the eventual fate of our Sun in approximately 5 billion years?

  • It will become a white dwarf.
  • It will expand into a red giant. (correct)
  • It will turn into a neutron star.
  • It will explode as a red supergiant.

What effect does gravity have on a star as it runs out of fuel?

  • It causes the outer layers to contract and cool.
  • It halts all nuclear processes within the star.
  • It causes the star to expand dramatically.
  • It leads to further nuclear reactions and contraction. (correct)

Which stage does a massive star enter after exhausting its hydrogen fuel?

<p>Red supergiant. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant characteristic of a red giant star?

<p>It expands well beyond its former size. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to a sun-like star after it becomes a white dwarf?

<p>It eventually fades into a cold, dark black dwarf. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the immediate result of fusion ending in a massive star?

<p>The star collapses quickly due to gravity. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which stage does a sun-like star go through before becoming a white dwarf?

<p>It becomes a red giant. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What can happen to a massive star after a supernova, if it is not completely destroyed?

<p>It may become a neutron star or a black hole. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What initiates the collapse of a sun-like star after fusion ends?

<p>The decrease in heat leading to reduced pressure. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a neutron star characterized by?

<p>A rapidly spinning object about 30km in diameter. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining feature of black holes?

<p>Their gravity is strong enough to prevent light from escaping. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do scientists primarily learn about black holes?

<p>Through the effects on nearby stars and materials. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is true about the size of a neutron star?

<p>It is around 30 kilometers in diameter. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement differentiates black holes from neutron stars?

<p>Black holes have a density unable to let light escape, unlike neutron stars. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant comparison did the two scientists make regarding stars?

<p>The surface temperature of stars and their brightness (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes the main sequence on the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram?

<p>90% of all stars fit into this category (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Where is the sun located in the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram?

<p>In the middle of the main sequence (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which groups of stars are considered exceptions to the main sequence pattern?

<p>Super giants and white dwarfs (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram illustrate about the nature of stars?

<p>Stars evolve and change over long periods of time (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What determines whether a star is classified as sun-like or massive?

<p>The mass of the star (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do stars primarily convert during most of their life cycle?

<p>Hydrogen to helium (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What occurs when a star runs out of hydrogen fuel?

<p>It can undergo a transformation based on its mass (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How long can stars remain in a stable state?

<p>Millions to billions of years (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What primarily causes the formation of a star from a nebula?

<p>The compression of gas and dust by gravity (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to stars once their hydrogen fuel is depleted?

<p>They exhaust their fusion process and change state (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the temperature that can be reached at the core of a star during its formation?

<p>10,000,000°C (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What process begins when the temperature at a star's core reaches extreme levels?

<p>Fusion of hydrogen into helium (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to a star after its birth?

<p>It emits radiation for millions or billions of years (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate composition of the gas in a nebula where stars are formed?

<p>75% H and 23% He (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are constellations primarily defined as?

<p>Groupings of stars that create patterns (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How many constellations are officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union?

<p>88 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes asterisms from constellations?

<p>Asterisms are unofficially recognized groupings (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of an asterism?

<p>The Big Dipper (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true about Ursa Major?

<p>It is a constellation recognized by the IAU (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the asterism associated with the Pleiades cluster?

<p>The Seven Sisters (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What consequence did Poseidon impose on Cassiopeia for her arrogance?

<p>He sent Cetus the whale to destroy her homeland (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is Cassiopeia represented in the heavens?

<p>Tied to a chair (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who were Cassiopeia's rivals that were angered by her beauty?

<p>The sea nymphs (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the myth of Cassiopeia illustrate about pride and punishment?

<p>Pride may result in divine retribution. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of an elliptical galaxy?

<p>It is mostly made up of old stars. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of galaxy is characterized by long curved arms leading away from a central core?

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

What is a defining feature of irregular galaxies?

<p>They lack a definite shape. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How are galaxies held together?

<p>By gravity. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What shape is generally associated with elliptical galaxies?

<p>Oval or football-shaped. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

A graph that compares the surface temperature of stars to their brightness.

Main Sequence

A diagonal band on the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram where most stars are located.

Our Sun's Location

Our sun is located in the middle of the main sequence on the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram.

White Dwarfs and Supergiants

Stars that are exceptions to the main sequence pattern on the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Stellar Evolution

The pattern of stars on the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram supports the theory that stars evolve and change over time.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What is a nebula?

A cloud of gas and dust in space, mainly composed of hydrogen and helium, that can collapse under its own gravity to form stars.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What causes a pro-star to form?

As gravity pulls more material into the rotating sphere of a nebula, the mass and pressure at the core increases, causing the temperature to rise and the core to glow.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What triggers the 'birth' of a star?

When the core of a pro-star reaches a temperature of 10 million degrees Celsius, hydrogen atoms fuse into helium, releasing massive amounts of radiation, marking the birth of a star.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What is nuclear fusion?

The process within a star's core where hydrogen atoms combine under immense pressure and heat to form helium, releasing a tremendous amount of energy.

Signup and view all the flashcards

How long can a star shine?

A star can emit radiation for millions or billions of years, depending on its size and mass.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What are stars made of?

Stars are giant balls of hot gas, primarily hydrogen and helium.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What happens to a star when its hydrogen runs out?

Stars will eventually run out of hydrogen fuel, causing them to evolve and change.

