Life Cycle of a Star Flashcard

Front

What is the stage called when a star is in the most stable part of its life cycle?

Back

Main Sequence

Front

What is the dense core left behind after a supernova explosion?

Back

Neutron Star

Front

What is the final stage a star can become after an explosion?

Back

A white dwarf or neutron star, depending on the mass of the original star.

Front

What is the ending point of the y-axis in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram?

Back

10^6

Front

What is the stage called when a star expands and cools after using up its hydrogen fuel?

Back

Red Giant

Front

What is the process by which a star generates energy during the Main Sequence phase?

Back

Nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium.

Front

What happens to a star's core when it exhausts its nuclear fuel?

Back

It contracts and heats up, leading to further evolutionary changes.

Front

What is a supernova?

Back

A powerful and luminous explosion that occurs at the end of a star's life cycle.

Front

What is the difference between a white dwarf and a neutron star?

Back

A white dwarf is the remnant of a low to medium mass star, while a neutron star is the remnant of a high mass star.

Front

What is the significance of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram in understanding star evolution?

Back

It plots stars according to their luminosity and temperature, showing the relationship between different stages of stellar evolution.