Life Cycle of a Star

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What is a protostar?

Back

A protostar is a very young star that forms when gravity pulls gases and dust together, leading to the start of nuclear fusion.

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What is a black dwarf?

Back

A black dwarf is the final stage of a low-mass star's life, where it has cooled and no longer emits light, resembling a dark piece of space rock.

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What is a supernova?

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A supernova is the explosive end of a high-mass star's life, occurring after it expands into a red supergiant and then collapses rapidly.

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What is the life cycle of a massive-sized star?

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The life cycle of a massive-sized star includes the stages: Nebula > Protostar > Main sequence star > Red supergiant > Supernova > Black hole or Neutron star.

Front

What is a white dwarf?

Back

A white dwarf is the stage in a low-mass star's life where it remains as a glowing ball of gas about the size of Earth after the red giant phase.

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What is a nebula?

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

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What happens during nuclear fusion in stars?

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Nuclear fusion is the process where hydrogen atoms combine to form helium, releasing energy that powers stars.

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What is a neutron star?

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A neutron star is the remnants of a supernova explosion, extremely dense and composed mostly of neutrons.

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What is the main sequence star phase?

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

Front

What is a red giant?

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A red giant is a late stage in a low-mass star's life when it expands and cools after exhausting hydrogen in its core.