8.PS1.2 The Stars Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and student-friendly definitions regarding stars, their properties, and their life cycles from lesson 8.PS1.2.

star

huge ball of hot gas that gives off light and heat

Sun

the star closest to Earth

brightness

how much light something gives off or appears to give off

apparent brightness

how bright a star looks from Earth

absolute brightness

how bright a star actually is

color

visible light that can show star temperature

temperature

how hot or cold something is

spectrum

spread of light into colors or wavelengths

hydrogen

main fuel for many stars

helium

element made in stars from hydrogen fusion

nuclear fusion

process where small atoms combine and release energy

life cycle

stages something goes through during its existence

nebula

cloud of gas and dust where stars can form

main sequence

long stable stage of a star’s life

red giant

large cooler star stage

white dwarf

small dense leftover star core

supernova

huge explosion of a massive star

neutron star

very dense leftover from some exploded stars

black hole

object with gravity so strong light cannot escape

H-R diagram

graph used to classify stars