Year 10 Earth and Space Science Study Cards

A set of vocabulary flashcards detailing the lifecycle of stars, stellar processes, and astronomical measurements based on Year 10 Earth and Space Science curriculum.

Star Mass

The factor that mainly determines the life cycle path of a star.

Nebula

A cloud of gas and dust in space.

Hydrogen and Helium

The two gases that most stars are primarily composed of.

Protostar

The early stage of star formation where a cloud of gas and dust collapses under its own gravity before nuclear fusion begins.

Main Sequence

The stage of development where a star spends the majority of its life.

Nuclear Fusion

The main process that produces energy in a main sequence star.

Red Giant

The stage a low- or medium-mass star enters after the main sequence stage.

Planetary Nebula

A shell of gas ejected by a low- or medium-mass star at the end of its red giant phase.

White Dwarf

The small, dense, cooling core left behind after a low- or medium-mass star has shed its outer layers.

Supergiant

A high-mass star that can eventually undergo a supernova explosion.

Supernova

The powerful and massive explosion of a high-mass star.

Neutron Star and Black Hole

The two possible final stages that can form after a massive star explodes in a supernova.

Black Hole

An object with gravitational pull so strong that not even light can escape.

Apparent vs. Absolute Magnitude

Apparent magnitude measures star brightness as seen from Earth, while absolute magnitude measures actual brightness from a standard distance.

Light-year

A unit of distance used in space because celestial distances are too immense for standard units like kilometers.