Life Cycle of a Star: Name
date:
In this activity you will journey through the stages of stellar birth, aging, and death. Today we will
investigate a stars luminosity and temperature and study the main characteristics that change
throughout the life of a star.
http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org/labs/star_life/starlife_main.html
Procedure:
Please begin this activity by reading the opening remarks (pg 1) then follow the table of contents to
answer the questions or complete each task. Be sure to follow directions carefully and complete each
task before moving on to the next.
Protostar: A STAR IS BORN (pg 2)
A. What is a nebula?
What are the primary gases of interstellar nebula?
B. What two forces are in balance or equal in the protostar when it reaches equilibrium?
C. What are the two options when a protostar is in equilibrium?
1. Option 1:
2. Option 2:
Stars: (pg3)
A. Please complete the Interactive Lab for Stars at the beginning of their life cycles:
Print your results- make sure to include your name on the answer sheet. Proceed to next
activity.
Equilibrium Life Goal of a Star (pg4)
B. Please complete the Interactive Lab for the Equilibrium Cycle. Record your answers in the
table below by circling the correct response in the box.
Pressure
STEP 1
STEP 2
Gravity
Temperature

increase

increase

increase

no change

no change

no change

decrease

decrease

decrease

increase

increase

increase

no change

no change

no change

decrease

decrease

decrease
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5

increase

increase

increase

no change

no change

no change

decrease

decrease

decrease

increase

increase

increase

no change

no change

no change

decrease

decrease

decrease

increase

increase

increase

no change

no change

no change

decrease

decrease

decrease
Try your hand at the Star Quiz (part 1) don’t spend too much time here, you have a lot to do!
Stars: The beginning of the end (pg 5)
C. Please complete the Interactive Lab for the Helium Burning Process. Record your answers
in the table below by circling the correct response in the box.
Pressure
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
Gravity
Temperature

increase

increase

increase

no change

no change

no change

decrease

decrease

decrease

increase

increase

increase

no change

no change

no change

decrease

decrease

decrease

increase

increase

increase

no change

no change

no change

decrease

decrease

decrease

increase

increase

increase

no change

no change

no change

decrease

decrease

decrease

increase

increase

increase

no change

no change

no change

decrease

decrease

decrease
Test your knowledge! Star Quiz (part 2)
Stars: The End of a Star (pg6)
D. Please complete the Interactive Lab for the Carbon Burning Process. Record your answers
in the table below by circling the correct response in the box.
Pressure
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
Gravity
Temperature

increase

increase

increase

no change

no change

no change

decrease

decrease

decrease

increase

increase

increase

no change

no change

no change

decrease

decrease

decrease

increase

increase

increase

no change

no change

no change

decrease

decrease

decrease

increase

increase

increase

no change

no change

no change

decrease

decrease

decrease

increase

increase

increase

no change

no change

no change

decrease

decrease

decrease
E. Please complete the Interactive Lab for the End of their Life Cycle. Save your answers
after each star cycle. Print your results- make sure to include your name on the answer
sheet. Proceed to next activity.
Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram (pg 7) - H & R Interactive lab: Complete the
Hertsprung-Russell Diagram by filling in the table below with the correct response.
Results
Temperature
Brightness
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Applications of the HR Diagram (pg 8)
F. Please complete the Interactive Lab for the Application of the HR Diagram. When you have
completed the interactive; print the answers to your written responses. Make sure to put your
name on your answer sheet.
Interactive HR Diagram (pg 9)
G. Please complete More HR diagram Fun the Interactive Version with Questions
Please read and complete each question in the interactive. Circle the correct response to
each question and record your answer below. You will need to make the correct response in
the interactive before it will advance to the next question.
1.
a
b
c
d
e
2.
a
b
c
d
e
3.
a
b
c
d
e
4.
a
b
c
d
e
5.
a
b
c
d
e
6.
a
b
c
d
e
7.
a
b
c
d
e
8.
a
b
c
d
e
9.
a
b
c
d
e
10.
a
b
c
d
e
11.
a
b
c
d
e
12.
a
b
c
d
e
13.
14.
You are done! Please staple all of your answer sheets for
Interactive Lab
Stars at the beginning of their life cycles:
End of their Life Cycle.
Application of the HR Diagram
to this one and turn it in.