Star Characteristics

Objective: I will learn what matter makes a star.

DOL: Given 5 questions, I will describe the characteristics of stars by explaining what they are composed of and their role in the solar system, with 100% accuracy.

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On the YELLOW large paper: Write physical characteristics of the STARS.

• Size

• Temperature

• Color

• and Other. 

Go back to seat when done and be ready for WA!

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Annotate on Response Card
Composition of Stars

• huge celestial bodies mostly made of hydrogen and helium gas 

• estimated 300 billion stars in our Milky Way galaxy alone

Open Ended

SCR-FORMAT

What two gases make up a single star?

Multiple Choice

In nuclear fusion, what are the two primary forms of energy produced?

• Light and sound

  
  

• Thermal and mechanical

  
  

• Kinetic and potential

  
  

• Light and Thermal 

  
  

Physical Characteristics of Stars:

• Luminosity: Luminosity refers to a star's brightness. It varies from star to star, with some being much brighter than others.

• Color: Stars come in different colors due to variations in their temperatures. For example, hotter stars appear blue or white, while cooler stars appear red.

• Size: Stars also vary in size. Some are much larger than others. This is often measured in terms of solar radii, with one solar radius being the size of our Sun.

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SCR FORMAT-Response Card-
What determines the visible color of
the star we are able to see?

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Why Do Stars of Different Colors Have Different Masses?

Stars come in different colors because of how hot they are. And how hot they are depends on their size (mass). Let’s break it down in a way you can understand:

1. Blue Stars:

   • These are the biggest and hottest stars. They burn their fuel really fast because they’re so massive.

   • Imagine a car speeding down the highway—it's using gas super quickly! Blue stars are like that—they run out of fuel quickly and live short lives.

2. Yellow Stars (like the Sun):

   • These are medium-sized stars. They’re not as hot as blue stars but still warm and bright.

   • Imagine a car driving at a steady speed—it uses gas slowly and lasts longer. That’s how yellow stars are—they live much longer than blue stars.

3. Red Stars:

   • These are the smallest and coolest stars. They don’t need much fuel and burn it very slowly.

   • Imagine a car driving super slow down the streer—it barely uses any gas and can keep going for a really long time. That’s like red stars—they can live for billions or even trillions of years because they don’t burn through their fuel quickly.

Categorize

Options (6)

More Massive

Less Massive

Hottest

Coldest

Very Bright

Not Very Bright

Physical Characteristics of Stars:

• Temperature: Stars can have different surface temperatures. Hotter stars have higher temperatures, while cooler stars have lower temperatures.

• Mass: Stars have varying masses, with some being much more massive than others. Mass plays a significant role in a star's life cycle.

• Distance: The distance of stars from Earth can vary greatly. Some stars are relatively close, while others are extremely distant.

Blue Stars

Red Stars

The H-R Diagram plots each star on a graph and measures the star’s luminosity (brightness) against its temperature (color).

​Response card-
Give me 3 facts about this HR Diagram!

Draw

In the H-R diagram, the temperature is illustrated differently than you would normally expect. Discuss with a partner how is it different?

Add an arrow to your diagram in the direction it changes!

​DOL TIME!!

Champions always complete the task!!