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Chapter 1: Problem 9

What role do nebulae like the Orion Nebula play in the life stories of stars?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Nebulae like the Orion Nebula serve as 'star nurseries', places where stars are born from the gravitational collapse of denser regions within the nebula. The stars continue evolving, going through various stages depending on their mass. During their advanced stages, old stars return materials back to the nebula, which contribute to the formation of new stars. Nebulae are thus integral to the life stories of stars.

Step by step solution

01

Understand Nebulae

Nebulae are vast clouds of dust and gas in space. They are often referred to as 'star nurseries' since they serve as the birthplace for new stars. The Orion Nebula is an example of such a stellar nursery where new stars are formed.
02

Formation of Stars

Within a nebula, regions of denser gas and dust start to coalesce due to the gravitational forces acting upon them. This results in the formation of a protostar. Over time, under the force of its own gravity, a protostar continues to collapse and increase its temperature until nuclear fusion begins to occur in its core; the protostar then becomes a main sequence star.
03

Continued Evolution of Stars

Once a star is formed, it continues to evolve. Depending on the mass of the star, it may continue on to become a red giant or a supergiant, eventually ending its life as a white dwarf, neutron star or a black hole. During their advanced stages, stars disperse their outer layers back into the surrounding nebula, thereby replenishing it with raw material that can lead to the formation of new stars.

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