Ch17 Star Stuff

Star Mass

Total matter in a star, influencing its life cycle.

Core Temperature

Temperature at a star's center, affecting fusion rates.

Core Pressure

Pressure at a star's center, supporting fusion.

Nuclear Fusion

Process of combining atomic nuclei to release energy.

Luminosity

Total power radiated by a star.

Coulomb Barrier

Energy barrier for nuclear fusion due to electrostatic forces.

Lifespan

Duration of a star's active fusion life.

Mass-Luminosity Relationship

Correlation between a star's mass and its luminosity.

Main-Sequence Life

The phase in which a star fuses hydrogen into helium in its core.

Gravitational Equilibrium

A state where the inward gravitational force is balanced by the outward pressure from nuclear fusion in a star's core.

Energy Transport Mechanisms

Processes by which energy produced in a star's core is transported to its surface.

Red Giant

A late stage in a star's life cycle characterized by the expansion of its outer layers and increased luminosity.

Helium Fusion

The process that occurs when the core temperature of a star reaches approximately 100 million K.

Helium Flash

A rapid onset of helium fusion in the core of a star.

Planetary Nebula

A shell of gas ejected from a star during its late stages.

White Dwarf

The remnant core of a low-mass star that remains after the outer layers have been expelled.

Supernova

A powerful explosion that occurs at the end of a high-mass star's life cycle.

Iron Accumulation

The process that occurs when a star's core becomes too heavy with iron.

Neutron Star

A dense stellar remnant composed primarily of neutrons, formed from the collapse of a high-mass star's core.

The CNO Cycle

A process of hydrogen fusion in high-mass stars that uses carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen as catalysts.

Mass Exchange

The transfer of mass from one star to another in a binary system, altering their evolutionary paths.