Stars Flashcards
Simply describe the lifecycle of a low mass star
Nebula, protostar, main sequence, red giant, white dwarf
Simply describe the lifecycle of a high mass star
Nebula, protostar, main sequence, red supergiant, supernova, neutron star or black hole
How do stars create their energy
Use of nuclear fusion to fusion elements
What does a star’s stability come from?
Inwards gravitational forces and outwards radiation and gas pressure
Fully describe the lifecycle of a low mass star
Formed from clouds of gas (hydrogen, helium) and dust
Protostar - gravity collects cloud together, compression causes heat
Main sequence star - hydrogen fuses into helium, causes inward and outward forces to balance
Red giant - hydrogen run out, fuse helium into larger elements, increase outward forces, expansion
White dwarf - helium runs out, outward forces shrink, causing star to shrink
Full describe the lifecycle of a high mass star
Formed from clouds of gas (hydrogen, helium) and dust
Protostar - gravity collects cloud together, compression causes heat
Main sequence star - hydrogen fuses into helium, causes inward and outward forces to balance
Red supergiant - hydrogen runs out, fuses helium into heavier elements, increases outward pressure, expands
Supernova - helium runs out, unstable, explodes into supernova. Pressure and temperature fuses heaviest elements.
Neutron star/Black hole - Natter collapses due to inward forces. Becomes a black hole or neutron star
What information on stars is shown in the Hertsprung-Russell diagram?
Size, temperature, colour, luminosity
What is the diagram about stars
Hertzsprung-Russell diagram
What is the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram grouped by?
Stage in lifecycle
What does the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram look like
X-axis = surface temperature, decreasing and unequal
Y-axis = luminosity (solar units)
Firstly, white dwarfs, main sequence, giants, then supergiants
