Star Birth
What do we call a large cloud of gas and dust where stars can form?
A nebula.
What process powers a main sequence star by joining small atomic nuclei?
Nuclear fusion
In which sport do players try to shoot a ball through a hoop?
Basketball
In the massive-star life cycle we studied, what stage follows main sequence?
Red supergiant
Which Disney princess loses a glass slipper?
Cinderella
What force pulls gas and dust together as a star begins to form?
Gravity.
During main sequence, hydrogen fuses to form which element?
Helium
Which sport uses sticks and a puck on ice?
Ice hockey
As a massive star becomes a red supergiant, do its outer layers expand or shrink? What happens to its radius?
supergiant, do its outer layers expand or shrink? What happens to its radius?The outer layers expand, and the radius increases
In Frozen, what is the name of the friendly snowman?
Olaf
As gravity squeezes a forming protostar, does its core get hotter or cooler? Explain.
Hotter.
As the material contracts, it releases energy and heats up.
Where does steady hydrogen fusion happen in a main sequence star: the core or the surface?
The core
where temperature and pressure are high enough for fusion.
Which sport uses the scoring terms “love” and “deuce”?
Tennis
Main sequence ends when the core mostly uses up which fusion fuel?
Hydrogen in the core
In The Lion King, what is the name of Simba’s father?
Mufasa
A student says, “A protostar already has steady hydrogen fusion in its core.” Is the student correct? Explain.
No
The protostar’s core is still heating up. Steady hydrogen fusion marks the start of main sequence.
A star steadily changes hydrogen into helium in its core. Name its stage and the process that releases its energy.
Main sequence is the stage.
Nuclear fusion releases the energy.
In baseball, what do we call a hit that flies over the outfield fence in fair territory?
A home run
During the change to a red supergiant, what happens to the core’s size and temperature? What happens to the outer layers and surface temperature?
The core contracts and gets hotter.
The outer layers expand, and the surface cools.
In Aladdin, what is the name of Aladdin’s monkey?
Abu
Put these stages in order: main sequence, nebula, protostar. Then name the event that starts main sequence.
Nebula, protostar, main sequence.
Main sequence begins when steady hydrogen fusion starts in the core.
Why can a main sequence star stay stable? Explain how gravity and pressure work together.
Gravity pulls inward, and pressure pushes outward.
These forces balance. Energy from fusion helps keep the star hot and supports this balance.
What three activities make up a triathlon?
Swimming, cycling, and running.
Leo says, “A red supergiant is cold everywhere because it is red.” Correct his claim using the surface and the core.
Red means the surface is relatively cooler, but it is still thousands of degrees. The core remains much hotter than the surface.
In Encanto, what is the last name of Mirabel’s family?
Madrigal