Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Birth and Death of a star

Stars are born from dense clouds of gasses. Usually in the arm of a spiral galaxy. Hydrogen atoms fall, increasing their speed and energy, toward the center of the cloud. This is happens due to the star's gravity. When the hydrogen energy increases it produces heat. After this process goes on for millions of years the temprature reaches about 20 million degrees fahrenheit.

Once at this extreme temprature there are a series of nuclear reactions. These reactions mark the birth of a star. Just like how the hydrogen brought life to a star its depletion will cause it's death. The first sign of a stars death is the swelling and reddening of its outer edges. When it is at this stage it is called a Red Giant. A white dwarf is what stars, like our sun, become after they have used up all their nuclear fuel.

As you can see our sun will become a whit dwarf when the end comes. Red Giants are bigger stars when their nuclear energy is comming to an end. Now black holes are remnant of a massive star that has used it's nuclear fuel and has collapsed into a zero volume under tremendous gravity. It is at the point of "singularity." This is where the pressure and density are infinite. Scientists believe that black holes make up 90% of the universe.

I enjoy the topics about space, stars, and our universe. I think that stars are very interesting. Yet I don't think we know as much about them are we think. Also the topic of black holes really intreges me. We need to know more about our sun because it's a big part of our life. If it isn't there neither are we.

7 comments:

bill0702 said...

Dustin,
You have a lot of information that no one else has. I really like the extra information that you included.

Billy

RachelA said...

Your blog was nice and simple, but it also had just the right amount of info...not too much, not too little! Nice job

Rachel

Keri said...

I really liked your blog. I especially enjoyed your last comment about if the sun isn't there then neither are we.

Keri

MHellTull30 said...

Well worded post, simple, to the point. I enjoyed reading your blog, and I also agree that the universe is large and very important. I wonder if we will ever learn about all there is out there...
Smashing darling, simply smashing,
Fabulously yours,
Megan

Haileyrose said...

very nice dustin. i liked the depth of the subject. you did a really good job. i really agree with rachel. peace bro

HAILEYROSE THOMA

Lindsey said...

I think you explained the different phases of a star's formation well. I also enjoyed that you included your own hypothesis of what the sun's fate will be. It was interesting to see that the universe is 90% made up of black holes according to scientists. Very interesting post and your added opinion at the end adds to its originality.
~Lindsey~

MS. Eder said...

Good work (if we don't count the typos) ;-) Many of us don't know enough about our own planet or universe. Many people take science fiction as fact. I've always found it a fascinating subject.