Characteristics of Stars & Formation of Stars

Front

What is a star?

Back

A large celestial body made of gas that emits light.

Front

What is a protostar?

Back

An early stage in the formation of a star, where gas and dust begin to collapse under gravity.

Front

What causes a main sequence star to form?

Back

The core becomes hot enough for plasma to form, allowing nuclear fusion to begin.

Front

What is apparent motion of stars?

Back

The perceived movement of stars across the sky due to the Earth's rotation.

Front

What does the H-R diagram plot?

Back

Stars based on their luminosity and surface temperature.

Front

What does red-shifted spectrum indicate about a star?

Back

The star is moving away from us.

Front

What is luminosity?

Back

The total amount of energy emitted by a star per second.

Front

What is surface temperature in relation to stars?

Back

The temperature of a star's outer layer, which affects its color and brightness.

Front

What is nuclear fusion?

Back

The process by which two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy.

Front

What is a supernova?

Back

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