Flashcard on Stellar Equilibrium and Life Cycle

Front

What stage follows the red giant phase in the life cycle of a low-mass star like the Sun?

Back

White dwarf

Front

What causes the kinetic energy of a star to increase?

Back

Gravity

Front

What element requires more energy to fuse than what is released, causing the star to collapse?

Back

Iron

Front

What forms after a supergiant star explodes?

Back

Supernova

Front

What is the 'birthplace' of stars, consisting of energized gas and dust?

Back

Nebula

Front

What is a white dwarf?

Back

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

Front

What is a supernova?

Back

A powerful explosion that occurs at the end of a high-mass star's life cycle.

Front

What is a neutron star?

Back

A dense stellar remnant composed mostly of neutrons, formed after 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.

Front

What is a nebula?

Back

A giant cloud of gas and dust in space, often the site of star formation.