Download Stellar Evolution Reading Questions Integrated Science 2 Name

Stellar Evolution Reading Questions
Integrated Science 2
Name:
Date:
Use pages 376 – 383 to answer the following questions about the life stages of a star.
Pd:
1. What process has scientists used in order to study the evolution of a star? (similar to how aliens would study
humans)
2. The birthplaces of stars are dark, cool interstellar ______________. These nebulae are made up of
____________ and gases. For some reason, some nebulae become dense enough to begin to _______________. A
shock wave from an ___________________ of a nearby star may trigger the contraction. Once the process begins,
_________________ squeezes particles in the nebula, pulling every particle toward the _____________. As the
nebula shrinks, gravitational energy is converted to _______________ energy.
3. Most stars go through the same three stages before they die. Describe each stage below. Include how long it
lasts, what the main events are, and what causes it to move to the next stage.
Protostar
Main Sequence
Red Giant/Red Supergiant
(include info about nuclear fusion)
(include info about different star
masses)
4. We know that all stars, regardless of their size, eventually run out of ______________ and collapse due to
_________________.
5. Complete the following table about ways stars of different masses can burn out and die.
Type of Star
Mass Range
What Happens
Low-Mass
Medium-Mass
High-Mass (massive)
What it Becomes
6. Stars produce all the naturally occurring chemical elements beyond _____________________ in the periodic
table. This process that produces chemical elements inside stars is called ______________________________.
7. How do stars create:
a. elements between lithium and iron on the periodic table?
b. elements heavier than iron?
c. rare heavy elements?
8. The _____________ of a star determines the highest atomic number of the elements it can produce. Only the
most _______________ stars produce elements heavier than iron. The sun cannot produce elements heavier than
_________________.
9. Describe the three ways that stars can die in the table below.
White Dwarf
Neutron Star
(_______ and _________ mass
(____________ mass stars)
stars)
Black Hole
(___________ mass stars)
10. Use the figure on page 379 to complete the following sentences.
Low mass stars start as a _____________, collapse to become a _________________, ignite to form a
___________________ star, die and turn into a ___________________, which eventually becomes a
__________________.
Medium mass stars start as a _________________, collapse to become a ________________, ignite to form a
_________________ star, grow to a ___________________, collapse to form a ______________
________________ and a ___________________, and eventually become a ______________________.
Massive stars start as a _________________, collapse to become a ________________, ignite to form a
_________________ star, grow to a ___________________, explode in a ____________________ and become a
________________.
The MOST massive stars will explode in a _________________ to form a _______________________.