The Life Cycle of the Sun

Place the following stages in the life of a low-mass star, like the sun, in order: Red giant; White dwarf; Main sequence star

• C, A, B

• A, C, B

• B, A, C

• B, C, A

Which of the following describes the process of nuclear fusion, as it occurs inside our sun?

• Hydrogen and oxygen atoms combine to make water molecules.

• Helium atoms split apart to form hydrogen atoms

• Water molecules break apart into hydrogen and oxygen atoms

• Hydrogen atoms combine to make helium atoms.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

What effect does gravity have on stars?

• It allows stars to break free of their galaxies

• It helps break helium atoms apart inside of stars

• It forms stars from clouds of gas and dust, and causes them to ignite

• It causes stars to swell from white dwarfs to red giants

In the movie, Tim refers to baby stars as "protostars." What can you infer about the prefix "proto-?"

• It means "last" or "after"

• It means "infinite" or "everlasting"

• It means "first" or "before"

• It means "large" or "huge"

When would the Sun be expected to have the LARGEST mass?

• at the end of the red giant stage

• at the beginning of the red giant stage

• at the end of the main sequence stage D

• at the beginning of the main sequence stage

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

What is the final stage of a low mass star?

• White Dwarf

• Black Hole

• Red Giant

• Neutron Star

In a low-medium mass star, at the end of the red giant stage, the red giant's atmosphere expands outward to create a...

• White Dwarf

• Planetary Nebula

• Supernova

• Neutron Star

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

Which stage of life is the sun currently in?

• White Dwarf

• Planetary Nebula

• Main Sequence

• Red Giant

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

A stellar nebula will eventually condense into a hot ball of mostly hydrogen called a __________. At this point, nuclear fusion has not yet started but it will soon.

• Protostar

• White Dwarf

• Brown Dwarf

• Main Sequence

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

In a low-medium mass star, after the end of the red giant phase, a hot inner core of the star is left over. This core is a called a __________. There is no longer nuclear fusion happening at this stage.

• White Dwarf

• Planetary Nebula

• Supernova

• Neutron Star

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3