Life Cycle of a Star

Front

What is a stellar nebula?

Back

A cosmic cloud of dust and gas that is the first stage in the birth of a star.

Front

What happens to our Sun in the future?

Back

It will expand and engulf the inner planets.

Front

What is the next stage for a high mass star after the main sequence?

Back

It becomes a supergiant.

Front

Which of the following is NOT a final stage of a star: black hole, black dwarf, neutron star, or red giant?

Back

Red giant.

Front

What is a protostar?

Back

A hot ball of mostly hydrogen that forms from a stellar nebula, where nuclear fusion has not yet started.

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 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 red giant?

Back

A late stage in the life cycle of a star where it expands and cools after exhausting its hydrogen fuel.

Front

What is a white dwarf?

Back

The remnant core of a star that has exhausted its nuclear fuel and shed its outer layers.

Front

What is a neutron star?

Back

A very dense star composed mostly of neutrons, formed from the remnants of a supernova.