Final answer:
The stages in the life of a low-mass star include the protostar stage, main sequence stage, red giant stage, planetary nebula stage, and white dwarf stage. During each stage, specific processes occur that define the evolution of the star.
Step-by-step explanation:
The stages in the life of a low-mass star are as follows:
- Protostar Stage: This is the initial stage where a cloud of gas and dust collapses under its own gravity and forms a dense core known as a protostar.
- Main Sequence Stage: The protostar enters the main sequence stage where nuclear fusion occurs in its core, converting hydrogen into helium and releasing a tremendous amount of energy in the form of light and heat.
- Red Giant Stage: As the hydrogen fuel in the core gets depleted, the star starts to expand and becomes a red giant. During this stage, the helium in the core begins to fuse into heavier elements like carbon and oxygen.
- Planetary Nebula Stage: In this stage, the outer layers of the red giant are expelled into space, forming a glowing cloud of gas and dust called a planetary nebula. The core of the star, which is now a white dwarf, is left behind.
- White Dwarf Stage: A white dwarf is the final stage in the life of a low-mass star. It is a hot, dense object made mostly of carbon and oxygen. Over time, it cools down and fades away, becoming a black dwarf.