Life cycle of a star/HR diagram

Front

What is the life cycle of a star?

Back

The life cycle of a star includes stages such as nebula, protostar, main sequence, and various end stages depending on the star's mass.

Front

What is a nebula?

Back

A nebula is a giant cloud of dust and gas in space, often the birthplace of stars.

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What is a protostar?

Back

A protostar is an early stage in the formation of a star, where the gas and dust in a nebula begin to collapse under gravity.

Front

What is the main sequence phase of a star?

Back

The main sequence is the longest phase in a star's life cycle, where it fuses hydrogen into helium in its core.

Front

What happens to a medium mass star at the end of its life cycle?

Back

A medium mass star will become a red giant, then shed its outer layers to form a planetary nebula, leaving behind a white dwarf.

Front

What is a white dwarf?

Back

A white dwarf is the remnant core of a medium mass star that has exhausted its nuclear fuel and shed its outer layers.

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What is a black dwarf?

Back

A black dwarf is a theoretical stellar remnant that forms when a white dwarf cools down and no longer emits significant heat or light.

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What is a supernova?

Back

A supernova is a powerful explosion that occurs at the end of a massive star's life cycle, often resulting in the formation of a neutron star or black hole.

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What is a neutron star?

Back

A neutron star is the dense remnant of a supernova explosion, composed mostly of neutrons.

Front

What is a black hole?

Back

A black hole is a region in space where the gravitational pull is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from it.