Star Characteristics
This star has a mass of 1 solar mass and a yellow color.
What is the Sun?
This type of star lies along the diagonal band on the H-R diagram.
What is a main sequence star?
The main factor that determines a star’s life cycle.
What is mass?
The main source of energy in stars.
What is nuclear fusion?
These two elements are found in almost all stars.
What are hydrogen and helium?
This star is the largest in diameter in Table 1.
What is Betelgeuse?
Stars in this region are very large and very bright.
What are supergiants?
Stars like the Sun will eventually become this after the red giant stage.
What is a white dwarf?
The force that pulls matter inward in a star.
What is gravity?
This element is formed in main sequence stars like the Sun.
What is helium?
This star has the lowest temperature and appears red.
What is Proxima Centauri?
These stars are hot but dim and found in the lower left of the H-R diagram.
What are white dwarfs?
Massive stars can end their lives in this explosive event.
What is a supernova?
The outward force caused by fusion that balances gravity.
What is pressure from fusion
These heavier elements can be formed in massive stars before supernova.
What is iron?
This measurement describes how bright a star is compared to the Sun.
What is luminosity?
Temperature on the H-R diagram increases in this direction.
What is toward the left?
Stars with similar masses will have this kind of life cycle.
What is a similar life cycle?
When fusion is stronger than gravity, the star does this.
What is expand?
Elements heavier than iron are formed during this event.
What is a supernova?
Betelgeuse has this many times the luminosity of the Sun.
What is 14,000?
Based on the diagram, this star type would Betelgeuse most likely be.
What is a supergiant?
This is why Betelgeuse and Proxima Centauri have different life cycles.
What is because they have very different masses?
High mass stars produce heavier elements because of this.
What is higher temperatures and faster fusion rates?
If a star contains iron, it is likely in this stage of its life cycle.
What is a late stage?