Life Cycle of Stars Vocabulary

The natural formation of atoms as a result of fusion and supernovas

• Fusion
• Fission
• Nucleosynthesis
• Supernova

The combining of two or more atoms in a stars core into a new heavier atom.

• Fission
• Fusion
• Nuclear Reactions
• Nucleosynthesis

The balance between gravity pulling in and the pressure from fusion pushing out in a star.

• Main sequence star
• Stellar stability
• Hydrostatic equilibrium
• Red giant star

The only way the sun can send heat to Earth. Heat travels as an electromagnetic wave.

• Conduction
• Convection
• Thermal Radiation
• Electromagnetic Waves

measures how bright a star would be in relation to the sun if all stars were the same distance from the observer

• Brightness
• Luminosity
• Apparent Magnitude
• Photic Strength

Controlled by the rate of fusion in a stars core. The stars color is connected to this too.

• Temperature
• Star Temperature
• Star volume
• Luminosity

A diagram or graph that shows the relationship between luminosity and temperature in a star.

• HR (Hertzsprung - Russell) Diagram
• Color vs. Brightness chart
• Temperature vs. Luminosity chart
• Stellar life cycle chart

An exploding massive star. These explosions are responsible for forming all atoms heavier than iron.

• Novas
• Big bangs
• Supernova
• Thermonuclear detonation