Life Cycle of Stars

Front

What is the life cycle of a star?

Back

The life cycle of a star is the series of stages a star goes through from its formation in a nebula to its eventual death, which can result in a white dwarf, neutron star, or black hole.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

Front

What is a nebula?

Back

A nebula is a large cloud of dust and gas in space, where stars are born.

Front

What is the main sequence stage of a star?

Back

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

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

Front

What happens during a supernova?

Back

A supernova is a massive explosion that occurs at the end of a massive star's life cycle, releasing a tremendous amount of energy and often leaving behind a neutron star or black hole.

Front

What is a white dwarf?

Back

A white dwarf is the remnant core of a star that has exhausted its nuclear fuel and shed its outer layers, typically the final stage for stars like our Sun.

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, formed from the remnants of a massive star after a supernova.

Front

What is a neutron star?

Back

A neutron star is the dense core left behind after a supernova, composed mostly of neutrons, and is incredibly small yet very massive.

Front

What is the difference between a red supergiant and a main sequence star?

Back

A red supergiant is a late stage in the life cycle of a massive star, while a main sequence star is in the stable phase of hydrogen fusion.

Front

What is the role of gravity in the life cycle of a star?

Back

Gravity pulls together gas and dust in a nebula to form a star, and it also plays a crucial role in the star's evolution and eventual collapse.

Front

What is fusion in the context of stars?

Back

Fusion is the process by which two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy, and is the source of a star's light and heat.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3