Unit 6 Nuclear Physics and Stellar Evolution Study Guide

This flashcard set covers the key vocabulary from the Unit 6 Study Guide, including radioactive particles, nuclear fission, stellar life cycles, Wien's Law, and exoplanet detection methods.

Alpha Particle

$${}^{4}_{2}\text{He}$$

Beta- Particle

$${}_{-1}^{0}\text{e}$$

Beta+ Particle

$${}_{+1}^{0}\text{e}$$

Gamma Ray

$$\gamma$$

Nuclear Fission

The process where a neutron hits a nucleus and it splits into smaller nuclei and more neutrons.

Chain Reaction

The process where additional neutrons from fission hit other nuclei and cause more fission events.

Low Mass Star Life Cycle

Stellar nebula $\rightarrow$ main sequence $\rightarrow$ Red giant $\rightarrow$ planetary nebula $\rightarrow$ white dwarf.

Large Mass Star Life Cycle

Stellar nebula $\rightarrow$ large star $\rightarrow$ red supergiant $\rightarrow$ Supernova $\rightarrow$ neutron star.

Massive Star Life Cycle

Stellar nebula $\rightarrow$ large star $\rightarrow$ red supergiant $\rightarrow$ Supernova $\rightarrow$ black hole.

Main Sequence Initiation

Caused when gravitational attraction pulls atoms into a clump, increasing pressure and temperature until fusion can occur.

Red Giant Formation

Occurs when the core runs out of hydrogen and collapses, causing helium to fuse into larger elements and temperature to increase.

Supernova Transition

Occurs when the force of gravity is greater than the outward pressure of fusion, causing the star to collapse.

Black Hole Formation

Results when a star collapses and the gravitational pull is too great, pulling everything in.

Wien's Law

A law stating the temperature of a star is related to the color/wavelength, calculated as $\lambda = \frac{0.0029\,\text{m}\cdot\text{K}}{T}$.

Redshift

The shift of absorption bands toward the red end of the spectrum, indicating that distant galaxies are moving away from us.

Transit Method

An exoplanet detection method where a planet passes in front of its star and the brightness dims.

Wobble Method

An exoplanet detection method that measures velocity as wavelengths wobble when an object moves closer and farther away.

Direct Imaging

An exoplanet detection method involving blocking light from a sun to take an image of the light reflected by a planet.

Gravitational Microlensing

An exoplanet detection method where a planet's gravity pulls enough space to deflect the light from a star as it moves in front.

HR Diagram

A tool used to organize stars by their temperature versus their luminosity.