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A Level Astronomy

The document discusses the formation and evolution of main sequence stars, highlighting the role of gas pressure and gravitational forces in star stability and fusion processes. It explains the Chandrasekhar Limit, which determines the fate of stars based on their mass, and describes the properties of blackbodies and their radiation characteristics. Key concepts include the transition from hydrogen to helium fusion and the effects of temperature on blackbody radiation.

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grigdave06
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39 views2 pages

A Level Astronomy

The document discusses the formation and evolution of main sequence stars, highlighting the role of gas pressure and gravitational forces in star stability and fusion processes. It explains the Chandrasekhar Limit, which determines the fate of stars based on their mass, and describes the properties of blackbodies and their radiation characteristics. Key concepts include the transition from hydrogen to helium fusion and the effects of temperature on blackbody radiation.

Uploaded by

grigdave06
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Gas Pressure: Pressure due to random thermal motion of particles causes an outward

force on the star

Formation of Main Sequence Stars

Interstellar dust and gas pulled together by gravitational forces

Molecules lose GPE and gain KE and temp increases

Above certain temp hydrogen nuclei fuses into helium nuclei

Energy released in fusion reactions

Stable star formed when inward gravitational force is equal to outward radiation
pressure and gas pressure

Greater mass: more luminous, shorter main sequence lifetime

Evolution of Main Sequence Stars

After billions of years, conc. of hydrogen nuclei in core falls

Fusion decreases, core temp falls.

Gravitational force > Gas and radiation pressure

Core radius decreases, thus pressure and temp increases

Fusion of helium in the core

Hydrogen fusion in shell around core

Outer layer cools, forming red giant

Chandrasekhar Limit

For stars below 1.4 solar masses, their collapse is halted by electron degeneracy
pressure to form white dwarfs. If the mass is lower than the limit, then it
collapses into a neutron star or black hole

Blackbody

A perfect blackbody absorbs all electromagnetic radiation no matter what the


wavelength or angle of incidence
At room temperature, a blackbody appears black since it does not reflect any light

If a blackbody is the perfect absorber of radiation, it must also be the best


emitter of radiation

The electromagnetic radiation emitted by a blackbody is called blackbody radiation

The relative intensities of the various wavelengths depends only on the temperature
of the body

As the temperature of the blackbody increases

𝜆max decreases

Peak becomes sharper

Intensity is higher at all wavelengths

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