Untitled Flashcards Set

Know the structure of the Sun (in order from innermost to outermost):

→ Core

→ Radiative Zone

→ Convective Zone

→ Photosphere

→ Chromosphere

→ Corona

• The Sun produces energy through nuclear fusion in its core.

• Fusion in the Sun combines hydrogen atoms to form helium, releasing energy.

• Be able to identify and describe solar activity:

□ Sunspots – cooler, darker areas caused by magnetic fields

□ Solar Flares – sudden bursts of energy

□ Prominences – loops of gas extending from the surface

□ Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) – massive blasts of solar particles

□ Solar Wind – stream of charged particles that can affect Earth

✨ Properties of Stars

• Understand how we classify stars: □ Size – varies from dwarfs to supergiant’s

□ Temperature – determined by color

□ Color – blue (hottest) → white → yellow → orange → red (coolest)

□ Luminosity (brightness) – how much energy a star emits

• Know the spectral classification:

O – B – A – F – G – K – M

(O = hottest/blue, M = coolest/red)

🌌 H-R Diagram (Hertzsprung–Russell Diagram)

• X-axis: Temperature (hot to cool → left to right)

• Y-axis: Luminosity (dim to bright → bottom to top)

• Be able to identify where these appear: □ Main Sequence – diagonal band (where most

stars are)

□ Red Giants – top right

□ Supergiants – top center

□ White Dwarfs – bottom left

Low-Mass Star Life Cycle:

Nebula → Main Sequence → Red Giant → White Dwarf

• High-Mass Star Life Cycle:

Nebula → Main Sequence → Red Supergiant → Supernova → Neutron Star or Black Hole

• Know what a supernova is and what forms after it.

• Black holes form only from the most massive stars.

• White dwarfs and neutron stars are stellar remnants (leftover cores).

🔬 Tools & Spectroscopy

• Spectroscope:

□ Analyzes starlight to determine a star’s composition and temperature

□ Produces spectra with dark lines (absorption lines) that show which elements are

present

• Telescope: Views and magnifies celestial objects

• Light Curve: Graphs changes in a star’s brightness

• H-R Diagram: Compares temperature and brightness of stars

🧪 Star Fusion Lab

• Understand how your lab modeled fusion (two particles colliding to form a new one).

• Fusion provides outward pressure to balance the force of gravity.

• This balance is what keeps stars stable during most of their life.