Astronomy - Unit 4 Catch Up Flashcardizz

Front

What is a nebula?

Back

A nebula is a giant cloud of dust and gas in space, often the birthplace of stars. They can be the size of a solar system or larger.

Front

What is absolute brightness?

Back

Absolute brightness is the measure of a star's intrinsic brightness, defined as how bright it would appear at a standard distance of 10 parsecs.

Front

What occurs when a star exhausts its hydrogen fuel?

Back

When a star runs out of hydrogen, fusion and gravity are no longer in balance, leading to changes in the star's structure and eventual evolution.

Front

What will happen to our Sun in its later stages?

Back

Our Sun will expand into a Red Giant, engulfing the inner planets, specifically Mercury, Venus, and Earth.

Front

What is a protostar?

Back

A protostar is a stage in stellar evolution where a pre-stellar core begins to spin and forms a flat disk, eventually leading to the formation of a star.

Front

What is the difference between apparent brightness and absolute brightness?

Back

Apparent brightness is how bright a star appears from Earth, while absolute brightness is the actual brightness of a star at a standard distance.

Front

What is luminosity in astronomy?

Back

Luminosity is the total amount of energy emitted by a star per unit of time, often measured in watts.

Front

What happens during the Red Giant phase of a star?

Back

During the Red Giant phase, a star expands and cools, leading to the fusion of heavier elements as it exhausts its hydrogen.

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.

Front

What is the life cycle of a star?

Back

The life cycle of a star includes stages such as nebula, protostar, main sequence, red giant, and ultimately, either a white dwarf, neutron star, or black hole.