8.4.3 life cycle of stars

Subdecks (2)

Cards (17)

  • All stars fuse hydrogen nuclei into helium in nuclear fusion
  • Large stars
    • larger stars fuse hydrogen nuclei into lithium and other light metals
  • Supernovae
    • a supernova produces enough energy for hydrogen nuclei to form elements heavier than iron
  • All of the naturally occurring elements are produced by nuclear fusion in stars.
  • Life Cycle of a Star like the Sun
    • gravity pulls gas and dust together to form a protostar
    • main sequence star formed, powered by nuclear fusion
    • the star expands, becoming a red giant
    • star cools and collapses inwards, forming a white dwarf
    • star completely cools and becomes a black dwarf, no light or heat emitted anymore
  • A supernova produces enough energy for hydrogen nuclei to form elements heavier than iron.
  • A star begins when a nebula (a cloud of dust and gas) collapses under gravity to form a protostar
  • Life Cycle of a Large Star
    • gravity pulls gas and dust together to form a protostar
    • main sequence star formed, powered by nuclear fusion
    • the star expands, becoming a red supergiant
    • the star explodes in a supernova
    • the supernova leaves behind either a black hole or a neutron star