Lifecycle of Stars Flashcard 2024

Front

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 protostar?

Back

A protostar is an early stage in the formation of a star, where a nebula collapses under gravity and heats up, leading to the birth of a new star.

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What is a nebula?

Back

A nebula is a giant cloud of gas and dust in space, primarily composed of hydrogen and helium, where new stars are born.

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What is a planetary nebula?

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A planetary nebula is the ejected outer shell of gas from an aging star, which forms a glowing shell around the remaining core.

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What leads to the formation of black holes?

Back

The formation of black holes is directly linked to the supernova stage, where a massive star explodes and its core collapses.

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What is a supernova?

Back

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

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What is a white dwarf?

Back

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

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What is a neutron star?

Back

A neutron star is the collapsed core of a massive star that has undergone a supernova explosion, composed almost entirely of neutrons.

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What is the main sequence star stage?

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

Front

What is the lifecycle of a star?

Back

The lifecycle of a star includes stages such as nebula, protostar, main sequence, red giant, supernova, and remnants like black holes or neutron stars.