Definitions
What is a Nebula?
A large cloud of gas and dust. This is the first stage in the life cycle of a star
The first stage of a star's lifecycle, of gas and dust
Nebula
Which has a longer life-span? A low mass star, or a high mass star?
Low mass star
Which has a shorter life span? A low mass star, or a high mass star?
A high mass star
What element are stars mostly made up of?
Hydrogen
When a red giant star explodes
When a protostar begins the process of nuclear fusion, and gravity pulls even more and gas toward a core, the protostar becomes a
Main sequence star
Why does a low mass or medium mass star have a longer lifespan than a high mass star?
Because it uses up its fuel a lot less quickly
What happens when a supergiant goes BOOM
It supernovas
Explain the process of nuclear fission
The fission of two elements, to create a new element. This process expends an extreme amount of energy and can only occur in stars
What is a protostar?
Gas and dust start to get pulled together by gravity, nuclear fusion starts
When a main sequence star starts to die, it either becomes a ______ or a ________ depending on the star's mass
Red giant or a supergiant
How long does a low mass star exist?
100-200 billion years
When a star starts to burn the last of its fuel and begins to die, the star will turn into a
Supergiant
Is the Sun a high mass star or low mass star?
Neither! It's a medium mass star
What is a black hole?
Exerts such a strong gravitational pull that not even light can escape
A red giant becomes a __________, and a supergiant becomes a _____________
Planetary Nebula and Supernova
When fuel starts to run out and the star begins to die, what does the star turn into?
a red giant
The most massive stars become _________ after a supernova.
Black hole
How much longer until the sun runs out of fuel and begins to die?
5.4 billion years
What is a white dwarf?
A star's core following a planetary nebula
A planetary nebula becomes a __________, followed by a __________.
White dward, black dwarf
A blue-white hot core of a star that a is left behind is called a
White dwarf
A pulsar is a type of ______ that spins rapidly
Neutron star
Why is it said that everything is made out of stardust?
A lot of matter on Earth was created in stars through nuclear fusion or through a supernova