Act 1: Small or Medium Stars Life Cycle of a Star Act 1: Small or Medium Stars

Stage 1: Stellar Nebula Particles collect in an increasing mass Huge cloud of gas and dust spins and heats up Results in increasing strength of gravitational attraction

Stage 2: Average Star (Main Sequence) Produces its own heat and light from nuclear reactions between Hydrogen and helium

Stage 3: Red Giant Increases in size Hydrogen has been converted to helium Helium is the fusion source for other elements

Stage 4: Planetary Nebula The shell of the star is expelled and becomes planetary nebula

Stage 5: White Dwarf Small, Hot, remnant of an average star

Act 2- Life cycle of Large Stars

Stage 1: Stellar Nebula Particles collect in an increasing mass Huge cloud of gas and dust begins to spin and heat up. Results in increasing strength of gravitational attraction

Stage 2: Massive Star Produces its own heat and light from nuclear reactions between Hydrogen and helium

Stage 3: Red Supergiant Increases in size Hydrogen has been converted to helium Helium is the fusion source for other elements

One last burst of energy in large explosion Stage 4: Supernova One last burst of energy in large explosion Has enough heat to use other elements as a new fuel source

Stage 5: Neutron Star Force of gravity is GREAT Incredibly DENSE, lots of mass Small, not visible to the naked eye

Star Collapses in on itself and creates a black hole if large enough Stage 5: Black Holes Star Collapses in on itself and creates a black hole if large enough

Hertzprung-Russell Diagram Classifies stars based on luminosity, temperature, and color Plotted on the bottom axis according to increasing surface temperature From left to right  hotter to cooler Plotted on the left axis according to increasing luminosity From bottom to top  less bright to brighter Plotted on the top axis according to color From left to right  blue to red