Stars and their life cycleIB MYP Physics: Flashcards

What these 14 flashcards ask

What is a nebula?
What pulls a nebula together to form a star?
What is a protostar?
What happens in the core of a main-sequence star?
Why is a main-sequence star stable?
What is the order of stages for a star like the Sun?
What is the order of stages for a massive star?
What is a red giant?
What is a white dwarf?
What is a supernova?
What can remain after a supernova?
What is a black hole?
Where are elements up to iron made?
Where are elements heavier than iron made?

Exam questions on Stars and their life cycle

A planetarium presenter in Dubai explains that every star begins life inside a vast cloud of gas and dust called a nebula, and that the Sun is now about halfway through a long, stable period of its life.
Explain why the Sun stays the same size for billions of years.2 marks
Astronomers compare the future of the Sun with that of Betelgeuse, a red supergiant star that is about 15 times more massive than the Sun. They predict very different endings for the two stars.
Compare the end of the Sun's life with the end of Betelgeuse's life.2 marks
Chemists have found that the iron in blood, the calcium in bones and the oxygen we breathe were not present in the early Universe, which contained almost only hydrogen and helium. Astronomers say that we are made of the material of old stars.
Describe how elements heavier than hydrogen and helium are made.3 marks

Written by the Exaim team, led by Shaun Daswani (Head of Upper Secondary, Improve ME Institute; MSc Financial Mathematics, Imperial College London; BSc, UCL) and Jason Daswani (operational lead, Improve ME Institute; LSE).