Stars and the Universe Flashcards
most accurate explanation of the beginning of universe
cataclysmic explosion that followed with the expansion and cooling of the universe
big bang theory
plots stars according to their absolute magnitude and diagram spectral type;
divides stars into three general catagories:
main sequence
red supergiant
white dwarf
hertzsprung-russell diagram
interstellar cloud consisting mostly of hydrogen and helium
birthplace of the stars
nebula
gravitational attraction of particles in the nebula; start of hydrogen fusion
protostar
a star with minimal change in size or energy output
main-sequence
continuous hydrogen fusion until all hydrogen is depleted
star
a star in which hydrogen is nearly depleted, resulting into a helium-rich core; start of core contraction
red giant
a star slow consumption of depleted hydrogen fuel
white dwarf
spherical cloud of particles made up of heavy elements
planetary nebula
bright explosion of red supergiant
supernova
small, extremely dense star resulting from a supernova implosion (collapsing violently inward)
neutron star
resulting from supernova explosion of supermassive stars; produces a gravitational field that also attracts light
black hole
group of stars seen from earth
forming patterns in the sky and changing position over time due to Earth’s revolution
constellation
life cycle of a star (average)
nebula - protostar - main sequence star - red giant - planetary nebula - white dwarf
life cycle of a star (massive star)
nebula - protostar - massive star - red supergiant - supernova - neutron star or blackhole
what does star change in
size, temperature and luminosity
classification of stars relies on
temperature, mass, radius, luminosity and lifetime
types of stars
giant stars
white dwarfs
supergiant stars
low mass, near the end of their lives
giant stars
dying remnant of an imploded star
white dwarf
high mass, hotter temperatures, brighter luminosities, much close to the end of their lives
supergiant star
brightest star in the earth’s night sky
looks like one huge star but made up of several stars
sirius
collection of interstellar matter, stars, and stellar remnants that are bound by gravity
galaxy
types of galaxies
spiral galaxy
elliptical galaxy
irregular galaxy
lines of equal brightness made up of concentric and similar ellipses
elliptical
spiral shaped arms that spread from the nucleus outward to the edge
spiral
grainy, highly irregular assemblages of luminous areas, with no distinct symmetry or central nucleus
irregular
a galaxy group bound by gravity
galactic cluster
doesnt produce its own light; illuminated by the sun and others
planets
revolves around a planet
reflects the light of a star
natural satellites/moon
an interstellar (between stars) cloud of dust, hydrogen and plasma that come from exploded stars essential for the formation of new stars
nebula
birth of galaxies
nebula - galaxy - stars - plannets - satellites
the part of star hot enough to drive hydrogen atoms together, resisting forces of electromagnetic repulsion
core
magnetized rotating star that emits electromagnetic radiation that can be observed as pulses of light
pulsar
stars from highest to lowest temperature
blue - white - yellow - orange - red
incapable of producing THEIR OWN LIGHT
planets/comet/moon
falling star
visible boulder-sized debris
meteor
small piece of rock traversing across outer space
meteoroid
meteoroid upon reaching a planet’s atmosphere, falling towards planet’s surface
meteor
meteor upon reaching a planet’s surface
meteorite
distance that light can travel within a year
light years
rocky/metallic material more than 100m in diameter
asteroid
loose collection of rocky material, frozen gases, dust and ice
comet
spherical celestial bodies orbiting the Sun that are too small to remove smaller objects in their orbit
ex: Ceres
dwarf planets
