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When a star enters the red giant stage what causes its outer layers to expand?
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
As I understand, a red giant continues to expand until gravity causes it to fall in on itself. This compresses the gases contained in the star to a point where the star explodes (creating a supernova) - a huge explosion that results in gases being blown out into the star's surrounding area - what is left is usually a very bright star called a white dwarf. Superhot but relatively small (certainly smaller than the original star).
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoIt gets bigger. This is obvious, but as a result it also gets cooler, because a) it's further away from the fusion going on in the core and b) it has an increased surface area to radiate energy from.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoA red giant [See related question] is a star at the end of its life.
As hydrogen fusion ceases in the shell, helium fusing will begin in the core. For stars less than 2.5 solar masses helium flash will occur, whereas stars above this limit will fuse helium much more smoothly.
Once helium fusion has occurred in the core, the shell collapses and is no longer considered a red giant.
However, this process is short lived and during the process the star will shed off many layers of it's shell - as if taking a "last breath". This will continue until fusion ceases. The layers "thrown" off are known as a planetary nebula.
All that is left of the now dead star is a degenerate star or white dwarf [See related question]. Although very hot at the beginning, it has no more means of producing energy, so will slowly radiate it's heat off into space until it has no more to radiate. it is then a black dwarf [See related question]
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoWhen a star does this it moves off the "main sequence" which mean that its core no longer contains enough hydrogen to fuse into helium, (the core is now all helium).
When this happens the core stops producing energy and gravity shrinks it making it denser (and heats it up in the process).
This collapse initiates the process of fusing the helium in the core into heavier elements and the core starts producing energy again.
Also, the region round the core (which is still mainly hydrogen) begins to fuse hydrogen into helium.
These two events cause the central regions of the star to produce more heat that it was doing before and the outer envelope of the star is forced away from the core by the pressure of the energy released. The star therefore expands to become a Red Giant.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoafter the state of being a red giant the star eventually becomes a planatary nebula then continues to a white dwarf for more information look up star cycle on Google images
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoA start that becomes a red giant begins to die, then later explodes into a super nova.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoWhen a star fuses almost all of its Hydrogen into Helium in its core, it will leave the Main Sequence phase and enter the Red Giant phase.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoIt will expand to about the orbit of Earth.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoPlanetary Nebula
Wiki User
∙ 11y agothe earth will cease to exist....
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What will it be called when the sun explodes?
The Sun will not explode [See related question], the Sun will just expand into a red giant and then after expending it's outer layers become a white dwarf.
Why do red giant stars expand?
Because they begin to run out of fuel
How long will your sun remain a main sequence star?
When hydrogen in the core of the star is depleted, a balance no longer exists between pressure and gravity, with that the core contracts and temperature rises. This cause outer layers to cool and expand. In this late stage of the star's life cycle, it is called a giant. The sun will continue to be a main sequence for about 5 billion years, then the sun will become a giant.
What causes a red giant?
After a star burns up all it's hydrogen, it becomes a red giant.
Which best describes the very next phase in our sun's life cycle?
It will expand and become a red giant.
When a star has exhausted its supply of hydrogen?
When hydrogen in the core of the star is depleted, a balance no longer exists between pressure and gravity. Core contracts, temperatures incrase. This causes outer layers to expand and cool. This star is called a GIANT.
What is the causes of the end of the?
In about 5 billion years the sun will expand to a red giant and fry Mercury, Venus and earth.
How is the red-giant formed?
A red giant forms when a star runs out of hydrogen fuel at its core and starts fusing hydrogen in a shell around the core the core. This causes the star to expand and cool.
What will it be called when the sun explodes?
The Sun will not explode [See related question], the Sun will just expand into a red giant and then after expending it's outer layers become a white dwarf.
In 5 billion or so years time will the sun expand and die out?
Yes. In around 5 billion years our Sun will expand into a red giant, slowly expel it's outer layers as a planetary nebula and then settle down to being a white dwarf for billions and billions of years.
Hypothesize what will happen when the sun exhausts it's supply of hydrogen?
When a main sequence star, such as our sun, exhausts it's supply of Hydrogen, fusion of Hydrogen to Helium ceases in the core. This results in cooling of the core and therefore causes it to contract. As the core contracts, the layers surrounding the star gain kinetic energy until the fusion of Hydrogen is possible in the outer layers. As these layers undergo fusion, they increase in temperature dramatically. The outer layers expand due to heat, and the star becomes massive; the main sequence star has evolved into a red giant. Fusion of Hydrogen to Helium continues in the outer layers, whilst the fusion of heavier elements such as carbon occurs in the core.
Why do red giant stars expand?
Because they begin to run out of fuel
Will the sun expand?
It will indeed expand to a red giant in about 5 billion years. It will then subsequently collapse to a white then brown dwarf star.
When will our sun expand into a red giant?
A very long time. Billions of years
Stars core is exhausted of hydrogen its oter layers and cool?
It's a Giant
Color of the stars?
The Death of a StarPhoto courtesy of NASA/Space Telescope Science InstituteHubble Space Telescope photograph of the Rotten Egg planetary nebulaSeveral billion years after its life starts, a star will die. How the star dies, however, depends on what type of star it is.Stars Like the SunWhen the core runs out of hydrogen fuel, it will contract under the weight of gravity. However, some hydrogen fusion will occur in the upper layers. As the core contracts, it heats up. This heats the upper layers, causing them to expand. As the outer layers expand, the radius of the star will increase and it will become a red giant. The radius of the red giant sun will be just beyond the Earth's orbit. At some point after this, the core will become hot enough to cause the helium to fuse into carbon. When the helium fuel runs out, the core will expand and cool. The upper layers will expand and eject material that will collect around the dying star to form a planetary nebula. Finally, the core will cool into a white dwarf and then eventually into a black dwarf. This entire process will take a few billion years.
What is it called when the sun turns red?
Red Giant/Supergiant, it will expand and atomise the Earth
