The Life Cycle of Stars-B

Front

What are the two most abundant elements in a main sequence star?

Back

Hydrogen and Helium.

Front

What determines the life cycle of a star?

Back

Its mass.

Front

What factor determines whether a star will evolve into a white dwarf, a neutron star, or a black hole?

Back

Mass.

Front

How do stars like the sun create energy that is later radiated away into space?

Back

Nuclear fusion changing hydrogen into helium.

Front

What is the explosion of a massive star near the end of its life called?

Back

Supernova.

Front

What is a main sequence star?

Back

A star that is in the stable phase of its life cycle, fusing hydrogen into helium in its core.

Front

What is nuclear fusion?

Back

The process by which two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy.

Front

What is a white dwarf?

Back

A small, dense star that is the remnant of a low to medium mass star after it has exhausted its nuclear fuel.

Front

What is a neutron star?

Back

An extremely dense star composed mostly of neutrons, formed from the remnants of a supernova.

Front

What is a black hole?

Back

A region of space where the gravitational pull is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from it.