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Definition
| A star with a main sequence mass greater then about 8 solar masses |
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| Carbon-Nitrogen-Oxygen (CNO) cycle |
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Definition
| one of the ways in which hydrogen is converted to helium (hydrogen burning) in the interiors of main sequence stars |
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| A region on the H-R diagram containing stars that pulsate with a periodic variation in luminosity |
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| A variable star that undergoes periodic radial pulsations |
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| An evolved high-mass star with an atmosphere that is pulsating, leading to variability in the star's color and luminosity |
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| Period-luminosity relationship |
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Definition
| The relationship between the period of variability of a pulsating variable star, such as a Cepheid or RR Lyrae variable, and the luminosity of the star. Longer period Cepheid or RR Lyrae variable are more luminous than their shorter-period cousins |
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Definition
| A variable giant star whose regularly timed pulsations are good predictors of its luminosity. RR Lyrae stars are used for distance measurements to globular clusters |
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| An object whose luminosity either is known or can be predicted in a distance-independent way, so its brightness can be used to determine its distance via the inverse square law of radiation |
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Definition
| The minimum energy required to separate an atomic nucleus into its component protons an neutrons |
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Term
(Inside a star)
After __ burning, each stage is progressivley shorter |
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Definition
| The process in which thermal energy is carried out of the center of a star by neutrinos rather then by electromagnetic radiation or convection |
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Definition
| A supernova explosion in which the degenerate core of an evolved massive star suddenly collapses and rebounds |
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Definition
| The neutron-degenerate remnant left behind by a type II supernova |
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| The type II supernova leave behind a ___ core |
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Definition
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Definition
| A binary system in which mass from an evolving star spills over onto a collapsed companion, such as a neutron star or black hole. The material falling in is heated to such high temperatures that it glows brightly in X-rays |
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Definition
| A rapidly rotating neutron star that beams radiation into space in two search-like beams. To a distant observer, the star appears to flash on and off, earning its name |
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Definition
| An object so dense that it escapes velocity exceeds the speed of light; A singularity in spacetime |
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Term
| If a neutron star's mass exceeds __ solar masses, it will collapse into a black hole |
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Definition
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Term
| Special theory of relativity |
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Definition
| Sometimes referred to as simply special relativity. Einstein's theory explaining how the fact that the speed of light is a constant affects nonaccelerating frames of reference |
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Definition
| A particular location in spacetime |
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Definition
| The 4 dimensional continuum in which we live, and which we experience as 3 spatial dimensions plus time |
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Definition
| describing physical processes that take place in systems traveling at nearly the speed of light or located in the vicinity of very strong gravitational fields |
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| Special relativity concerns the relations ship between events in __ and __ |
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Definition
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| __ and __ together form a four-dimensional spacetime |
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Definition
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Definition
| The relativistic "stretching" of time. |
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Definition
| The relativistic compression of moving objects in the direction of their motion |
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| General theory of relativity |
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Definition
| Sometimes referred to as simply general relativity. Einstein's theory explaining gravity of the distortion of spacetime by massive objects, such that particles travel on the shortest path between 2 events in spacetime. This theory eals with all types of motion |
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Definition
| The principle stating that there is no difference between a frame of reference that is freely floating through space and one that is freely falling within a gravitational field |
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Term
| falling objects follow __ paths through __ spacetime |
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Definition
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Definition
| The path an object will follow through spacetime in the absence of external forces |
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| Being stationary in a gravitational field is the same as being in an accelerated ___ |
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Definition
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| ___ distorts the geometry of spacetime |
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Definition
| The bending of light by gravity. can be used to detect extrasolar planets |
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| General relativistic time dilation |
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Definition
| The verified prediction that time passes more slowly in a gravitational field than in the absence of a gravitational field |
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Definition
| The shifting to longer wavelengths of radiation from an object deep within a gravitational well. |
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Definition
| A wave in the fabric of spacetime emitted by accelerating masses |
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Definition
| The point where a mathematical expression or equation becomes meaningless, such as the denominator of a fraction approaching zero |
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Definition
| The distance from the center of a nonrotating, spherical black hole at which the escape velocity equals the speed of light |
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Definition
| The effective "surface" of a black hole. Nothing inside this surface--not even light--can escape from the black hole |
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Definition
| radiation from a black hole |
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