Exit Check 8.6: Life Cycle of Stars

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What is the life cycle of a star?

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The life cycle of a star includes stages such as nebula, protostar, main sequence star, red giant, and ultimately, either a white dwarf, neutron star, or black hole, depending on the star's mass.

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What is a nebula?

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A nebula is a giant cloud of dust and gas in space, often the birthplace of stars.

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What triggers the birth of a star?

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A star is born when nuclear fusion starts in its core.

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What happens to a star like our sun after it becomes a red giant?

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After becoming a red giant, our sun will shed its outer layers and form a planetary nebula, leaving behind a white dwarf.

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What is a white dwarf?

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A white dwarf is the remnant core of a star that has exhausted its nuclear fuel and shed its outer layers.

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What is a red giant?

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A red giant is a late stage in a star's life cycle where it expands and cools after exhausting hydrogen in its core.

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What determines a star's life expectancy?

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A star's life expectancy primarily depends on its mass; more massive stars have shorter lifespans.

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What is nuclear fusion?

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Nuclear fusion is the process by which two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy, and is the process that powers stars.

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What is a supernova?

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A supernova is a powerful and luminous explosion that occurs at the end of a star's life cycle, often resulting in the formation of a neutron star or black hole.

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What is a black hole?

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A black hole is a region in space where the gravitational pull is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from it.