Potato

Essay by potatotomatoUniversity, Ph.D.A+, November 2014

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A star is a ball of gas which releases energy by a nuclear fusion process and are contained in galaxies. Big clouds of dust and gas called nebulae are the birthplace of stars. Clumps are formed by the gas and dust spiraling around and they grow bigger and contract. During so, the clumps become very hot and dense and this is called a Protostar; the first part of the sequence of a star. Eventually the temperature rises enough for nuclear fusion reactions to take place. Finally, a new star is born. Going into a long stable period, it will be called a Main Sequence Star. How long a star's main sequence depends on its size. In an average star's main sequence, it will last for about 10 billion years. Jumbo stars and small stars have different courses to take in a star's life cycle. Just at the end of the main sequence, a big star's core will become unstable and start to contract, it's outer shell begins to expand.

Keep in mind that the star will now be in the red giant phase but for a bigger star, it will be called a red supergiant. Little stars will become white dwarfs. Momentarily, the hydrogen gas will continue to burn meanwhile the temperature in the core rises. Now, the helium atoms will fuse to form carbon atoms in the core. On the other hand, the last of the hydrogen gas in the outer shell will be blown away. Planetary nebulas are formed when this happens. Quite after this, the star begins to die. Stars then become white dwarves once the gravity causes the remaining star's matter to collapse inward. The white dwarf will shine with a white hot light until all their energy is gone. Unfortunately, it will now die...