Stars (TEKS 8.9.A)

Front

What determines a star's life cycle?

Back

A star's life cycle is determined by its mass.

Front

What is the next step in the life cycle of a star after the main sequence?

Back

The most probable next step is the red giant stage.

Front

What does a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram show?

Back

It shows the relationship between a star's brightness and its temperature.

Front

What type of star is typically the dimmest and oldest?

Back

The oldest stars are typically the dimmest stars.

Front

What is a protostar?

Back

A protostar is a young star that is still in the process of forming.

Front

What happens to a star when it exhausts its nuclear fuel?

Back

It can expand into a red giant or collapse into a white dwarf, neutron star, or black hole.

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.

Front

What is a red giant?

Back

A red giant is a late stage in a star's life cycle characterized by expansion and cooling.

Front

What is a white dwarf?

Back

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

Front

What is the significance of a star's mass?

Back

A star's mass determines its life cycle, temperature, brightness, and ultimate fate.