Astronomy
Stellar Lives and Endings flashcards
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- What is meant by “Molecular cloud” in this lesson?Star Formation
- A molecular cloud contains relatively cool gas and molecules with conditions supporting some star formation.
- What is meant by “Gravitational collapse” in this lesson?Star Formation
- Collapse occurs when gravity overcomes relevant support in a region.
- What is meant by “Protostar” in this lesson?Star Formation
- A protostar is a contracting young stellar object before stable main-sequence core hydrogen fusion.
- What is meant by “Hydrostatic equilibrium” in this lesson?Star Formation
- Approximate equilibrium balances inward gravity with outward pressure gradients.
- What is meant by “Stellar birth mass” in this lesson?Star Formation
- Birth mass strongly influences a star's later evolution and lifetime.
- What is meant by “Formation environment” in this lesson?Star Formation
- Environment includes gas conditions and interactions shaping star formation.
- What is meant by “Core hydrogen depletion” in this lesson?Sun-Like Stars and White Dwarfs
- Depletion changes energy production when usable core hydrogen is substantially reduced.
- What is meant by “Shell fusion” in this lesson?Sun-Like Stars and White Dwarfs
- Shell fusion occurs in a region around a changed core.
- What is meant by “Red giant stage” in this lesson?Sun-Like Stars and White Dwarfs
- A red giant stage expands a star's outer layers under changing internal conditions.
- What is meant by “Planetary nebula” in this lesson?Sun-Like Stars and White Dwarfs
- A planetary nebula is expelled glowing material from certain evolved stars, unrelated to formation of planets by its name.
- What is meant by “White dwarf” in this lesson?Sun-Like Stars and White Dwarfs
- A white dwarf is a dense remnant supported largely by electron degeneracy pressure.
- What is meant by “White-dwarf cooling” in this lesson?Sun-Like Stars and White Dwarfs
- A white dwarf gradually loses stored thermal energy without ordinary sustained core fusion.
- What is meant by “Advanced stellar fusion” in this lesson?Massive Stars and Stellar Remnants
- Massive stars can undergo additional fusion stages under appropriate interior conditions.
- What is meant by “Core-collapse supernova” in this lesson?Massive Stars and Stellar Remnants
- Core collapse can produce a powerful stellar explosion when support in a massive star's core fails.
- What is meant by “Neutron star” in this lesson?Massive Stars and Stellar Remnants
- A neutron star is a very dense compact remnant dominated by neutron-rich matter.
- What is meant by “Pulsar” in this lesson?Massive Stars and Stellar Remnants
- A pulsar is an observed rotating neutron star whose emission beams produce regular pulses.
- What is meant by “Stellar black hole” in this lesson?Massive Stars and Stellar Remnants
- A stellar black hole can form from collapse of some stars, depending on their properties and history.
- What is meant by “Element production” in this lesson?Massive Stars and Stellar Remnants
- Different stellar and explosive processes contribute to the origins of elements.