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Questions and Answers
What happens to a star during the white dwarf stage?
What happens to a star during the white dwarf stage?
- It performs nuclear fusion.
- It becomes a red giant.
- It explodes in a supernova event.
- It cools down and stops giving off heat and light. (correct)
What type of stars are unable to perform nuclear fusion?
What type of stars are unable to perform nuclear fusion?
- Red giants
- White dwarfs (correct)
- Main-sequence stars
- Neutron stars
Why do some stars become neutron stars instead of white dwarfs?
Why do some stars become neutron stars instead of white dwarfs?
- They explode in a supernova event. (correct)
- They cool down.
- They are not large enough to continue nuclear fusion.
- They become red giants.
How does the temperature of our sun compare to other stars?
How does the temperature of our sun compare to other stars?
What characteristic best describes our sun's size compared to other stars?
What characteristic best describes our sun's size compared to other stars?
What determines a star's spectral classification?
What determines a star's spectral classification?
Why are neutron stars immensely dense?
Why are neutron stars immensely dense?
'Star Classification Charts' are presented for what purpose?
'Star Classification Charts' are presented for what purpose?
'Main-sequence' stars are characterized by what?
'Main-sequence' stars are characterized by what?
What will a star eventually become once it has used up all its energy resources?
What will a star eventually become once it has used up all its energy resources?
What happens when a red giant star uses up all its energy resources?
What happens when a red giant star uses up all its energy resources?
Why is the stage of white dwarf stars expected to last about one million years?
Why is the stage of white dwarf stars expected to last about one million years?
What is the primary distinguishing feature of a neutron star compared to a white dwarf star?
What is the primary distinguishing feature of a neutron star compared to a white dwarf star?
What is the main outcome when a star experiences a supernova event?
What is the main outcome when a star experiences a supernova event?
How do star classification charts aid in understanding stars?
How do star classification charts aid in understanding stars?
What key characteristic defines our sun's spectral classification?
What key characteristic defines our sun's spectral classification?
Why do some stars not become white dwarfs but neutron stars?
Why do some stars not become white dwarfs but neutron stars?
What will occur once a star has exhausted all its energy resources during the white dwarf stage?
What will occur once a star has exhausted all its energy resources during the white dwarf stage?
In what way does our sun's size compare to other stars?
In what way does our sun's size compare to other stars?
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Study Notes
Classification of Stars
- Stars can be classified into 7 groups based on their properties, or spectral attributes, including size, color, temperature, and stage in their life cycle.
Spectral Classification
- O-class stars:
- Hottest stars with surface temperatures > 28,000K
- Blue in color, very bright, and short-lived
- B-class stars:
- Surface temperatures between 20,000-30,000K
- Blue-white in color, very bright, and short-lived
- A-class stars:
- Surface temperatures between 10,000-20,000K
- White in color, relatively young, and rare in the universe
- F-class stars:
- Surface temperatures between 7,000-10,000K
- Whitish-yellow in color, relatively bright, and in the middle of their life cycle
- G-class stars:
- Surface temperatures between 6,000-7,000K
- Yellow in color, large, and with an average brightness
- Our sun is a G-class star
- K-class stars:
- Surface temperatures < 5,000-6,000K
- Orange in color, relatively old, and in the later stages of their life cycle
- M-class stars:
- Coolest stars with surface temperatures < 5,000K
- Red in color, large, and old, with a short life cycle
Classification by Size
- Supergiant stars:
- Largest stars with immense mass
- Can fit over 1 million Earths
- Short-lived, with lifespans of 10-50 million years
- Giant stars:
- Not as large as supergiants, but still huge
- Similar to supergiants in life span and size
- K and M-class stars with temperatures between 3,500-5,000K
- Main-sequence white dwarf stars:
- Small in size, but with high temperatures > 100,000K
- Very bright, with a high density and strong gravitational pull
- Brown dwarf stars:
- Similar in size to Jupiter, but with a higher mass
- Create their own light, but do not shine like other stars
- Less luminous than other stars, with a long lifespan
Classification by Life Cycle
- Protostar:
- First stage in a star's life cycle
- Gravity pulls in gas and dust, forming a large spherical ball
- Takes approximately 100,000 years to reach the next stage
- T Tauri star:
- Second stage in a star's life cycle
- Gets energy from gravitational pressure
- Takes 100 million years to reach the next stage
- Main-sequence star:
- Third stage in a star's life cycle
- Begins nuclear fusion, with a long lifespan in equilibrium
- Lifespan depends on mass, with more massive stars burning through energy faster
- Red giant star:
- Fourth stage in a star's life cycle
- Hydrogen core burns out, and the star grows larger
- Can be 100 times bigger than its main-sequence stage
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