Life Cycle of a Star Much Bigger than the Sun
Physics: Edexcel IGCSE, topic 8.2.2
Life Cycle of a Star Much Bigger than the Sun
The life cycle of a star depends on its size. All stars begin their life cycle in the same way. Gravity pulls nebulae together to form a protostar. This protostar turns into a main sequence star. If a star is bigger than the Sun, its lifecycle is:
Red supergiant
- Nuclear fusion changes more and more of the star’s mass into energy.
- The star expands into a red supergiant.
Supernova
- The largest stars explode in a supernova.
- A supernova produces elements heavier than iron and scatters them throughout the universe.
Black hole or neutron star
- The supernova leaves behind either a black hole or a neutron star.
Test yourself on Life Cycle of a Star Much Bigger than the Sun
Which of these is a part of a large star's life cycle?
Life Cycle of a Large Star