What begins at the moment a star is born?A cloud of dust expands exponentiallyGas collects in space A cloud of dust collapsesNuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium
Question
What begins at the moment a star is born?A cloud of dust expands exponentiallyGas collects in space A cloud of dust collapsesNuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium
Solution
The process that begins at the moment a star is born is the nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium. Here's a step-by-step breakdown:
-
A cloud of dust and gas, also known as a nebula, collapses under its own gravity. This is often triggered by the shockwave from a nearby supernova or the pull of a nearby star.
-
As the cloud collapses, it begins to spin and form a flattened disk. The center of this disk, where most of the mass collects, becomes the protostar.
-
The protostar continues to gather mass from the surrounding disk. As it does so, the pressure and temperature at its core increase.
-
Once the core temperature reaches about 10 million degrees Kelvin, nuclear fusion begins. This is the process where hydrogen atoms combine to form helium, releasing a tremendous amount of energy in the process.
-
This energy pushes outward, counteracting the inward pull of gravity. When these two forces balance, the protostar becomes a main sequence star and begins its life in earnest. This is the point at which a star is considered to be 'born'.
Similar Questions
First Stage: The star starts out as diffused clouds of gas and dust drifting through space. One of these clouds is called a ...*1 pointPlanetary nebulaMolecular cloudProtostarAccretion DisSupernovaStar
Stars are formed from large clouds of matter that include gas and dust. The clouds has a low density and includes elements such as hydrogen and helium, which have few protons and neutrons in their nuclei. Over a long period of time, the matter is pulled together by gravitational forces. Eventually, the matter collapses into ball and a star is born.What does this information provide evidence for? A. It provides evidence that galaxies are formed from clusters of stars pulled together by gravitational forces. B. It provides evidence that the elements in the universe are created by reactions that occur within stars. C. It provides evidence that there was once a period of rapid expansion in the universe when matter was spread far apart. D. It provides evidence that stars of all sizes go through the same distinct phases of change over similar amounts of time.
What is a planetary nebula?Group of answer choicesthe expanding shell of gas that is left when a white dwarf explodes as a supernovathe cloud of gas and dust from which protostars formthe expanding shell of gas that is blown off by a star when it becomes a white dwarfa disk of gas surrounding a protostar that may form
A shockwave passes by and the force of gravity starts to bring the gas and dust inwards; it begins to circle and forms a(n) _______.*1 pointPlanetary NebulaMolecular CloudProtostarAccretion DiscSupernovaStarSecond Stage: At the center of the swirling gas and dust, heat and pressure build up inside of the _______. Scientists find this stage using infrared telescopes. *1 pointPlanetary NebulaMolecular CloudProtostarAccretion DiscSupernovaStar
Select the statement that is trueGroup of answer choicesAs the star exhausts its hydrogen, it begins lithium burning to fuse heavier nuclei to form increasingly larger atomsA gamma ray has energy, mass and chargeIn star formation, clouds of atomic hydrogen are pulled together by electrostatic attractionsAll atoms are generated from the simplest nuclide, hydrogen, by nuclear reactions
Upgrade your grade with Knowee
Get personalized homework help. Review tough concepts in more detail, or go deeper into your topic by exploring other relevant questions.