IB Physics E5

Luminosity

the total energy emitted by the star every second (also, the emitted power)

Nuclear fusion in stars

a star on the main sequence is fusing hydrogen to produce helium nuclei, proton-proton cycle

proton-proton (p-p) cycle

4 hydrogen nuclei fuse to give one helium atom until no hydrogen remains uncovered) in small mass stars, happens at high temperatures

Hydrostatic equilibrium

the equilibrium between the gravitational attraction between the interior of the star and the outer layers pulling inwards and the thermal and radiation pressure pulling inwards

Basics of stellar evolution

1. a gas cloud comes together, and due to increasing temperature and pressure form a proto-star

2. When the temperature is high enough, the star can start nuclear fusion and moves into the HR diagram as a main sequence star. The larger the mass, the shorter the time the star remains on the main sequence.

3. The star runs out of hydrogen and moves off the main sequence and becomes a red giant with a much greater diameter but a smaller core.

Further evolution of small mass stars

eventually form a planetary nebula, transforming into a white dwarf kept stable by the electron degeneracy pressure

The Hertzsprung-Russell (HR) diagram

the luminosity of the stars (vertical axis) plotted against the temperature (decreasing, horizontal axis)