AQA · Physics · 8463
GCSE Physics: The life cycle of a star
Space physics · AQA GCSE Physics (8463), specification point 4.8.1.2. Cards are generated from the exam board's own specification for "The life cycle of a star", and every card links back to the page it came from. Separate science only. Specification © AQA — used with attribution.
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What property of a star determines its life cycle?
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Its size (mass).
The life cycle of a star is determined by the ? of the star.
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size
What process in stars produces all the naturally occurring elements?
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Nuclear fusion.
Where are elements heavier than iron produced?
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In a supernova — the explosion of a massive star.
Elements heavier than ? are produced in a supernova.
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iron
What is a supernova?
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The explosion of a massive star at the end of its life cycle.
How are heavy elements distributed throughout the universe?
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A supernova (the explosion of a massive star) scatters them across space.
Why can a star like the Sun not produce elements heavier than iron?
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Fusion in a star only makes elements up to iron; heavier elements need the extreme energy of a supernova, which only massive stars undergo.
How do fusion processes lead to the formation of new elements?
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Light nuclei (e.g. hydrogen) fuse together to form heavier nuclei, building up progressively heavier elements.
Which two star sizes are compared when describing stellar life cycles at GCSE?
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Stars about the size of the Sun, and stars much more massive than the Sun.
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