The Life Cycle of Larger Stars (AQA GCSE Physics): Revision Notes

8.1.5 The Life Cycle of Larger Stars

Star Size and Life Cycle

• Stars have a life cycle. All the stars in our Solar System go through a life cycle. There are various stages in a life cycle, including formation, stabilisation and eventual destruction.

• Stars come in various sizes. In our Solar System, the stars are all different sizes. Some are the size of the Sun, some are smaller than the Sun, whilst others are bigger than the Sun. When you look at a star, whether it be via a telescope or just using your eyes, the size you see is determined by i) its actual size, and ii) the distance from you.

• The life cycle depends on star size. The life cycle of a star will depend on the size of the star. Small stars, like the Sun, will go through one particular life cycle, whilst larger stars will go through another life cycle.

Steps in the Life Cycles of Stars

Stars the Size of the Sun

The Sun is a relatively small star in our Milky Way. Its life cycle follows a particular path, as shown below:

Stars Bigger than the Sun

Stars bigger than the Sun will follow a different life cycle:

Summary of the Life Cycle

Here is a summary diagram showing the life cycle of stars: