What occurs in the core of a high-mass star during a Type 2 supernova?
What occurs in the core of a high-mass star during a Type II supernova in the nuclear process called photodisintegration? Individual energetic photons in the very hot core split iron nuclei and other nuclei until only protons, neutrons, electrons, and photons remain. Will the Sun ever explode as a Type I supernova?
What happens in a Type 2 supernova?
A Type II supernova (plural: supernovae or supernovas) results from the rapid collapse and violent explosion of a massive star. The star fuses increasingly higher mass elements, starting with hydrogen and then helium, progressing up through the periodic table until a core of iron and nickel is produced.
Which stars eventually undergo Type II supernova explosions?
Type II supernovae occur when a large star runs out of fuel, which brings it into a rapid collapse and explosion. Such a star is between eight and 40 times heavier than our sun. They are often referred to as “core collapse” supernovae because that’s exactly what happens.
What causes a high-mass star to explode as a Type II supernova?
For a star to explode as a Type II supernova, it must be at several times more massive than the sun (estimates run from eight to 15 solar masses). Like the sun, it will eventually run out of hydrogen and then helium fuel at its core. However, it will have enough mass and pressure to fuse carbon.
What happens in a massive star?
In a massive star, hydrogen fusion in the core is followed by several other fusion reactions involving heavier elements. Just before it exhausts all sources of energy, a massive star has an iron core surrounded by shells of silicon, sulfur, oxygen, neon, carbon, helium, and hydrogen.
How are massive stars formed?
Stars form within dense clouds of dust and gas located in the interstellar medium of a galaxy. Gravity causes these clouds to collapse in on themselves, with small disturbances within a cloud causing denser clumps of matter to form.
What processes produce type I and Type II supernovae?
All supernovae are produced via one of two different explosion mechanisms. The thermonuclear explosion of a white dwarf which has been accreting matter from a companion is known as a Type Ia supernova, while the core-collapse of massive stars produce Type II, Type Ib and Type Ic supernovae.
What type of stars make Type II supernovae quizlet?
A Type II supernova occurs when a high-mass star’s core becomes dominated by iron, halting the nuclear fusion process. The star’s core can no longer maintain equilibrium, and the core begins to contract.
What happens before a star explodes as a supernova quizlet?
After attracting matter from the companion star for some time, the white dwarf eventually collapses with a great rush. It condenses into a neutron star and ejects matter outward. This rebound of matter is thought to be the supernova.
Why do the cores of massive stars evolve into iron and not heavier elements?
Why do the cores of massive stars evolve into iron rather than heavier elements? Fusion of heavier elements disrupts the stability of the core by requiring more energy than it generates. An onion-like set of layers forms, with the heaviest elements in the innermost shells surrounded by progressively lighter ones.
What is happening in the core of a high-mass star?
The core therefore collapses and releases a huge amount of energy in an explosion called a supernova. In the centre of the debris from the explosion is an incredibly dense neutron star. If the star is massive enough, the neutron star will collapse further and form a black hole.
How does a massive star form?