A Star's Life Cycle

Life Cycle of a Star A STAR IS BORN – STAGES COMMON TO ALL STARS All stars start as a nebula. A nebula is a large cloud of gas and dust. Gravity can pull some of the gas and dust in a nebula together. The contracting cloud is then called a protostar. A protostar is the earliest stage of a star’s life. A star is born when the gas and dust from a nebula become so hot that nuclear fusion starts. Once a star has “turned on” it is known as a main sequence star. When a main sequence star begins to run out of hydrogen fuel, the star becomes a red giant or a red super giant.

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THE DEATH OF A LOW OR MEDIUM MASS STAR After a low or medium mass or star has become a red giant the outer parts grow bigger and drift into space, forming a cloud of gas called a planetary nebula. The blue-white hot core of the star that is left behind cools and becomes a white dwarf. The white dwarf eventually runs out of fuel and dies as a black dwarf.

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THE DEATH OF A HIGH MASS STAR A dying red super giant star can suddenly explode. The explosion is called a supernova. After the star explodes, some of the materials from the star are left behind. This material may form a neutron star. Neutron stars are the remains of high-mass stars. The most massive stars become black holes when they die. After a large mass star explodes, a large amount of mass may remain. The gravity of the mass is so strong that gas is pulled inward, pulling more gas into a smaller and smaller space. Eventually, the gravity becomes so strong that nothing can escape, not even light.

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Identify what is occurring at stage 1.

• A cloud of gas and dust place where stars are created.
• The star begins to run out of fuel and expands.
• Hydrogen atoms are fused together generating an enormous amount of energy fueling the Main Sequence star.
• The force of gravity pulls a nebula together forming clump called a ____________.
• A star grows so much that the gravity can longer hold onto all layers - Matter is cast off into the universe to be recycled.

Identify what is occurring at stage 2.

• The force of gravity pulls a nebula together forming clump called a ____________.
• The star begins to run out of fuel and expands.
• Hydrogen atoms are fused together generating an enormous amount of energy fueling the Main Sequence star.
• A star grows so much that the gravity can longer hold onto all layers - Matter is cast off into the universe to be recycled.
• A star has no more energy, only emitting light from left over star remnants after gas and dust are dispersed into space

Identify what is occurring at stage 3.

• Hydrogen atoms are fused together generating an enormous amount of energy fueling the Main Sequence star.
• The star begins to run out of fuel and expands.
• The force of gravity pulls a nebula together forming clump called a ____________.
• A star grows so much that the gravity can longer hold onto all layers - Matter is cast off into the universe to be recycled.
• A star has no more energy, only emitting light from left over star remnants after gas and dust are dispersed into space

Identify what is occurring at stage 4.

• The star begins to run out of fuel and expands.
• Hydrogen atoms are fused together generating an enormous amount of energy fueling the Main Sequence star.
• The force of gravity pulls a nebula together forming clump called a ____________.
• A star grows so much that the gravity can longer hold onto all layers - Matter is cast off into the universe to be recycled.
• A star has no more energy, only emitting light from left over star remnants after gas and dust are dispersed into space

Identify what is occurring at stage 5.

• A star grows so much that the gravity can longer hold onto all layers - Matter is cast off into the universe to be recycled.
• The star begins to run out of fuel and expands.
• Hydrogen atoms are fused together generating an enormous amount of energy fueling the Main Sequence star.
• The force of gravity pulls a nebula together forming clump called a ____________.
• A star has no more energy, only emitting light from left over star remnants after gas and dust are dispersed into space

Identify what is occurring at stage 6.

• A star has no more energy, only emitting light from left over star remnants after gas and dust are dispersed into space
• The star begins to run out of fuel and expands.
• Hydrogen atoms are fused together generating an enormous amount of energy fueling the Main Sequence star.
• The force of gravity pulls a nebula together forming clump called a ____________.
• A star grows so much that the gravity can longer hold onto all layers - Matter is cast off into the universe to be recycled.

the remains of a high mass star

• neutron star
• black dwarf
• white dwarf
• nebula
• protostar