Vocabulary
Define fusion
What is the smashing together of two light nuclei in order to form heavier elements and energy
An average star named Phillip has become a red giant. Explain the fusion process that Phillip is experiencing?
What is:
1) Hydrogen has begun to run out and has formed a shell around the helium core
2) The star has enough energy and temperature to start fusing helium atoms into carbon and energy
A massive star named Timothy is becoming a red supergiant. Carbon production has slowed down and Helium has become a shell around the core. What will carbon fuse into?
What is oxygen
A star has just been born and it has been named Bob. Explain how Bob is producing radiation pressure.
What is:
1) Hydrogen collide to form helium and energy
2) The energy is carried away by particles
3) These particles collide with matter in the gaseous layer of the star which creates radiation pressure
Name the three axis on the HR Diagram
What is luminosity, surface temperature, and spectral class
Define absorption spectrum
What is a spectrum that shows the wavelengths of light that are absorbed by the star
Explain, in terms of fusion and radiation pressure, what happens to Phillip as it reaches the end of its red giant stage of life?
What is:
1) The core has run out of helium to fuse into carbon and energy and the left over amount forms a shell around the mainly carbon core
2) Radiation pressure is so large that gravity can no longer keep it contained
3) Star explodes
Timothy wants to become the biggest star in the universe. What must he produce in his last fusion process in order for him to be a large red supergiant?
What is iron
Rigel is a very bright and hot star. Generally speaking, where would this star be plotted on the HR Diagram?
What is the top left of the diagram
Define HR Diagram
What is a diagram that shows the evolutionary path of stars
Name the two elements that make up the planetary nebula
What is: hydrogen and helium
Timothy has changed his mind because he's allergic to iron. What element is produced in the core during the the last fusion process?
What is silicon
In order from left to right, list the spectral classes.
What is: O, B, A, F, G, K, and M
Define spectral class
In terms of fusion, explain what happens to a white dwarf
What is:
1) A white dwarf is a star with a mainly carbon core
2) There isn't enough energy or temperature in the core to fuse carbon into a heavier element
3) Fusion has to stop which results in a slow decrease in luminosity and temperature
How many layers of elements surround the core of the most massive red supergiants?
What is eight (Hydrogen, Helium, Oxygen, Neon, Magnesium, Silicon, and Iron)
Why is the temperature scale measured in Kelvin and not Celsius?
What is:
1) Celsius is based on the boiling and freezing points of water
2) Kelvin scale describes the energy of the particles
3) Kelvin accurately describes what we are analyzing/needing to know because there is no water on stars
Define the big idea of fusion
What is: fusion keeps the star hot enough to produce enough energy in order for radiation pressure to continue fighting against the force of gravity
Plot the evolutionary path of an average star on the HR Diagram.
What is:
1) Starts at the right hand end of the main sequence line and goes until the middle of the line
2) Heads toward the red giant area
3) Goes above and around the main sequence line and goes toward white dwarf region
Draw the evolutionary path of a massive star on the HR Diagram
What is:
1) All the way from the bottom right of the main sequence line to the top right
2) Goes from the main sequence line to the re supergiant area
What is Hertzsprung and Russel