P6.2.2 - Life Cycle of Stars Flashcards
1
Q
How are stable stars formed? [2]
A
- from interstellar clouds of gas
- dust due to gravitational attraction
2
Q
Describe the process of the formation of stable stars. [4]
A
- stars form from clouds of gas and dust, the gases are usually hydrogen with helium and others
- gravity pulls the particles closer together and then causes the cloud to collapse and it starts to heat up due to increasing pressure
- a dense, hot core forms as the cloud collapses, becoming a protostar with rising temperature and pressure.
- nuclear fusion happens once temperature reaches 10million°C and it creates a balance between the outward pressure and inward gravity to form a stable main-sequence star
3
Q
What do the next stages of the life cycle of a star depend on? [1]
A
its mass
4
Q
What happens to a small mass star which is about the same mass as the sun? [2]
A
red giant –> white dwarf + planetary nebula
5
Q
What happens to a large mass star? [2]
A
red supergiant –> supernova –> neutron star
6
Q
What happens to a very large mass star? [2]
A
red supergiant –> supernova –> black hole
7
Q
What might the nebula from a supernova form? [1]
A
new stars with orbiting planets
