![]() Neutron star or black holeĭepending on the mass at the start of its life, a supernova will leave behind either a neutron star or a black hole. SupernovaĪ larger star with more mass will go on making nuclear reactions, getting hotter and expanding until it explodes as a supernova.Īn exploding supernova throws hot gas into space. They make up about 90 of all known stars. In this instance, the star becomes a white dwarf which fades and changes colour as it cools. Main sequence stars (or dwarfs) are stars that are converting hydrogen to helium at their cores. When all the nuclear reactions are over, a small star like the Sun may begin to contract under the pull of gravity. When all the hydrogen has been used up in the fusion process, larger nuclei begin to form and the star may expand to become a red giant. The Sun is at this stable phase in its life. So, if you can determine the main-sequence lifetime of a B6 star, you will have estimated the age of the Pleiades. These B6 stars will be the next to move off, and they are just ending their main-sequence lifetimes. Main sequence starĭuring this stable phase in the life of a star, the force of gravity holding the star together is balanced by higher pressure due to the high temperatures. The most massive stars that are still on the main-sequence are of spectral type B6. The fusion process releases energy, which keeps the core of the star hot. ![]() The temperature of the core must exceed 10 million K for fusion to happen. Its core needs to be hot enough to support fusion. The clouds are drawn together by gravity, forming a protostar. A star is formed when it is hot enough for the hydrogen nuclei to fuse together to make helium. A main sequence star is also born that way. ProtostarĪs the mass falls together it gets hot. Gravity begins to pull the dust and gas together. ![]() NebulaĪ star forms from massive clouds of dust and gas in space, also known as a nebula. Stars that are about the same mass as the Sun follow the left hand path: red giant star → white dwarf star → black dwarf star. Stars that are far greater in mass than the Sun follow the right hand path: red super giant star → supernova → neutron star, or a black hole (depending on size). Following this, stars develop in different ways depending on their size. A cloud of dust and gas, also known as a nebula, becomes a protostar, which goes on to become a main sequence star. far greater than the Sun in size (right hand path)Īll stars begin life in the same way.about the same size as the Sun (left hand path).The diagram shows the life cycles of stars that are: The life cycle for a particular star depends on its size.
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