Question 1:
What is the characteristic feature of a red giant star?
Explanation: A red giant star is characterized by its large size and low surface temperature. These stars have exhausted their core hydrogen fuel and have expanded, causing their outer layers to cool down.
Question 2:
What is the final evolutionary stage of a low-mass star, similar to our Sun?
Explanation: The final evolutionary stage of a low-mass star, like our Sun, is a white dwarf. After the red giant phase, the star sheds its outer layers and leaves behind a hot, dense core composed mainly of carbon and oxygen.
Question 3:
What is the Chandrasekhar limit?
Explanation: The Chandrasekhar limit is the maximum mass a white dwarf can have, which is approximately 1.4 times the mass of the Sun. If a white dwarf exceeds this limit, it cannot support its own weight and collapses, triggering a supernova explosion.
Question 4:
What is a planetary nebula?
Explanation: A planetary nebula is the expanding shell of gas ejected by a dying low-mass star. The outer layers of the star are expelled into space, forming a glowing shell of ionized gas that can exhibit complex and beautiful structures.
Question 5:
What is a supernova?
Explanation: A supernova is a star that explodes and releases a tremendous amount of energy. This explosion occurs when a massive star undergoes core collapse or when a white dwarf accreting matter from a companion star reaches the Chandrasekhar limit. Supernovae are some of the most powerful and energetic events in the universe.
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