THE LIFE CYCLE OF A STAR

Question 1

How does a nebula become a protostar?

Answer 1

The gas and dust in a nebula is gravitationally attracted to each other. Therefore it condenses and when the gas and dust is packed at a high enough temperature and pressure, fusion begins.

Question 2

What are the features of a main sequence star?

Answer 2

Fusion is stable and stars spend the most of their life cycle in this stage.

Question 3

What happens to a large mass star after is has been a main sequence star?

Answer 3

super red giant -> supernova -> neutron star/black hole

Question 4

What happens to a low mass star after it has been a main sequence star?

Answer 4

red giant -> white dwarf -> red/black dwarf

Question 5

What colour is the ‘hottest’

Answer 5

white

Question 6

what colour is the ‘coldest’

Answer 6

red

Question 7

what is apparent magnitude:

Answer 7

the brightness of a star as we see it on earth

Question 8

what is absolute magnitude:

Answer 8

the brightness of stars assuming that all stars are the same distance away from us (10pc)

Question 9

what is the Doppler effect?

Answer 9

when the apparent wavelength and frequency changes due to the movement of a source towards or away from the observer.

Question 10

if a star is moving towards you the colour will appear…

Answer 10

blue

Question 11

if a star is moving away from you, the colour will appear

Answer 11

red