What happens during the life of sun from birth to death?
The life cycle of the sun can be divided into several distinct phases:
Birth:
1. Nebula Formation: The sun begins its life as a vast cloud of gas and dust called a nebula. This nebula is composed primarily of hydrogen and helium, with trace amounts of heavier elements.
2. Protostar Formation: Within the nebula, gravity begins to pull the gas and dust together, forming a dense core called a protostar. The protostar is extremely hot and luminous, but it is still not a self-sustaining star.
3. Nuclear Fusion Ignition: As the protostar continues to contract under its own gravity, it becomes hotter and denser. At a critical point, the temperature and pressure at the core become high enough to initiate nuclear fusion. This process marks the birth of the sun as a полноценная star.
4. Main Sequence Phase: The sun now enters the main sequence phase, which is the longest and most stable period of its life. During this phase, the sun burns hydrogen fuel in its core through nuclear fusion, producing energy and heat. The sun remains in this phase for about 10 billion years.
5. Red Giant Phase: As the sun exhausts its hydrogen fuel supply, it begins to evolve into a red giant. During this phase, the sun's core shrinks, while its outer layers expand and cool. The sun becomes larger, redder, and more luminous than it was during the main sequence phase.
6. Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) Phase: In the AGB phase, the sun's core undergoes a series of thermonuclear reactions that produce heavier elements, such as carbon and oxygen. These elements are then ejected into space through stellar winds, enriching the interstellar medium.
7. Planetary Nebula Phase: As the sun's outer layers continue to expand and cool, they eventually become a vast, glowing shell of gas and dust called a planetary nebula. The planetary nebula is illuminated by the hot, exposed core of the sun, which is now known as a white dwarf.
8. White Dwarf Phase: The final stage of the sun's life is the white dwarf phase. During this phase, the sun's core is extremely dense and hot, but it no longer produces energy through nuclear fusion. The white dwarf gradually cools and fades over time until it eventually becomes a cold, dark object known as a black dwarf.