Signup and view all the flashcards

How long do stars live?

The lifespan of a star depends on its mass, ranging from millions to billions of years.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What is the stable state of a star?

Stars spend most of their lives in a stable state, converting hydrogen to helium.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What happens after a star runs out of fuel?

Once a star runs out of fuel, it begins to evolve, expanding, contracting, and potentially exploding.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What happens when a star's hydrogen runs out?

When a star runs out of hydrogen, it starts fusing helium into heavier elements like carbon, causing it to shrink and heat up.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What happens to a sun-like star when its hydrogen runs out?

A sun-like star becomes a red giant, expanding its diameter beyond Mars's orbit.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What happens to a massive star when its hydrogen runs out?

A massive star becomes a red supergiant, a far larger and brighter red giant.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What causes the outer layers of a star to expand after hydrogen depletion?

As gravity causes the star to contract, further nuclear fusion reactions occur, releasing energy that pushes the outer layers outward.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What happens to a star after it becomes a red giant or red supergiant?

After a star becomes a red giant or red supergiant, it will eventually evolve into a white dwarf, neutron star, or black hole, depending on its mass.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What happens when a Sun-like star runs out of fuel?

The star's core can no longer sustain fusion, so the pressure decreases, and gravity causes the star to slowly collapse. This leads to the formation of a dwarf star, eventually evolving into a white dwarf.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What is a constellation?

A grouping of stars that form a recognizable pattern in the night sky, officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What is an asterism?

A group of stars that forms a recognizable pattern in the night sky but is NOT officially recognized.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What happens after a star collapses into a white dwarf?

The white dwarf continues to cool and fade over time, eventually becoming a cold, dark object called a black dwarf. This process takes a very long time.

Signup and view all the flashcards

How many constellations are recognized?

There are 88 constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What happens when a massive star runs out of fuel?

The star's core collapses rapidly due to gravity, causing a massive explosion called a supernova. The explosion either destroys the star completely or leaves behind a dense remnant.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What is the Big Dipper?

A well-known asterism, a recognizable pattern of stars within the constellation Ursa Major.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What are the possible remnants of a supernova?

Depending on the star's initial mass, a supernova can leave behind either a neutron star, a super-dense object with tightly packed neutrons, or a black hole, an object with such strong gravity that nothing, not even light, can escape.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What is Ursa Major?

A constellation, officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union, that contains the Big Dipper asterism.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What's the key difference between a star's death depending on its size?

Sun-like stars collapse slowly and become white dwarfs, while massive stars explode violently as supernovas, leaving behind either neutron stars or black holes.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What is a neutron star?

A neutron star is a super-dense, rapidly spinning object formed after a supernova explosion. It's incredibly small, only about 30km in diameter.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What is a black hole?

A black hole is a super-dense object formed from the collapsed core of a massive star. Its gravity is so intense that nothing, not even light, can escape.

Signup and view all the flashcards

How do scientists detect black holes?

Scientists can't directly observe black holes because they don't emit light. Instead, they detect them by observing the effects of their powerful gravity on surrounding matter.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What happens to matter near a black hole?

Matter near a black hole gets intensely heated and emits bright radiation as it's pulled in. This is how scientists know a black hole is present.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What is the difference between a neutron star and a black hole?

A neutron star is a dense, rapidly spinning object that still emits some light. A black hole is even denser, with gravity so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Who is Cassiopeia?

A queen from Greek mythology known for her beauty and hubris. Her vanity ultimately led to her punishment by Poseidon.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Why was Cassiopeia punished?

Cassiopeia angered Poseidon by boasting that she was more beautiful than the sea nymphs. Poseidon sent a sea monster to destroy her city.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What was Cassiopeia's punishment?

Cassiopeia was condemned to forever orbit the heavens, forever tied to a chair, as punishment for her arrogance.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What is the Pleiades?

A star cluster - a group of stars that are visually close together, often associated with a specific myth.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What is a galaxy?

A large grouping of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravity, containing millions or billions of stars.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What are the types of galaxies?

There are three primary types: Elliptical (football-shaped, mostly old stars), Spiral (Milky Way style, with arms), and Irregular (no defined shape).

Signup and view all the flashcards

What makes an elliptical galaxy different?

Elliptical galaxies are typically shaped like a flattened disk or football. They have a smooth, even appearance and are mostly composed of older stars.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What makes a spiral galaxy different?

Spiral galaxies are characterized by swirling arms that extend from a bright central core. They are known for active star formation and contain both young and old stars.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What makes an irregular galaxy different?

Irregular galaxies lack a defined shape. They often appear chaotic and are believed to have formed from collisions or interactions with other galaxies.

Signup and view all the flashcards

More Like This

Star Life Cycle
20 questions

Star Life Cycle

AccomplishedBixbite avatar
AccomplishedBixbite
The Life Cycle of a Star: Exploring Stellar Evolution
12 questions

Star Life Cycle Quiz: Explore Stellar Evolution Stages

IncredibleBauhaus avatar
IncredibleBauhaus
Life Cycle of a Star Flashcards
9 questions

Life Cycle of a Star Flashcards

LionheartedBrazilNutTree avatar
LionheartedBrazilNutTree
Star Lifecycle and Evolution
5 questions

Star Lifecycle and Evolution

OticPeridot6562 avatar
OticPeridot6562
Use Quizgecko on...
Browser
Open
Browser
Browser