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 refers to the stages a star goes through from its formation to its end, including stages like nebula, main sequence, red giant, and supernova or white dwarf.

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What is a main sequence star?

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A main sequence star is a star that is in the stable phase of its life cycle, where it fuses hydrogen into helium in its core. Our Sun is an example of a main sequence star.

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What happens to a star when it exhausts its hydrogen fuel?

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When a star exhausts its hydrogen fuel, it expands into a red giant or supergiant, depending on its mass.

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What is a red giant?

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A red giant is a late stage in the life cycle of a star, characterized by its large size and reddish color, occurring after the main sequence phase.

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What is a black hole?

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A black hole is an object with a gravitational pull so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from it.

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How does the mass of a star affect its life span?

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Generally, smaller stars have longer life spans than larger stars. Larger stars burn through their fuel more quickly.

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What will happen to our Sun in about 5 billion years?

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In about 5 billion years, our Sun will expand into a red giant and will eventually engulf the inner planets, including Earth.

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What is a supernova?

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A supernova is 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.

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

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A white dwarf is the remnant of a low to medium mass star, while a neutron star is the remnant of a massive star that has undergone a supernova explosion.

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What is the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram?

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The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram is a scatter plot of stars showing the relationship between their absolute magnitudes or luminosities versus their stellar classifications or effective temperatures.