Interactive HR Diagrams

Open Interactive HR Diagrams:

http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org/labs/star_life/hr_interactive.html

Click the picture to view the animated version of an HR Diagram that shows how a star's brightness and surface temperature are measured throughout its life cycle. As you watch the animation, trace the evolutionary path of this star on the blank HR diagram below. Mark and name the different stages along the way. Is this an animation of a mid-sized star or a massive star? How do you know?

1. Which of the stars is the oldest in terms of its life cycle?

2. Which of the stars is (are) burning hydrogen as fuel?

3. Which of the stars is (are) burning helium as fuel?

4. Which of the stars is closest to death?

5. Which of the stars has the highest luminosity?

6. What causes the star with the highest luminosity to be the brightest?

7. Which of the stars has the lowest luminosity?

8. The star with the lowest luminosity is the dimmest because of its surface temperature or size?

9. Which of the stars has the highest surface temperature?

10. Main sequence stars will become red giants when they run out of what kind of fuel?

11. Will any of the three main sequence stars ever become white dwarfs?

12. Was Sirius B ever a main sequence star?

13. Predict what phase Vega will become next.

14. Predict what stage Betelgeuse will become next.