Stars
Optical instrument that forms enlarged images
telescope
Energy transferred through space by electromagnetic radiation
electromagnetic radiation
A large cloud of gas and dust where stars form
nebula
This what’s left at the end of a low-mass or medium mass star’s life; the star’s core
white dwarf
When a high-mass star uses up its hydrogen, it swells into this
super red giant
The distance between two corresponding parts of a wave, such as the distance between two crests
wave length
When a medium-mass star uses up all its hydrogen, it swells into this
red giant
After a super red giant expands as far as it can, it explodes; this is the largest explosion known in the universe
super nova
This is how bright a star actually is
absolute brightness
Electromagnetic radiation that can be seen by the unaided eye
visible light
90% of all stars are at this stage where energy is being released by fusion
main sequence stars
This is what may result after a supernova of a high mass star
neutron star
When 2 hydrogen atoms combine, they release this energy
fusion
A contracting cloud of gas and dust with enough mass to form the beginning of a star
proto star
After a medium-mass star swells into a red giant, it sheds the outer gases and forms this cloud-like beauty
planetary nebula
Huge group of stars, star systems, clusters and dust bound by gravity
galaxy
This may result after a supernova of a super massive high-mass star
black hole
Distance light travels in one year; 9.46 trillion kms
light year
All of space and everything in it
universe
This is how bright a star appears from Earth
apparent brightness
How is a star’s life cycle determined (what predicts how long it will live?)
the mass of the star
Why do massive stars have shorter lives than medium mass stars?
List the stages of a high mass stars' life in order from birth to death
nebula, proto star, Main sequence star, super red giant, supernova, neutron star or black hole
List the stages of a medium mass star's life in order from birth to death
nebula, proto star, main sequence star, red giant, planetary nebula, white dwarf
Why won't the sun explode into a supernova at the end of its life?
Not massive enough, a medium mass star and only high mass stars supernova