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Astronomy > Stellar Classification and Evolution > Flashcards

Stellar Classification and Evolution Flashcards

1
Q

What does a star’s luminosity measure?

A

Luminosity is a measurement of the amount of light energy emitted by an object.

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2
Q

What is a star’s apparent magnitude?

A

Apparent magnitude is a measurement of how bright a star is from an observer on Earth.

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3
Q

What is a star’s absolute magnitude?

A

Absolute magnitude is a measurement of how bright a star is if the star were at a distance of 10 parsecs from Earth.

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4
Q

What characteristic of a star does its color identify?

A

The color of a star is related to its surface temperature.

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5
Q

What is spectral classification of a star?

A

Spectral classification is a letter designation OBAFGKM that is related to the star’s surface temperature.

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6
Q

What characteristic of a star does its absorption spectra indicate?

A

A star’s absorption spectra indicates what elements the star is made of.

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7
Q

What is a nebula?

A

A collection of gas and dust from which a star can form

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8
Q

What is a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram?

A

A scatter plot of a star’s temperature versus its luminosity.

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9
Q

If two stars have the same surface temperature, what other property will they have in common?

A

They will have the same spectral classification.

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10
Q

If two stars have the same luminosity, what other property will they have in common?

A

They will have the same absolute magnitude.

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11
Q

What is the main sequence of a H-R diagram?

A

It is a diagonal region from cool, dim stars to hot, bright stars.

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12
Q

Stars with which two characteristics fall into the Red Giant region of the H-R diagram?

A

Red Giant stars are cool and bright.

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13
Q

Stars with which two characteristics fall into the White Dwarf region of the H-R diagram?

A

White Dwarf stars are hot and dim.

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14
Q

What is a protostar?

A

A large, hot sphere of gas that forms when a nebula collapses.

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15
Q

What must occur for a protostar to become a star?

A

Nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium in its core.

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16
Q

Which characteristic of a star determines its life cycle?

A

The star’s mass

17
Q

A low mass star will spend approximately how long in the main sequence?

A

Low mass stars spend trillions of years in the main sequence.

18
Q

A mid-mass star will spend approximately how long in the main sequence?

A

Mid-Mass stars spend billions of years in the main sequence.

19
Q

A high-mass star will spend approximately how long in the main sequence?

A

A high-mass star will spend millions of years in the main sequence.

20
Q

Why does a star with a higher mass spend less time in the main sequence?

A

A high mass star needs to produce more energy to balance the gravitational attraction of its large mass.

21
Q

When nuclear fusion of hydrogen in the core of a mid-mass star ends, what type of star will form next?

A

A red giant

22
Q

What forms when a red giant collapses and ejects its outer layers?

A

A planetary nebula

23
Q

What is the stellar core at the end of the lifetime of a mid-mass star?

A

A white dwarf

24
Q

When nuclear fusion of hydrogen stops in a high mass star, what type of star forms next?

A

A supergiant star

25
Q

What is the name of the explosion associated with a high-mass star towards the end of its lifetime?

A

A Type II Supernova

26
Q

What are the two possible outcomes at the end of a high-mass star’s lifetime?

A

A neutron star and a black hole

27
Q

What is the largest element on the periodic table that can form during fusion in a high mass star?

A

Iron

28
Q

What is a Type 1A supernova?

A

An explosion that can occur when a white dwarf accretes material from a binary companion.

29
Q

What is a black hole?

A

A stellar remnant from the collapse of a high mass star from which nothing, not even light, can escape.

30
Q

What is a neutron star?

A

A stellar remnant from the collapse of a high mass star made of hot, dense neutrons.

Astronomy (8 decks)

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