Lecture on Stars and Their Life Cycle

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to the life cycle of stars and their characteristics.

Nebula

A huge cloud of dust and gas in space where stars begin their formation.

Fusion

The process of combining atomic nuclei to form heavier nuclei, releasing energy, and powering stars.

Main Sequence Star

A stable star that is fusing hydrogen into helium in its core.

Red Giant

A stage in a star's life cycle where it expands and cools after exhausting its hydrogen fuel.

White Dwarf

The dense core left after a star like the sun has shed its outer layers.

Neutron Star

An extremely dense remnant of a supernova, primarily consisting of neutrons.

Supernova

A massive explosion resulting from the collapse of a supergiant star, leading to the ejection of outer layers.

Black Hole

A region of space with a gravitational pull so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from it.

HR Diagram

A graphical tool that classifies stars based on their absolute magnitude and temperature.

Galaxies

Systems of millions or billions of stars, along with gas and dust, held together by gravity.