Stellar Evolution Vocabulary

What is a protostar?

• A star that has died

• A smaller than average star

• A big, blue star that is on the main sequence of the HR diagram

• A contracting mass of gas which represents an early stage in the formation of a star

What is a nebula?

• It is what a medium mass star will eventually become

• A cloud of gas and dust in outer space

• It is what is at the center of a black hole

What is a red giant?

• It is what happens when a star begins fusing helium into carbon.

• It is a star on the main sequence of the HR diagram.

• It is a star that has died and is no longer fusing any material.

What is fusion?

• It is the measure of brightness of a star.

• The process of merging atoms together to create energy.

• It is the process of analyzing stars for what atoms they contain.

• It is a description of how massive a star is.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

What is a supernova?

• The measure of brightness of a star.

• Something that only low mass stars can do.

• A star that explodes, creating a great amount of light and energy.

A neutron star is

• The end phase of a massive star.

• A star made up of only protons.

• The type of star you have before it turns into a black hole.

A super giant is

• What happens when a small mass star begins fusing helium to carbon.

• What happens when a really massive star begins fusing helium to carbon.

• A very hot star.

Luminosity is

• The measure of brightness of a star.

• The temperature of a star.

• The mashing of atoms to create heat and light.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-3

A black hole is

• A way to measure the light output of a star.

• The end phase of a medium mass star 1 - 7 solar masses.

• The end phase of a really massive star over 20 solar masses.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

What is a planetary nebula?

• A nebula that creates protostars.

• A nebula that forms after a red giant blows off its outer layers.

• The end stage of a massive star.