Supernova largest explosions in space Main Sequence When

Supernova! – largest explosions in space

Main Sequence

When do stars die? • Stars die when the hydrogen being fused at their core is used up. • Outer layers are shed, star expands and cools. Core will fuse larger elements, (helium), until they run out. • One of a few scenarios can happen when stars reach this point…

White Dwarf • One result of the death of a star • Outer layers are shed and pushed into deep space as a nebula, (cloud of dust and particles; remnants of star particles). This will eventually give birth to more stars. • What is left of the core becomes a white dwarf: small, hot ball of compressed matter leftover when red giants lose their outer layers. Made mostly of Carbon. Will eventually lose their heat and become a cold, dark black dwarf. • This is the eventual fate of our own sun.

Super Nova – can happen when a star dies • Lasts a few weeks or months • Large burst of energy erupting out of a star when it collapses – only with stars above a certain size. • Emits more energy than the Sun will in its entire lifespan • Last observed supernova in our galaxy was in 1604, Magnitude -2. 25. We are overdue for another one.

There are two known ways that Supernovas can occur:

1. Binary Star Systems • Two stars are orbiting the same point • One is a white dwarf • The white dwarf “steals” matter from the other star • When it accumulates too much matter, it explodes as a supernova

Binary star system

2. Single Star • Super Giant Star collapses when it runs out of hydrogen • Mass falling into center of star causes Supernova explosion • Sun does not have enough mass to cause a supernova

Diagram the Life of a Star Create a model or diagram to show the life of a star: its birth, main sequence, and death. You must choose one of the possible paths of a stars’ life, (specifically how it will die), and show it in your diagram. Your model must include each of the following, describing scientifically how each occurred: Birth of the Star Main Sequence Death of the Star As long as you include these elements and describe how each occurs, however, you can make your model/diagram/etc. as creative as you like. You can: Draw a diagram/model using big paper Make a drawing or visual image of the process, (labelling/explaining it!) Write a story of the stars’ life Any other creative idea you can think of, as long as it can describe how each process above occurs.