CHAPTER 11: STARS AND GALAXIES IN

THE UNIVERSE

11.1 Stars and Galaxies in the Universe

1. Astronomy: a field that study space matter, galaxies, stars and other objects in outer space

2. Galaxies : A set of bodies consisting millions of stars with gas and dust particles.

3. Type of galaxies:

Spiral Elliptical Irregular

Shape like a disc with arm Looks like a circle and Irregular caused by the
spiralling outwards almost flat gravitational force of other
galaxies
Example: Example: Example:
1. Andromeda 1. Ursa Major 1. Small Megallanic
2. The Milky Way 2. Messier Cloud
2. Large Megallanic
Cloud

3. The Milky Way

 A medium-large spiral galaxy
 Our solar system is located at the edge of the spiral arms of the Milky Way
 Consists of approximately 200 billion stars and the Sun is one of it

4. The Life Cycle of a Star (Nebular Hypothesis)

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 Birth of Stars Death of Stars

5. Birth of Stars
1) Stars formed from nebulae, a large cloud consisting of dust particles and gases such
as hydrogen and helium
2) Gases and dust particles in a nebula are pulled by a strong gravitational force
3) The strong gravitational force formed a globe
4) The globe of gases will shrink and compress due to strong gravitational force until
they form a dense core
5) When the temperature and pressure in the core become too high, a nuclear
reaction will take place. Hydrogen gas will turn into helium and a huge amount of
heat energy and light is released
6) The star will shine and a star is formed
7) The star is known as a protostar
8) The star continues to expand into an average star like the Sun or a massive star.

6. Death of Stars
1) In a star, a lot of heat is generated which will heat up the outermost layer of the
star
2) Thus, hydrogen within this layer starts to burns and causes the star to expand
3) During this stage, stars appear red and is called the Red Giant
 If the Red Giant is not massive, it become white dwarf
 If Red Giant is big enough, it contracts quickly that a Supernova occurs
4) A Supernova is extremely bright. It can be seen in daylight
This explosion produces the neuron star, if the original star is a large star
5) If the original star is a super-large star, a black hole is formed
 Light could not escape from black hole
 Any matter that enters cannot escape too

7. Characteristics of a Star

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 i) Color
ii) Temperature
iii) Size
iv) brightness
v) Distance

8. Classification of stars based on color and temperature

 The
cooler star is red in color with temperature of <3 500 K
 The hottest star is blue in color with temperature of >25 000K

9. Size of Stars
 Really big stars – Supergiant stars
 Big stars – Giant stars
 Small stars – dwarf stars

10. Brightness of stars

 Depends on its size, distance and surface temperature
 The brightest stars in the sky is Rigel and Sirius

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