Download The Lifecycle of Stars

THE LIFECYCLE OF STARS
Bellringer
 What do you think
caused this image?
 How do you think
scientists can use this
picture to investigate
how stars are created?
Supernova 1987A
Nebula
Omega Nebula
Omega Nebula
- Sculpted by stellar winds
and radiation, these
fantastic, undulating shapes
lie within the stellar nursery
known as M17,
- Omega Nebula, some
5,500 light-years away in the
nebula-rich constellation
Sagittarius.
- Colors in the fog of
surrounding hotter material
indicate M17's chemical
make up. The green glow
corresponds to abundant
hydrogen, with trace sulfur
and oxygen atoms
contributing red and blue
hues. The picture spans
about 3 light-years.
Nasa.gov
A Star is Born
Once a star is formed it
enters the longest stage
of it’s life known as the
Main Sequence
During this stage,
energy is created in the
core where Hydrogen
fuses to form Helium.
The size of the star
changes very little as
long as the star has a
constant supply of
Hydrogen atoms to fuse
RED GIANTS
After the main
sequence, a star can
enter the third stage
and become a Red
Giant
A Red Giant is a star
that expands and cools
once it uses all of its
Hydrogen
Red Giants can become
10 or more times bigger
than the Sun
Exploring a Red Giant
 With a partner, locate Betegeuse on
the H-R diagram on pgs 42 and 43 of
the textbook.
 Determine Betelgeuse’s magnitude
and temperature
 How does Betegeuse compare to
other stars? How does it compare to
our sun?
When a Star Dies
White Dwarfs
When a star begins to run out of
hydrogen it may become a White
Dwarf
A White Dwarf has no hydrogen
left and can no longer generate
energy by fusing hydrogen into
helium.
White Dwarf’s can shine for billions
of years before they cool
completely.
When A Star Dies
Supernova
Some massive stars
may explode in a large,
bright display called a
Supernova
Supernova occur when
a massive star collapses
and throws its outer
layers into space.
This explosion is so
powerful that it can be
brighter than an entire
galaxy for several days!!
When a Star Dies
The Black Hole
When a star is so
massive it may contract
and collapse on itself
rather than explode
into a Black Hole
A Black Hole’s gravity is
so great that no light
can escape it.
Black Hole’s are so
powerful that they can
rip light and energy
from nearby stars,
sometimes swallowing
whole stars
Creating A Flow Chart
 You will work with your partner to develop a Flow Chart
to document the stages of a star’s lifecycle.
 Using the paper I provide, you will have to design and
illustrate the various stages, AS WELL AS, provide
information about each stage based on our class
discussions and notes.
 You may be as creative as you like with your illustrations,
but you need to be sure to include all stages and
important information
 Stages: Nebula -> Main Sequence -> Red Giant -> White
Dwarf, Super Nova, Black Hole