The Sun
Star Classification
Star Birth
Stellar Evolution
Cosmological Mysteries
100
The sun is what "type" of star according to an H-R diagram?
Main Sequence
100
Describe the relationship between distance and brightness
The closer a star is, the brighter it is
100
Where does "star life" begin
Giant Molecular Cloud
100
After a main sequence star becomes a red-giant, what is the next phase in its life cycle
Planetary Nebula / White Dwarf
100
What keeps a star from collapsing?
Outward energy from fusion
200
What process occurs inside the sun to create energy?
Fusion (Hydrogen)
200
If a star has a large radius, what does that infer about its luminosity?
It is very luminous, regardless of temperature
200
Name ONE type of trigger necessary to begin star formation
Shock Wave Collision of Clouds Ignition of Stars Nearby
200
Contrast the process of fusion between low mass stars and high mass stars
High mass stars fuse materials much faster and will fuse elements that lower mass stars will not
200
If you were to begin falling into a black hole, what would happen?
You would be stretched out (spaghetiification). Time would slow down. You would not escape.
300
What are solar flares & why might they be bad?
Release of energy from the sun. They can disrupt electronics on earth.
300
Most stars are classified as what "type" of star on the H-R diagram?
Main Sequence
300
After a molecular cloud is hit with a trigger, the material (gas/dust) begins to contract due to gravity. What does this rapid contraction initiate?
The entire cloud begins to heat up due to gravity, eventually becoming so hot that fusion begins
300
Asides from main sequence stars like our sun, what is the other common star? Hint: They are about the size of earth
White Dwarfs
300
Describe the density of neutron stars
Extremely dense: size of a city (10km) and the atoms are packed so tight that the electrons fuse with the protons (1 teaspoon would weigh 100 tons)
400
What are sunspots and how often do they change?
Cooler areas of the sun. They change over the course of an 11 year solar cycle.
400
Refer to the H-R diagram. Compare and contrast Betelgeuse & Sirius B with respect to: Radius, Temperature, Luminosity
Betelgeuse is much bigger (R=1000R vs .01R) Betelguese is cooler (T=4000K vs 20000K) Betelguese is more luminous (due to increased size)
400
What is the determining factor during "birth" that will indicate the fate of the star
The star's mass
400
In high mass stars, once the energy from gravity overcomes the weakening outward energy from fusion, what is likely to happen?
Collapse that causes a supernova
400
What is a distinguishing characteristic of a pulsar?
They emit beams of light from their poles They spin very fast (1000x second)
500
What will happen to the Sun in about 5 billion years
It will transition into a red giant, engulfing earth.
500
What is a binary star system & how rare/common are they?
Where two stars orbit each other (common center of mass) They are fairly common
500
What is a protostar doing? (Like practically everything in the universe)
Rotating (Spinning)
500
What is the heaviest element that stars can fuse?
Iron
500
When a star evolves at a different rate as its companion in a binary system, what can often times happen?
The lower mass star will take on mass from the expanding star and then explode in a supernova
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