The Life Cycle of a star

The Life Cycle of a star

1. Protostar

   • Main sequence star
     • Red SUPER giant
       • Supernova
         • Neutron Star
           • EXPLODING supernova THROWS OUTER LAYERS OF DUST + GAS into space
             • VERY DENSE CORE IS LEFT
         • Black Hole
           • If the star is big enough, IT WILL THEN BECOME A BLACK HOLE
         • The above EXPLODES to form a supernova
         • Elements HEAVIER THAN IRON are made
           • They are ejected into the universe to form new stars/ planets
       • Stars BIGGER than our sun
       • It's red because THE SURFACE COOLS
       • UNDERGOES MORE FUSION, STAR EXPANDS AND CONTRACTS MANY TIMES
         • STARTS TO GLOW BRIGHTLY AGAIN
       • Elements AS HEAVY as iron are formed
     • Red giant
       • The fuel for the main sequence star (HYDROGEN) RUNS OUT
         • Elements SUCH AS IRON are made by NUCLEAR FUSION OF HELIUM
       • Planetary Nebula
         • White Dwarf
           • The left over is a dense, solid core
           • Black Dwarf
             • The WHITE DWARF COOLS
             • This will eventually DISAPPEAR
         • Red giant BECOMES UNSTABLE and EJECTS OUTER LAYER
     • GRAVITATIONAL ENERGY BECOMES HEAT ENERGY
       • THIS CAUSES TEMPERATURE RISE
     • HYDROGEN undergo NUCLEAR FUSION to form HELIUM
       • They give out HEAT and LIGHT
     • The star enters stable period, GRAVITATIONAL FORCES = OUTWARD PRESSURE
     • THE STAR CAN STAY LIKE THIS FOR BILLIONS OF YEARS
   • Starts as clouds of dust and gas
   • FORCE OF GRAVITY makes the gas and dust spiral together