What part does nuclear fusion play in the formation of a star?
Stars are powered by nuclear fusion in their cores, mostly converting hydrogen into helium. The production of new elements via nuclear reactions is called nucleosynthesis. A star’s mass determines what other type of nucleosynthesis occurs in its core (or during explosive changes in its life cycle).
What elements does a star fuse?
After the hydrogen in the star’s core is exhausted, the star can fuse helium to form progressively heavier elements, carbon and oxygen and so on, until iron and nickel are formed. Up to this point, the fusion process releases energy. The formation of elements heavier than iron and nickel requires an input of energy.
What is the final chemical element that nuclear fusion in a star can produce?
Hydrogen fusion (nuclear fusion of four protons to form a helium-4 nucleus) is the dominant process that generates energy in the cores of main-sequence stars. It is also called “hydrogen burning”, which should not be confused with the chemical combustion of hydrogen in an oxidizing atmosphere.
What is the last element that forms by nuclear fusion in massive stars?
Figure 1: Structure of an Old Massive Star. The fusion of silicon into iron turns out to be the last step in the sequence of nonexplosive element production. Up to this point, each fusion reaction has produced energy because the nucleus of each fusion product has been a bit more stable than the nuclei that formed it.
What is the most massive form of star?
The most massive star in the Milky Way Most of the most massive stars known to date lie in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy to the Milky Way. However, the Milky Way has its own contenders. The star HD 15558-A weighs in at 152 solar masses. It is an O-type giant star with a smaller O-type companion star.
What is the best star in our galaxy?
Sirius, also known as the Dog Star, is the brightest star in the night sky. Its name comes from the Greek word for “scorching.” Many early cultures had names for it, and it had special meanings in terms of rituals and the deities they saw in the sky.