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Stellar Evolution: From Nebula to Black Hole

Stellar evolution begins with the formation of stars from nebulae, where gravitational potential energy converts to kinetic energy, leading to nuclear fusion in proto-stars. As stars exhaust hydrogen, they expand into red giants and eventually contract into white dwarfs, emitting light in different colors. Larger stars undergo supernova events, resulting in neutron stars or black holes.

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Clare Wai
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12 views1 page

Stellar Evolution: From Nebula to Black Hole

Stellar evolution begins with the formation of stars from nebulae, where gravitational potential energy converts to kinetic energy, leading to nuclear fusion in proto-stars. As stars exhaust hydrogen, they expand into red giants and eventually contract into white dwarfs, emitting light in different colors. Larger stars undergo supernova events, resulting in neutron stars or black holes.

Uploaded by

Clare Wai
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Stellar Evolution

Formation of star
1. Stars formed from massive interstellar clouds of dust and gas known as nebulae
2. The GPE of the nebula transfers to KE as it contracts → heat up the central proto-star
3. Nuclear fusion of hydrogen nuclei occurs at about 15 million K → release heat and light
Main sequence star
4. High temperature pushes particles apart to expand gas until forces are balanced → stable
Red Giant
5. Less hydrogen nuclei so fusion reactions stops → gravitational force compresses the star
6. Increase in temperature triggers fusion reaction between helium nuclei → star expands much larger
7. Cools to emit light energy in the red part of spectrum → star changes into red giant
White Dwarf Star
8. Compressive forces increase → star contracts
9. Increase in temperature to emit blue and white light → star changes colour to become a white dwarf

Normal
stars:
Nebulae Main sequence Red giant White Cold black dwarf star
star dwarf
Stars larger than Large red Supernova Neutron Blackhol
sun: super star e

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