Stars

How Stars work They make light and heat energy through a nuclear reaction called Fusion. They make light and heat energy through a nuclear reaction called Fusion.

How Fusion Works

The Sun’s Energy Every second, the sun turns 600 Billion Kg of Hydrogen into Billion Kg of Helium. Every second, the sun turns 600 Billion Kg of Hydrogen into Billion Kg of Helium. Where does the extra 4.2 Billion Kg of Hydrogen go? Where does the extra 4.2 Billion Kg of Hydrogen go? Into EnergyE=MC 2 Into EnergyE=MC 2

Stars are Made of: Mostly: Mostly: Hydrogen Hydrogen Helium Helium

As Stars Age Helium turns into Lithium Helium turns into Lithium Lithium turns into Nitrogen. Lithium turns into Nitrogen. Once Iron forms, a star is near death. Once Iron forms, a star is near death.

Not all the same Temperature Hottest=Blue50,000 K Hottest=Blue50,000 K Very Hot=White10,000 K Very Hot=White10,000 K Medium=Yellow6,000 K Medium=Yellow6,000 K Lower temp=Orange4,000 K Lower temp=Orange4,000 K Low Temp.=Red3,000 K Low Temp.=Red3,000 K

Orange White Yellow Red Giants White dwarfs (temperature)

Stars Origin Stars are born from gas clouds called Nebula Stars are born from gas clouds called Nebula

Constellations The Greeks first grouped stars and named them after their gods. We still use these names today.

Magnitude You tell how bright a star is by it’s magnitude You tell how bright a star is by it’s magnitude Negative numbers are brighter than positive numbers. Negative numbers are brighter than positive numbers.

Different Stars (4 types) 1. Small Star: (Red Dwarf, Small Orange) 1. Small Star: (Red Dwarf, Small Orange) Will last a very long time but eventually just go out. Will last a very long time but eventually just go out.

Different Stars (4 types) 2. Our Sun, medium star. 2. Our Sun, medium star. Our sun will become  Red Giant  White Dwarf Our sun will become  Red Giant  White Dwarf Should last another 3.5 to 5 billion years. Should last another 3.5 to 5 billion years.

Different Stars (4 types) 3. White Star. Medium/Large star 3. White Star. Medium/Large star Will “Nova” and then become a Neutron Star. Will “Nova” and then become a Neutron Star. A neutron star is so dense that a thimble full would weigh 2,000,000,000 pounds. A neutron star is so dense that a thimble full would weigh 2,000,000,000 pounds.

Different Stars (4 types) Blue Giant. 30 times (or more) the mass of our sun. It will SUPERNOVA and become a “black hole”. Blue Giant. 30 times (or more) the mass of our sun. It will SUPERNOVA and become a “black hole”.

Supernova Supernovas make the heavier elements necessary for life. Elements heavier than Iron (26) can only be made in Supernovas. Supernovas make the heavier elements necessary for life. Elements heavier than Iron (26) can only be made in Supernovas.

How do we know these things? We use particle accelerators here on earth to mimic what happens in the VERY HOT cores of stars. We use particle accelerators here on earth to mimic what happens in the VERY HOT cores of stars.particle

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