Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Aditional Physics > Life Cycle Of A Star > Flashcards

Life Cycle Of A Star Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Physics 101 flashcards AP® Physics flashcards
1
Q

Which two star stages follow the main sequence star?

A

Either red super giant or red giant

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the sequence after red super giant?

A

Supernova –> neutron star -or-> black hole

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the sequence after red giant?

A

White dwarf

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the first two stages of the cycle?

A

Protostar –> main sequence star

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

State the sequence in terms of a star bigger than the sun.

A

Protostar –> main sequence star –> red super giant –> supernova –> neutron star -or-> black hole

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

State the sequence in terms of a sun like star.

A

Protostar–> main sequence star–> red giant–> white dwarf

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Neutron star or…

A

Black hole

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Clouds of dust and gas are called…

A

Nebula

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What force and what does it do to the star (protostar)?

A

Gravity pulls more material into the star which is in the form of a nebula.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What happens when gravity pulls more material into the protostar?

A

Compresses.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What happens to the protostar when it’s compressed?

A

Starts warming up.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

After the protostar stage, what does the gravitational energy transfer into?

A

Heat energy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What process is allowed by heat energy in main sequence stage?

A

Fusion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Main sequence stage- fusion of what into what?

A

Hydrogen nuclei –> helium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What happens after nuclear fusion starts to the main sequence star?

A

Star enters stable period.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What does nuclear fusion produce in the main sequence star to allow it to enter a stable period?

A

Heat

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

How does heat allow the stable period in a main sequence star?

A

Heat produced causes an increase of outwards pressure because of the increased motion of particles inside the star.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Explain the stable period in a main sequence star.

A

Heat produced by nuclear fusion cause increase of outwards pressure in the star…
Gravitational forces are still trying to collapse the star in on itself…
THESE BALANCE EACH OTHER OUT.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

How long does the main sequence star maintain its energy output in the stable period?

A

Millions of years. Due to massive amounts of hydrogen it consumes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is the first step as a main sequence star starts to turn into a red (or super) giant?

A

Hydrogen begins to run out

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

When hydrogen runs out in the process of a main sequence star turning into a red or super giant, what does this cause?

A

Nuclear fusion of HELIUM starts creating heavier elements like iron.

22
Q

What happens to a star to make it into a giant?

A

It swells

23
Q

What happens as the surface of a giant/super giant cools?

A

It turns red

24
Q

What process is going on with what elements in a red giant?

A

Fusion of nuclei with elements other than hydrogen and helium.

25
Q

What happens to a red giant when fusion stops?

A

Comes to an end.

No more heat –> no more outwards pressure

26
Q

What does a lack of outwards pressure mean for a red giant?

A

Gravity causes the core to collapse in on itself.

27
Q

Size of red giant…..

A

Can reach Venus’s orbit.

28
Q

Explain planetary nebula.

A

As star collapses, it ejects it’s outer layer of dust and gas as planetary nebula.

29
Q

How does the ejection of planetary nebula leave a white dwarf?

A

It leaves behind a hot dense solid core.

30
Q

What is a white dwarf?

A

A small dim star

31
Q

What are the atoms like in a white dwarf?

A

Densely packed.

32
Q

How greater is the gravity of a white dwarf to the Earth?

A

100 000 times greater

33
Q

What happens after a white dwarf cools?

A

It becomes a black dwarf.

34
Q

How long does it take a white dwarf to transform into a black dwarf?

A

Billions of years

35
Q

What happens to black dwarf stars?

A

Eventually disappear

36
Q

How big can the red super giant swell to?

A

The orbit of Jupiter.

37
Q

To go through the red super giant stage, how big does the star have to be?

A

1.5 of the sun

38
Q

What is a supernova?

A

The event of a red super giant exploding.

39
Q

Before a supernova, the fusion of heavy nuclei results in what?

A

The formation of heavy elements like iron.

40
Q

What does fusion before a supernova allow?

A

The star to glow brightly.

41
Q

What happens to the star before the supernova?

A

Expands and contracts several times.

42
Q

Ho much energy can a supernova release?

A

As much energy in a few years as the sun will release in it’s entire 10 billion years.

43
Q

Why do supernova explosions happen?

A

Due to gravity collapsing the star on itself.

44
Q

How heavy are the elements that are formed during a supernova and what happens to them?

A

Heavier than iron. Ejected into space.

45
Q

What is a neutron star?

A

The very dense core left after a supernova.

46
Q

How big in relation to the sun is a neutron star?

A

Up to 3 times bigger.

47
Q

How dense is a neutron star?

A

The size of the earth and a mass greater than the sun.

48
Q

How big must a star be to qualify as a black hole?

A

3 times bigger than the sun.

49
Q

What is a black hole?

A

A small ball of matter which is even denser than a neutron star.

50
Q

Explain how big gravity is on a black hole.

A

Not even light can escape it.

Aditional Physics (1 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions