Star Birth
what's a star?
a large ball of burning gas in space mostly composed of oxygen and helium
what happens when a star runs out of fuel?
it star dies and either becomes a supernova if it's a supergiant, or a planetary nebula if it's a giant
two examples of what can happen after a supernova
black hole/neutron star
how big are white and black dwarfs?
they're both about the size of Earth
what are stars made out of?
gas and dust
cloud of dust and gas in space
a nebula (first stage of star)
what can escape a black hole?
nothing
what causes a supernova?
when a supergiant star runs out of fuel and explodes
What is a planetary nebula?
A ring-shaped nebula formed by an expanding shell of gas around a old star.
do black holes have gravity?
yes
what chemical is made when hydrogen and atoms combine?
helium
what does a star's mass have to do with its lifespan?
the bigger the mass the shorter the lifespan
what's a black hole?
a dead super giant that has a huge amount of gravity
what is a white dwarf?
a dead red giant that lost its fuel but still looks illuminated to our point of view
what are the hottest to coolest stars in order?
blue, white, yellow, orange, red
what's a star called when it is just starting to form, but hasn't gone through nuclear fusion yet
protostar
what happens to a supergiant star after it dies?
it explodes in a supernova
what's a neutron star?
a neutron star is the dense star that remains after a super giant's death
what is a black dwarf?
a fully dead red giant
what's nuclear fusion?
the process by which atoms combine to form heavier atoms
how is a star formed?
when it becomes dense in one spot, and gravity intensifies in that spot causing it to become larger and denser quicker, then nuclear fusion starts
what star is our sun
a red giant
life cycle for giant stars
nebula, protostar, main sequence, red super giant, super nova, black hole, or neutron star
how long does a giant star’s life last?
10 billion years
does a white dwarf run on fuel
no