Big Bang Theory
What is the big bang theory?
The most widely accepted explanation for how the universe began.
Where do stars come from?
Star-forming nebulae
What is the Sun mostly made of?
About 75% hydrogen and 24% helium
What is electromagnetic radiation?
Energy that travels in waves produced by the Sun
What does the H-R Diagram show?
It classifies stars by temperature and brightness (luminosity)
About 13.8 billion years ago
What is a protostar?
"Baby star", early stage in a stars life
What happens in the Sun’s core?
Nuclear fusion happens; it is the hottest part
Name the visible spectrum colors.
Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet
What is the Main Sequence on the H-R Diagram?
The stable phase where stars fuse hydrogen into helium; most stars lie here.
What is the Cosmic Microwave Background?
The oldest light we can detect, strong evidence for the Big Bang.
What happens in the stars core in the main sequence phase? Explain.
Nuclear fusion, stars fuse hydrogen into helium
Where is the visible surface of the Sun?
The photosphere
Which EM waves have the highest energy?
Gamma rays
What are white dwarfs?
Small stars left after medium-sized stars die.
Name one of the fundamental forces that formed during the big bang?
Gravity, electromagnetic, strong and weak nuclear
Describe the Red Giant phase.
A star expands and cools after using up its hydrogen fuel
What causes sunspots?
Cooler, darker regions caused by magnetic fields.
What EM radiation have a low frequency and a low wavelength?
Radio, microwave, infrared
What elements are formed inside massive stars?
hydrogen up to iron
What elements were mostly created during Big Bang nucleosynthesis? (The first elements formed)
Hydrogen and Helium
What happens when a massive star dies?
It explodes as a supernova, forming neutron stars or black holes
What is the solar wind and its effect on Earth?
Space weather, a stream of solar flares that release from the sun that impact earth b
Why is UV radiation dangerous?
High wavelength, can cause sunburns and damage cells
What elements form during supernova nucleosynthesis?
Elements heavier than iron, like gold and uranium