Space YEAR 9 Flashcards
Order of planets in solar system
M V E M J S U N
STAR LIFE CYCLE
How does a star go from a nebula to a proto star
Starts as nebula of dust and gas
Pulled together by gravity
Temperature and pressure increase, becoming a proto star
STAR LIFE CYCLE
What happens during a star’s main sequence
The proto star becomes hot enough that nuclear fusion starts
Nuclear fusion pushing out is balanced by gravity pulling in
What is the main gas in a nebula
Hydrogen
STAR LIFE CYCLE
What happens to a star over >3d larger than the sun after main seq
Becomes a red supergiant
A supernova occur
Then becomes a neutron star
OR a black hole (if very large)
STAR LIFE CYCLE
What happens to a star the same size as our sun after main seq
When all hydrogen is used, expands and cools into a red giant
Outer layers drift away forming a white dwarf
Further cools into a black dwarf
STAR LIFE CYCLE
How does a star go from a proto star
to its main seq
Hydrogen diffuses into helium
Nuclear fusion begins
Star increases in pressure and temperature
(Proto star emits light)
How are heavier elements which aren’t formed in stars scattered across the universe
They are formed by supernova explosions
How is helium formed in stars via nuclear fusion?
hydrogen nuclei fuse together to form helium nuclei
What force keeps objects in orbit
Gravity
Define a red shift
the increase in wavelength of light from objects that are moving away from you
What does a red shift tell us about a galaxy?
A red shift means that a galaxy is moving away from us, as the wavelength of light is larger
How does red shift prove the Big Bang Theory
It shows that galaxies are moving away from a central point
