Find the correct order of a massive star's life cycle.
Red Supergiant
Massive Star
Supernova
Black Hole or Neutron Star
Stellar Nebula
Massive Star
Red Supergiant
Supernova
Neutron Star or Black Hole
Stellar Nebula
To find the correct order of a massive star's life cycle, you need to understand the different stages it goes through. Here is the correct order:
1. Stellar Nebula: The life cycle of a massive star begins in a stellar nebula, which is a large cloud of gas and dust in space.
2. Massive Star: Within the stellar nebula, gravity causes the gas and dust to come together, forming a massive star.
3. Red Supergiant: As the massive star ages, it expands and its temperature decreases. Eventually, it becomes a red supergiant, a massive and luminous star.
4. Supernova: At the end of its life, a red supergiant undergoes a dramatic explosion known as a supernova. The explosion releases an enormous amount of energy and creates various heavy elements.
5. Black Hole or Neutron Star: Depending on the mass of the original star, the core that remains after the supernova can either collapse into a black hole or a neutron star. A black hole forms when the core's mass is incredibly compressed, and its gravity becomes so strong that nothing can escape it, not even light. On the other hand, a neutron star forms when the core's mass is slightly less, and it becomes a dense object composed mainly of neutrons.
It is important to note that not all massive stars will go through each stage. The exact outcome depends on the mass of the star.
The correct order of a massive star's life cycle is as follows:
1. Stellar Nebula: A massive star begins its life in a stellar nebula, which is a large cloud of gas and dust in space.
2. Massive Star: Gravity causes the gas and dust in the stellar nebula to collapse inward, forming a massive star.
3. Red Supergiant: As the massive star consumes its hydrogen fuel, it expands and becomes a red supergiant. This phase is characterized by the star's enormous size and brightness.
4. Supernova: Eventually, the core of the red supergiant collapses under its own gravity, causing a massive explosion known as a supernova. This explosion releases an immense amount of energy and produces heavy elements.
5. Black Hole or Neutron Star: After the supernova, the remaining core of the star can become one of two things: a black hole or a neutron star. A black hole forms if the core's mass is extremely high, causing it to collapse to a point of infinite density. Alternatively, if the core's mass is slightly lower, it becomes a neutron star, which is an incredibly dense object composed of neutrons.
It's important to note that not all massive stars become black holes; they can also end up as neutron stars depending on their mass.