Life Cycle of Stars

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What is the life cycle of a star?

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The life cycle of a star includes several stages: nebula, protostar, main sequence star, red giant or supergiant, and finally, either a white dwarf, neutron star, or black hole, depending on the star's mass.

Front

What is a nebula?

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A nebula is a giant cloud of dust and gas in space, often the birthplace of stars.

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What triggers the formation of a protostar?

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A protostar forms when a region within a nebula collapses under its own gravity, causing the material to clump together and heat up.

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What is nuclear fusion?

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Nuclear fusion is the process by which two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy. This process powers stars.

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What is a main sequence star?

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A main sequence star is a stable phase in a star's life cycle where it fuses hydrogen into helium in its core.

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What happens when a star exhausts its hydrogen fuel?

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When a star exhausts its hydrogen fuel, it leaves the main sequence and can expand into a red giant or supergiant, depending on its mass.

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What is a red giant?

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A red giant is a late stage in a star's life cycle where it has expanded and cooled after exhausting its hydrogen fuel.

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What is a supernova?

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A supernova is a powerful explosion that occurs at the end of a massive star's life cycle, resulting in the star's outer layers being expelled.

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What is a black hole?

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A black hole is a region in space where the gravitational pull is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from it.

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What is a neutron star?

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A neutron star is the remnants of a high-mass star that has undergone a supernova explosion, consisting mostly of neutrons.