Life Cycle of a Star: Summary

Depending on their mass while within the main sequence, stars will undergo different transitions as they progress through their life. This is the result of differences in gravitational force and nuclear fusion pressure (the stellar ‘tug-of-war’) caused by variations in mass and density. For example, smaller stars will expel their mass less forcefully when they exhaust their fuel supply; a planetary nebula will result. Larger stars will undergo this process violently, resulting in a supernova.

All the relevant stages are summarised below in this handy graphic, serving as an excellent summary for this area of Module 8.