Chapter 14 Flashcards
When does a star die
When it’s fuel is exhausted
How does a star generate its supporting pressure
Through energy from the conversion of hydrogen to helium
What is the benefit of the large violent explosion from stars
They seed interstellar space with materials for the next generation of stars
What determines the duration of a stars evolution
The amount of mass (gravity) it has
What are the two groups of stars
Low-mass stars and high-mass stars
Do low mass stars go quietly or loudly
Quietly
Do high mass stars go loudly or quietly
Loudly
What happens when fuel in a stars core begins to get used up
The core contracts and hydrogen begins to fuse outside the core
What happens when the core continues to shrink and the star turns into a red giant
The outer layers of the star begin to expand and cool
Does the red giant glow brighter or dimmer now that it is cooler
Brighter
What is helium fusion
When the core gets to 100,000,000 Kelvin the core starts to fuse and the star reaches equilibrium again
Why do giant stars pulsate
Because their atmospheres trap some of their radiated energy
What is the period luminosity law
The longer the period the more luminous the star
What are the two important groups of pulsating stars
Cepheid (yellow supergiant) and RR Lyra which is 40 times the suns luminosity and lasts for periods about half a day
Do Low mass stars become hot enough for fusion beyond carbon
No, they do not