Gravity forces gas and dust from a nebula together.
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How do protostars change into main sequence stars?
Gravitational energy is converted into heat energy. When the temperature is high enough hydrogen nuclei undergo nuclear fusion to from helium nuclei, creating a star.
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What happens when the hydrogen in stars runs out?
Heavier elements like iron are made by nuclear fusion of helium. it turns into a red ( super ) giant. It is red because the surface cools.
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What happens to a red giant?
It becomes unstable and turns into a white dwarf, which cools and turns into a black dwarf.
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What happens to a red super giant?
They explode in a supernova and form elements heavier than iron.
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What happens to a neutron star?
The supernova explosion leaves a very dense core called a neutron star. If the star is big enough it will become a black hole.
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What is nuclear fission?
The splitting up go big atomic nuclei.
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For nuclear fission to occur what must happen?
A slow moving neutron must be absorbed into a uranium or plutonium nucleus. This makes the nucleus unstable causing it to split.
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
How do protostars change into main sequence stars?
Back
Gravitational energy is converted into heat energy. When the temperature is high enough hydrogen nuclei undergo nuclear fusion to from helium nuclei, creating a star.
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