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Compare the formation and life cycles of stars with a similar mass to the Sun to stars with a much greater mass than the Sun - AQA - GCSE Physics - Question 6 - 2022 - Paper 1
Question 6
Compare the formation and life cycles of stars with a similar mass to the Sun to stars with a much greater mass than the Sun. Each arrow represents the velocity of ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Compare the formation and life cycles of stars with a similar mass to the Sun to stars with a much greater mass than the Sun - AQA - GCSE Physics - Question 6 - 2022 - Paper 1
Step 1
Compare the formation and life cycles of stars with a similar mass to the Sun to stars with a much greater mass than the Sun.
Answer
Stars with a mass similar to the Sun form from clouds of gas and dust (mainly hydrogen) via the gravitational collapse of nebulae. They evolve into protostars, and once fusion begins, they enter the main sequence phase where they fuse hydrogen into helium, maintaining a balance of gravitational and fusion forces. Eventually, they expand into red giants, and, depending on their remaining mass, they can become white dwarfs or black dwarfs.
In contrast, stars with much greater mass undergo a similar initial formation process, but the later stages differ significantly. After exhausting hydrogen, they fuse larger nuclei, forming heavier elements. The life cycle culminates in dramatic events like supernovae, leaving behind neutron stars or black holes. This stark difference highlights how mass influences a star's life cycle.
Step 2
Step 3
Explain how Figure 11 provides evidence for the Big Bang theory.
Answer
Figure 11 shows that the furthest galaxies are moving away from the Milky Way the fastest, suggesting that all galaxies and matter began from the same point at some time. This supports the Big Bang theory, which posits that the universe is expanding from an initial singularity.
Step 4