The Life Cycle of Larger Stars (Edexcel GCSE Physics)

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The Life Cycle of Larger Stars

  • large star is one that is much larger than the Sun
    • Stars that are larger than the Sun have much shorter lifespans – in the region of hundreds of millions of years (instead of billions)

  • The life cycle of a star larger than the Sun starts in the same way as a solar mass star

1. Nebula

  • All stars form from a giant cloud of hydrogen gas and dust called a nebula

2. Protostar

  • The force of gravity within a nebula pulls the particles closer together until it forms a hot ball of gas, known as a protostar
  • As the particles are pulled closer together the density of the protostar will increase
    • This will result in more frequent collisions between the particles which causes the temperature to increase

3. Main Sequence Star

  • Once the protostar becomes hot enough, thermal expansion from fusion reactions occur within its core and the force of gravity keeps the star in equilibrium
  • At this point, the star is born, and it becomes a main-sequence star
  • During the main sequence, the star is in equilibrium and said to be stable
    • The inward force due to gravity is equal to the outward pressure force which results from the expanding hot gases inside the star

4. Red Supergiant

  • Eventually, the main sequence star will reach a stage when it starts to run out of fuel in its core
  • This causes the core to shrink and heat up
    • The core will shrink because the inward force due to gravity is greater than the outward force due to the pressure of the expanding gases

  • This will cause more reactions in the core will cause the outer part of the star to expand and it will become a red supergiant
    • A red supergiant is much larger than a red giant

5. Supernova

  • Once the reactions inside the red supergiant finally finish, the core of the star will collapse suddenly and rebound causing a gigantic explosion
    • This is called a supernova

  • The outer remnants of the star will be ejected into space during the supernova explosion

6. Neutron Star (or Black Hole)

  • At the centre of this explosion a dense body, called a neutron star will form
  • In the case of the largest stars, the neutron star that forms at the centre will continue to collapse under the force of gravity until it forms a black hole
    • A black hole is an extremely dense point in space that not even light can escape from

Lifecycle of Larger Mass Stars, downloadable IGCSE & GCSE Physics revision notes

Lifecycle of stars much larger than our Sun

Examiner Tip

Make sure you remember the life cycle for a high mass star and ensure you can describe the sequence in a logically structured manner in case a 6 marker comes up in the exam!Ensure you can remember the end stages for a high mass star clearly (red supergiant, supernova, neutron star/black hole) as this is different for a star that is a similar size to the Sun!

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Ashika

Author: Ashika

Expertise: Physics Project Lead

Ashika graduated with a first-class Physics degree from Manchester University and, having worked as a software engineer, focused on Physics education, creating engaging content to help students across all levels. Now an experienced GCSE and A Level Physics and Maths tutor, Ashika helps to grow and improve our Physics resources.