Evolution of Stars Flashcards
The more gravity pushing in on a star…
The hotter and more dense a star must be to balance its own gravity
Hydrostatic equilibrium
Balance between gravity squeezing inward and a stars outward pressure
Fusion
Combination of lightweight nuclei and heavier nuclei
Fusion combines ___________ and ____________ to create star light.
Helium and hydrogen
Nebula
Large cloud of interstellar gas and dust that collapses on itself
Protostar
Hot, condensed object at the center of a nebula
Red giant
Radiation is weak by the time it reaches the star’s surface and weak radiation is red.
White dwarf
Stable despite lack of nuclear reactions
No source of heat
Neutron star
Collapses, dense core of a star that forms quickly while its outer layers are falling inward
Pulsar
A spinning neutron star that exhibits a pulsing pattern
Supernova
Massive explosion that occurs when the outer layers of a star
Black holes
The small, extremely dense object that remains, the gravity is so immense that nothing, not even light, can escape it.
The more massive as star is…
The greater the gravity pushing inward on it
