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Astronomy Test 2
Lifecycle of a Star
47
Astronomy
8th Grade
12/14/2005

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Term
What do you call a cloud of dust and gas in space?
Definition
A nebula.
Term
What do you call a nebula that has staryted to glow?
Definition
A protostar.
Term
What is the name for athe adult from of a star?
Definition
Main sequence star.
Term
How does a main sequence star produce energy?
Definition
Through thermonuclear fusion of hydrogen. (Fusing four hydrogen nuclei together to form a helium nucleus)
Term
What is thermonuclear fusion of hydrogen?
Definition
When two hydrogen nuclei are fused together with heat to create one helium nucleus.
Term
What type of star is our sun?
Definition
A yellow main sequence star.
Term
Approximately how long will a main sequence star like our sun "burn" hydrogen before it runs out of fuel?
Definition
10 billion years.
Term
Which color stars are the hottest?
Definition
blue/white/purple -ish stars
Term
Which color of stars are the coolest?
Definition
red/orange/yellow -ish stars
Term
What is the estimated surface temperature of a blue/white stars?
Definition
100,000 degrees Celcius
Term
What is the estimated surface temperature of a red star?
Definition
1,000 degrees Celcius
Term
Which type of star would be brighter; a yellow one or a red one?
Definition
Yellow; it is closer to the white end of the spectrum than red. (In order from coolest to hotest: Black, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet, White)
Term
What is the relationship between a star's mass and its surface temperature?
Definition
The greater the temperature, the greater the mass.
Term
Which type of star gets its energy through thermonuclear fusion of Helium?
Definition
A red giant.
Term
What will happen to our solar system when our sun turns into a red giant?
Definition
It will get pushed out of the way and crushed by the growing sun.
Term
What is a white dwarf?
Definition
A star five times as big as our sun after is goes through the supernova stage.
Term
How much would one teaspoon of white dwarf material weigh?
Definition
1 ton.
Term
Approximately how big is a white dwarf?
Definition
1-2 miles across.
Term
What is a black dwarf?
Definition
A star five times bigger than our sun after it has gone through its supernova and white dwarf phases.
Term
Why is a black dwarf black?
Definition
Because it doesn't emit light.
Term
What are the stages that a star like our sun will go through in its life?
Definition
Nebula, Protostar, Main Sequence Star, Red Giant, White Dwarf, Black Dwarf.
Term
What is a supernova?
Definition
The explosion of a star due to the collapse of gravity.
Term
What types of stars will experience a supernova?
Definition
Stars larger than our sun.
Term
Will our sun ever experience a supernova?
Definition
NO! It's too small.
Term
What is a neutron star?
Definition
A star that appears to flash.
Term
How much would a teaspoonfull of neutron star material weigh?
Definition
forty tons.
Term
What types of stars might end up as a neutron star?
Definition
2X bigger than our sun
Term
What does a neutron star look like?
Definition
It appears to flash. This is because it is spinning, and the light escapes only at the poles, and so we see the ples in rapid succession, so it looks like it's flashing.
Term
How big is a neutron star?
Definition
1-2 miles in diameter.
Term
Will our sun ever become a neutron star?
Definition
No. There's no supernova with our sun, so it can't become a neutron star.
Term
What is a black hole?
Definition
A star that sucks things in at the speed of light, then they can't escape, since they can't go faster than the speed of light at which they're being sucked in.
Term
What stars might end up as a black hole?
Definition
Stars five times larger (or more) than the sun.
Term
Why is a black hole black?
Definition
The light cannot escape anywhere.
Term
Why won't our sun ever end up as a black hole?
Definition
Our sun will never have a supernova, so it cannot go in the direction of a black hole.
Term
Which type of star has the strongest gravity?
Definition
A black hole.
Term
What star has the second most gravity?
Definition
A neutron star.
Term
What is a pulsar?
Definition
A star that appears to flash. Also called a neutron star.
Term
Why does a pulsar appear to flash on and off?
Definition
The light can only escape at the poles, and it is rotating, so you see the light every time one of the poles is angled in your direction.
Term
Does a pulsar ACTUALLY flash on and off?
Definition
NO!
Term
Why did Fritz Zwicky and Walter Baade do?
Definition
They proposed (and never proved) the idea that neutron stars could exist.
Term
What did Jocelyn Bell do?
Definition
Proved Fritz and Walter's theory true.
Term
What is a quazar?
Definition
We don't know.
Term
What does "Quazar" stand for?
Definition
Quazi-Stellar radio source.
Term
What is a radio telescope, and what does it do?
Definition
A telescope that picks up sounds from space, and it does it by *********
Term
How are a Nova and a Supernova the same?

Different?
Definition
They are both explosive.

Nova doesn't destroy a star, Supernova does.

ex) Nova=throwing paper on a fire makes it bright, then it dimms down.
Supernova= pouring gasoline on a fire: it makes it explode(-ish) and then go out.
Term
List the stages of a 2X sun.
Definition
Nebula, Protostar, Main Sequence Star, Red Giant, Supernova, Neutron Star/Pulsar
Term
List the stages of a 5X sun.
Definition
Nebula, Protostar, Main-sequence star, Red giant, Supernova, Black hole
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