Life Cycle of a Star

Front

What is the life cycle of a star?

Back

The life cycle of a star is the series of stages a star goes through from its formation to its end, including stages like nebula, main sequence, red giant, supernova, and black hole or white dwarf.

Front

What happens to our Sun in the future?

Back

Our Sun will expand and engulf the inner planets as it enters the red giant phase.

Front

What is a supernova?

Back

A supernova is the explosive death of a high-mass star, resulting in a bright burst of light and the ejection of its outer layers.

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 H-R diagram?

Back

The Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram is a scatter plot of stars showing the relationship between their absolute magnitudes or luminosities versus their stellar classifications or effective temperatures.

Front

What type of star is found in the center of the H-R diagram?

Back

A star in the center of the H-R diagram typically has medium luminosity.

Front

What occurs after a supernova?

Back

After a supernova, if the core of the star is massive enough, it can collapse into a black hole.

Front

What is a white dwarf?

Back

A white dwarf is a small, dense star that is the remnant of a low to medium mass star after it has exhausted its nuclear fuel and shed its outer layers.

Front

What is a nebula?

Back

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

Front

What is the main sequence phase of a star?

Back

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