StarsStars

The FactsThe Facts

How Stars workHow Stars work

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

How Fusion Works

The Sun’s EnergyThe Sun’s EnergyEvery second, the sun Every second, the sun turns 600 Billion Kg of turns 600 Billion Kg of Hydrogen into 595.8 Billion Hydrogen into 595.8 Billion Kg of Helium.Kg of Helium.

Where does the extra 4.2 Where does the extra 4.2 Billion Kg of Hydrogen go?Billion Kg of Hydrogen go?

Into EnergyInto Energy E=MCE=MC22

Stars are Made of:Stars are Made of:

Mostly:Mostly:HydrogenHydrogenHeliumHelium

As Stars AgeAs Stars AgeHelium turns into Helium turns into LithiumLithium

Lithium turns into Lithium turns into OxygenOxygen

Once Iron forms, a Once Iron forms, a star is near death.star is near death.

Not all the same TemperatureNot all the same Temperature

HottestHottest == BlueBlue 50,000 K50,000 KVery HotVery Hot == WhiteWhite 10,000 K10,000 KMediumMedium == YellowYellow 6,000 K6,000 KLower temp=OrangeLower temp=Orange 4,000 K4,000 KLow Temp.=Low Temp.= RedRed 3,000 K3,000 K

Stars OriginStars OriginStars are born Stars are born from gas clouds from gas clouds called Nebulacalled Nebula

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

MagnitudeMagnitudeYou tell how bright a You tell how bright a star is by it’s magnitudestar is by it’s magnitude

Negative numbers are Negative numbers are brighter than positive brighter than positive numbers.numbers.

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

Different Stars (4 types)Different Stars (4 types)

2. Our Sun, medium 2. Our Sun, medium star. star. Our sun will become Our sun will become Red Giant Red Giant White Dwarf White Dwarf

Should last another 3.5 Should last another 3.5 to 5 billion years.to 5 billion years.

Different Stars (4 types)Different Stars (4 types)

3. White Star. 3. White Star. Medium/Large starMedium/Large starWill “Nova” and then Will “Nova” and then become a Neutron Star.become a Neutron Star.

A neutron star is so dense A neutron star is so dense that a thimble full would that a thimble full would weigh 2,000,000,000 weigh 2,000,000,000 pounds.pounds.

Different Stars (4 types)Different Stars (4 types)

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

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

How do we know these How do we know these things?things?

We use We use particleparticle accelerators here on accelerators here on earth to mimic what earth to mimic what happens in the VERY happens in the VERY HOT cores of stars.HOT cores of stars.

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