answersLogoWhite

0

A protostar is the second phase of a star's life because it forms after a molecular cloud collapses under its own gravity, leading to the accumulation of material in a dense core. This core heats up as it contracts, eventually reaching temperatures and pressures sufficient to initiate nuclear fusion. The protostar stage is characterized by the gathering of mass and the development of a surrounding disk of gas and dust, which can eventually form planets. Once nuclear fusion begins in the core, the protostar evolves into a main sequence star.

User Avatar

AnswerBot

2mo ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

What is after the nebula in a stars life cycle?

After a nebula, a star's life cycle progresses to the formation of a protostar, where gravitational forces cause the gas and dust to collapse and heat up. As the protostar continues to accumulate mass, it eventually reaches temperatures and pressures sufficient for nuclear fusion to ignite in its core, marking the transition to the main sequence phase of a star's life. Depending on its mass, the star will then evolve through various stages, ultimately leading to its end state, which could be a red giant, supernova, or a white dwarf, neutron star, or black hole.


How the protostar transition to the next stage in the cycle?

A protostar transitions to the next stage in the stellar cycle, known as a main sequence star, when it achieves sufficient temperature and pressure in its core to initiate nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium. As the core contracts and heats up, the outward pressure from fusion balances the inward gravitational force, leading to a stable state. This marks the end of the protostar phase and the beginning of the star's main sequence phase, where it will spend the majority of its life. The transition is often accompanied by the clearing of surrounding material, revealing the newly formed star.


What stages regardless of the mass do all stars have in common?

All stars, regardless of their mass, undergo several common stages in their life cycle: they begin as a molecular cloud of gas and dust, then form a protostar as gravity causes the material to collapse. Once nuclear fusion ignites in the core, they enter the main sequence phase, where they spend the majority of their lives fusing hydrogen into helium. Eventually, they evolve into later stages such as red giants or supergiants, and finally end their lives as white dwarfs, neutron stars, or black holes, depending on their initial mass.


What is the difference between young stars old stars and dead stars?

Young stars are newly formed stars, often bright and hot, that are still in the early stages of their life cycle. Old stars are stars that have aged and passed the main sequence phase, becoming cooler and larger. Dead stars refer to objects that were once stars but have reached the end of their life cycle, such as white dwarfs, neutron stars, or black holes.


Most stars are what kind of stars?

Most stars in the universe are main sequence stars. These stars are in a stable phase of their life cycle where they generate energy through nuclear fusion in their cores. The Sun is a main sequence star.

Related Questions

What is the initial development phase of a stars life?

the answer is a protostar


What is the initial development phase of stars life cycle?

the answer is a protostar


The earliest stage of a stars life is called a?

A Protostar.


How does a protostar differ from a star?

It doesn't differ from a star, it is a star and it is the second stage in a stars life after the nebula stage.


What is the initial development phase of a star's life cycle?

the answer is a protostar


How long does a protostar live?

A protostar will live as long as 100,000 years. After material stops falling on the protostar it will enter then T Tauri star phase.


How does the protostar stage of a stars life cycle compare with the main sequence stage?

A protostar generates energy by friction whereas a main sequence star generates energy by fusion.


Will a protostar form near the end of a star's life cycle?

No, a protostar is basically the BEGINNING of a star's life cycle.


What is the life span of protostar?

A protostar takes about 100,000 years to reach the main sequence.


Is the sun a protostar?

No, the sun is not a protostar. It is a mature star that is in the main sequence phase of its life cycle, where it fuses hydrogen into helium in its core. A protostar is a young star that is still in the process of accumulating mass and contracting before it begins hydrogen fusion in its core.


What is the eariest stage of a stars life called?

It is called a protostar, as it is beginning to form the spherical shape and collecting hydrogen due to its growing mass and gravitational attraction.


What is the name of the state that stars spend the majority of their life span in?

Stars spend the majority of their life span in the main sequence phase, which is a stable period of nuclear fusion where they convert hydrogen into helium. This phase can last for billions of years for stars like the sun.