Life Cycle of Stars

Life cycle of stars

Fostena Foster-Wright

Sc1-151

June 2, 2009

Professor Irine Kobulashvili

Introduction: In this paper I will describe the life cycle of stars. I will begin with a brief summary of the nature and importance of light and other electromagnetic waves. Then, explain where stars fit in the hierarchy of the universe, the characteristics of stars, and processes by which stars form, live, and die. I will also discuss how man-kind recycles materials and the related process to the structure of the Milky Way Galaxy and to the origin of the universe.

The life cycle of a star has a beginning and an end for its existence. Before I discuss the phases, I will first talk about the nature and importance of light and other electromagnetic waves. Light and other electromagnetic waves are that vibrate both electric and magnetic fields cause by the movement of charged particles. The amount of waves that pass through a certain point in one second is called the frequency, calculated in units of cycles per second called Hertz. The velocity of the wave will equal the frequency times the wavelength. The higher the frequency, the shorter the wavelength will be. The nature of light and other electromagnetic waves are directly proportional to its frequency, but opposite proportion to its wavelength. The greater the energy, the larger the frequency and the shorter the wavelength, therefore short wavelengths are more energetic than long wavelengths. Measuring the wavelength or frequency of light coming from Stars in the universe, gives us knowledge. Electromagnetic radiation in the form of light and other electromagnetic waves can carry information to us from distant stars in space. All stars produces electromagnetic radiation, and the amount of radiation released at each wavelength decides the stars temperature. The temperature of a star is related by its color because color is closely related to the wavelength at which its light intensity peaks. Hotter stars are...