Stars

Front

What is a nebula?

Back

A nebula is a giant cloud of gas and dust in space, where star formation begins.

Front

What happens during a supernova?

Back

A supernova is the explosion of a high mass star, marking the end of its life cycle.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

Front

What is a protostar?

Back

A protostar is a 'baby' star that forms in the center of a nebula as it heats up.

Front

What are the main stages of star formation?

Back

The main stages are nebula, protostar, main sequence star, and then either a red giant or supernova.

Front

What is the main sequence?

Back

The main sequence is a continuous and distinctive band of stars that appears on plots of stellar color versus brightness.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

Front

What is a red giant?

Back

A red giant is a late stage in the life cycle of a star, where it expands and cools after exhausting its hydrogen fuel.

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 a neutron star?

Back

A neutron star is the remnants of a supernova explosion, composed almost entirely of neutrons.

Front

What happens to a star as it moves left on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram?

Back

As a star moves left on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, it gets hotter.

Front

What is the life cycle of a high mass star?

Back

The life cycle includes: nebula -> protostar -> main sequence -> supergiant -> supernova -> black hole or neutron star.