Post Activity/ Homework Questions: 1. Before a star forms A. Where do you think the gas and dust originally came from?

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1 Critical Thinking Questions: (work on these with a partner) 1. During the formation of a Red Giant Star, the core of a star pushes the outer shell back only enough to make the star larger. However, during the formation of a planetary nebula, the outer shell of a star gets pushed way out into the solar system. Explain how and why you think this difference is caused. In other words, explain how and why the outer shell is pushed out a little bit vs. pushed out far away. Post Activity/ Homework Questions: 1. Before a star forms A. Where do you think the gas and dust originally came from? 2. Protostars & Main Sequence Stars A. Why is a protostar not classified as an actual star? & what needs to occur for a star to transform from a Protostar to an actual star? B. Why is our sun classified as a Main Sequence Star? C. Describe what needs to happen to our sun for it to transform into a Red Giant. & Will this happen to our Sun? When? 2. Average sized stars like our Sun do not explode as supernova, but super-massive stars do. Both types of stars undergo nuclear fusion and have an outer shell influenced by gravity. Explain why a star like our Sun will not go supernova, but a super-massive star will. Explain your answer describing the processes of nuclear fusion and gravitational force. D. Complete the following Venn Diagram Protostars? How are both Similar? Actual Stars 3. Stars do not have enough energy to fuse elements heavier than iron. If this is true, how and why are elements that are heavier than iron created? 3. Red Giant vs. White Dwarf Star Complete the Venn Diagram: What is Unique How are both What is Unique during the formation formations Similar? of Red Giants during the formation of a White Dwarf 4. Once you figured out question #3, identify how the following elements were created: Element How was it created Oxygen Gold Carbon Lead 4. Planetary Nebula & New Stars A. Use the Internet to research the reason why Planetary Nebula's a are named so, even though they have nothing to do with planets B. Describe the process that would need to take place for a planetary nebula to form a whole new star.

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4 Critical Thinking Questions: (work on these with a partner) 1. During the formation of a Red Giant Star, the core of a star pushes the outer shell back only enough to make the star larger. However, during the formation of a planetary nebula, the outer shell of a star gets pushed way out into the solar system. Explain how and why you think this difference is caused. In other words, explain how and why the outer shell is pushed out a little bit vs. pushed out far away. During Red Giant formation, the core fuses a new element (Helium) and the star restabilizes. Once Helium runs out, fusion can't continue in the core and gravity is the only force left. The core can't balance the shell anymore and kicks it away one last time. 2. Average sized stars like our Sun do not explode as supernova, but super-massive stars do. Both types of stars undergo nuclear fusion and have an outer shell influenced by gravity. Explain why a star like our Sun will not go supernova, but a super-massive star will. Explain your answer describing the processes of nuclear fusion and gravitational force. Post Activity/ Homework Questions: 1. Before a star forms A. Where do you think the gas and dust originally came from? The Big Bang 2. Protostars & Main Sequence Stars A. Why is a protostar not classified as an actual star? & what needs to occur for a star to transform from a Protostar to an actual star? A protostar is not an actual star because fusion doesn't occur. To become an actual star, nuclear fusion needs to occur. B. Why is our sun classified as a Main Sequence Star? The force of fusion in the core is balanced with the shells gravity C. Describe what needs to happen to our sun for it to transform into a Red Giant. & Will this happen to our Sun? When? Our sun needs to run out of hydrogen and begin fusing helium This will happen to our sun in 5 billion years D. Complete the following Venn Diagram Protostars? How are both Similar? Nuclear Fusion does not occur It does not create & give off light They both contain gas and dust They both have a core and an outer shell Actual Stars Nuclear fusion occurs It creates & gives off light Because a super-massive star has more mass, it has a larger fusion force and gravitational force. When fusion stops in the core of a super-massive star, the gravitational force is so strong on the core, that the star explodes. 3. Stars do not have enough energy to fuse elements heavier than iron. If this is true, how and why are elements that are heavier than iron created? The explosion of a supernova gives off a lot more energy to fuse heavier elements 4. Once you figured out question #3, identify how the following elements were created: Element How was it created Oxygen Gold Carbon Lead 3. Red Giant vs. White Dwarf Star Complete the Venn Diagram: What is Unique How are both What is Unique during the formation formations Similar? of Red Giants during the formation of a White Dwarf The star begins by fusing hydrogen & ends by fusing helium The outer shell remains held to the star Both formations begin by fusing something. Both involve the core pushing the outer shell of the star The star begins by fusing helium & ends by not fusing anything at all. The outer shell doesn't remain held to the star 4. Planetary Nebula & New Stars A. Use the Internet to research the reason why Planetary Nebula's a are named so, even though they have nothing to do with planets B. Describe the process that would need to take place for a planetary nebula to form a whole new star.

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