Stellar Physics Flashcards
birth of stars
stars are born in interstellar clouds that are particularly cold and dense (relative to the rest of space)
how to stars form?
when gravity overcomes thermal pressure and causes a molecular cloud to contract until the central object becomes hot enough to sustain nuclear fusion
what determines the luminosity and surface temperature of a new star?
its mass
what can be used as a representation of the classification of stars?
the Hertzsprung-Russel (H-R) diagram
what determines the location of a star in a H-R diagram
the luminosity and surface temperature of the star
what does the lifetime of a star depend on?
its mass
what is the main sequence?
during the hydrogen fusing stage, the star is located in the main sequence
as the fuel in a star is used up…
the balance between gravity and thermal pressure changes and the star may change its position on the H-R diagram
what can be the eventual fate of stars?
supernovae, neutron stars and black holes
