Astrophysics Flashcards
1
Q
main sequence star
A
a star fusing hydrogen to helium in its core
2
Q
conditions for nuclear fusion
A
very hot, very dense environments
3
Q
why are main sequence stars so stable
A
equilibrium is when gravity and pressure are
balanced and the star remains a
constant size
4
Q
fusion in larger stars
A
have a greater mass so more fusion needs to take place to exert more gas pressure - gravity = pressure
5
Q
how does mass affect temperature of a star
A
more massive stars have higher core temperatures
6
Q
how does mass affect density of a star
A
higher density - gravity and fusion are stronger
7
Q
how will the mass of a star affect its
temperature, brightness, colour, rate of
fusion and overall life-span
A
- greater mass is more dense so gravity is stronger
- pulls the particles closer together - fusion happens faster
- releases energy at a faster rate
- makes the star brighter and hotter
- hotter stars radiate more light at shorter wavelengths so will appear bluer/whiter than red
- shorter lifespan because the fuel is fused more quickly
Because the star fuses its fuel more quickly, it will get to the end of its life faster and die
younger.
8
Q
A
