The Sun
What is the process that creates energy in the Sun's core?
Nuclear Fusion.
How is a star's color related to its temperature?
A star's color indicates its surface temperature; blue-white stars are the hottest, while red stars are the coolest.
What is the end state of a low-mass star?
A White Dwarf.
How do we order cosmic objects from smallest to largest?
Sun → Solar System → Andromeda Galaxy → Universe.
What does a blue shift indicate about the universe?
It indicates the universe is contracting, if all galaxies showed this.
What do solar flares originate from?
Areas of intense Magnetic Fields found near Sunspots.
Where are blue supergiants found on the H-R Diagram?
In the Top Left, because they are high in Luminosity and high in Temperature.
What happens to heavy elements after a supernova?
They are scattered across the universe.
What is the current state of the universe?
The universe is currently expanding.
What does redshift indicate?
It indicates the universe is expanding, as galaxies are moving apart.
When are solar flares most common?
During the Solar Maximum phase of the sunspot cycle.
What do scientists use to analyze a star's light?
A Spectroscope.
What elements can low-mass stars not form?
Elements heavier than Carbon (C) and Oxygen (O).
What does redshift indicate about distant galaxies?
They are moving away from us.
What does no shift indicate?
It indicates the universe is static, which is not observed.
How does energy leave the Sun?
As Electromagnetic Radiation (EM waves) across the vacuum of space.
What elements can massive stars fuse?
Up to Iron (Fe).
Why does fusion release more energy than chemical reactions?
Fusion changes the atomic nuclei, while chemical reactions involve only outer electrons.
What is the Cosmic Microwave Background?
The faint radiation filling space, interpreted as the leftover heat/energy from the early universe.
Provide an example of redshift observation
Observed in most distant galaxies.
What law must be satisfied during nuclear fusion?
The total amount of Protons and Neutrons must remain the same (law of conservation of mass).
Where did Earth's iron originate?
Inside the cores of Massive stars, scattered by supernova explosions.
What does the 3:1 ratio of H to He indicate?
These light elements formed shortly after the Big Bang.
Why is the observed element ratio significant?
It indicates that these elements formed shortly after the Big Bang.
Explain the significance of a blue shift in nearby galaxies.
It suggests they are moving closer to us, providing insight into local cosmic dynamics.