Life Cycle of Stars

What initiates the formation of a star?

• Fusion of hydrogen atoms

• Accumulation of dust and gas in a nebula

• Explosion of a supernova

• Cooling of a white dwarf

• Collision of two neutron stars

During which phase does a star spend the majority of its life?

• Protostar

• Red Giant

• Main Sequence

• White Dwarf

• Supernova

What process powers a main sequence star?

• Fission of heavy elements

• Fusion of hydrogen into helium

• Combustion of carbon

• Fusion of helium into carbon

• Gravitational contraction

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

What is the final stage of a low-mass star like the Sun?

• Black Hole

• Neutron Star

• White Dwarf

• Supernova

• Red Supergiant

What determines whether a star becomes a neutron star or a black hole after a supernova?

• Its temperature

• Its magnetic field

• Its mass

• Its rotation speed

• Its chemical composition

What is a planetary nebula?

• A region where planets form

• The outer layers of a dying low-mass star

• A type of galaxy

• The remnant of a supernova

• A cloud of gas around a planet

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

What causes a red giant to form?

• Fusion of helium into carbon

• Exhaustion of hydrogen in the core

• Increase in surface temperature

• Collapse of the star's core

• Accumulation of interstellar dust

What is the primary difference between the life cycles of high-mass and low-mass stars?

• High-mass stars live longer

• Low-mass stars end as black holes

• High-mass stars undergo supernova explosions

• Low-mass stars become neutron stars

• High-mass stars skip the main sequence phase

What is the primary reason red dwarfs have such long lifespans?

• They have larger masses than other stars

• They burn their fuel at a slower rate

• They are located in isolated regions of space

• They frequently merge with other stars

• They possess stronger magnetic fields

How do red dwarfs differ from stars like the Sun in terms of structure?

• Red dwarfs lack a core

• They have a solid surface

• They are fully convective

• They contain more helium than hydrogen

• They have a larger radius