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Stars

TermDefinition
Nuclear Fusion A nuclear reaction where two or more lighter atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a huge amount of energy. This process is what powers stars, primarily by turning hydrogen into helium in their cores.
Star A massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by its own gravity. It generates intense heat and light through nuclear fusion in its core. Our Sun is a star.
Gravity The fundamental force of attraction that exists between all objects with mass. For stars, gravity is the force that pulls the stellar material inward, compressing the core until nuclear fusion begins
H-R Diagram A scatter plot of stars showing the relationship between a star's luminosity (or absolute magnitude) and its surface temperature (or spectral type). It is a fundamental tool for understanding the evolution and characteristics of stars
Nebula A giant cloud of gas (mostly hydrogen and helium) and dust in space. Nebulae are often regions where new stars are forming (stellar nurseries)
Luminosity The total amount of energy (light and other electromagnetic radiation) a star emits per unit of time (its true brightness). It is an intrinsic property of the star, independent of its distance from Earth.
Hydrogen The most abundant and lightest element in the universe. It is the primary fuel for nuclear fusion in main sequence stars
Mass A measure of the total amount of matter in an object. A star's mass is the most crucial factor determining its life span, temperature, luminosity, and ultimate fate.
Main sequence The longest stage of a star's life, where it is fusing hydrogen into helium in its core. Stars spend about 90% of their existence on the main sequence. Our Sun is a main sequence star.
Supernova A powerful and luminous stellar explosion. It is the dramatic, final stage in the life cycle of a massive star. Supernovae disperse heavy elements into space.
Created by: vsimonetti
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