The Life Cycle of a Star

The Life Cycle of a Star
paly

From the birthplace in a nebula to the main sequence stage, stars go through various stages in their lifespan. Learn about protostars, main sequence stars and their energy release in this article.

  • Uploaded on | 1 Views
  • gracee gracee

About The Life Cycle of a Star

PowerPoint presentation about 'The Life Cycle of a Star'. This presentation describes the topic on From the birthplace in a nebula to the main sequence stage, stars go through various stages in their lifespan. Learn about protostars, main sequence stars and their energy release in this article.. The key topics included in this slideshow are Nebula, Protostar, Main Sequence Star, Energy Release, Lifespan,. Download this presentation absolutely free.

Presentation Transcript


3. Nebula: Large amounts of gas and dust spread out in an immense volume Considered to be the birthplace as stars begin here

4. Protostar: A star is born when the contracting gas and dust become so hot that nuclear fusion starts The protostar forms in the nebula Enormous amounts of energy are released

5. Main Sequence Star Lifespan can last anywheree between 80 billion 100 billion years 90% of a stars life will be in this stage Vary in mass Usually medium sized stars Nuclear fusion----turns hydrogen into helium Radiate (shine) energy into space Examples: Sirius, Alpha Centauri A and B OUR SUN!!!

6. Red Giant/Super Red Giants: Formed when the stars hydrogen fuel begins to run out Made up mostly of helium, shrinks and then releases energy as it collapses All of its energy and the remaining nuclear reactions causes the outer layers of the star to expand far out into space (swelling the star to many times it original size) As the outer layer expands, the light becomes red

7. White Dwarf (this is the next phase of the red giant) The outer layer of the red giant explodes out into space leaving the white core behind About the size of Earth but has the mass of the sun (much denser than Earth) Has no energy, But glows faintly from left over heat.

8. Black Dwarf When a white dwarf stops glowing it becomes a black dwarf Last stage in a stars life The star is dead

9. Supernova (happens to super red giants) A super red giant suddenly explodes and forms a supernova Dust and particles are blown out into space and this can lead back to forming a nebula A supernova can then go in one of two ways: neutron star or black hole

10. Neutron Star Material left behind after the supernova explodes forms a neutron star Small and more dense than white dwarfs About the size of a large or a small city on Earth.

11. Black Hole The most massive stars become blackholes Gravity is so strong that gas is pulled inward Nothing can escape, not even light