So Susan wants to learn about stellar evolution...

Post #174,563 by inthane-chan 9/15/04 11:59:58 PM Reply	So Susan wants to learn about stellar evolution... ...and she knows almost nothing about it. I'm going to need to build a base of knowledge - electrons, protons, neutrons, the various forces and how they interact - and then move on to how stars form, the phases they go through, and ultimately how they "die". The first half is necessary for the second half, after all, how can one explain a neutron star or black hole without understanding gravity? I need to do some brushing up myself, and I'm going to start on the wikipedia, but does anybody here have some good "idiot's guides" that are online they can point me to? Powered by the Hammer of the Gods
Post #174,564 by Another Scott 9/16/04 12:35:09 AM Reply	I don't know if you need to worry about elementary particles at least at first. Don't get bogged down in the minutia at the beginning. :-) I'd start with hydrogen and the light elements and go through the main sequence stuff. Stellar evolution is driven by the battle between [link\|http://zebu.uoregon.edu/textbook/se.html\|pressure and gravity]. Fusion of elements give off a lot of energy (at least up to iron) - it's not important to understand the reaction products and how many MeV each reaction yields to have an appreciation of the subject. As the fuel runs out, gravity begins to gain the upper hand. Etc. [link\|http://theory.uwinnipeg.ca/mod_tech/node206.html\|This] section of a general introductory modern physics course seems to be pretty good. It gives enough detail to inspire further reading if you're interested, but not so much that she'll be overwhelmed (I don't think). HTH. Have fun! Cheers, Scott.
Post #174,638 by Andrew Grygus 9/16/04 12:29:56 PM 9/16/04 12:38:22 PM Reply	Stellar evolution funny. Long ago when I worked as a production cost estimator for a windshield factory, some exec got one of his relatives, a really, really obnoxious know-it-all college kid a part time job in the same dingy office. One day he came in to work after his morning classes, and in attempt to make be look stupid he asked me, "What does 'OBAFGKMN' stand for. I replied, "Sounds like the stelar sequence to me, but there's also an alternate 'OBAFGKMRN'". The stunned look on his face was precious, and he stuttered, "How did you know that?". I told him, "I know a lot of things, and probably a lot of things you don't know". Proof of this was a few days later when the corp. controller retired and was not replaced. Kid settled right into the vacant office, and I said not a word. A couple of days later management roughly rousted him out and moved my stuff in. Boy was he pissed, "You knew about this, why didn't you tell me?". [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx] Edited by Andrew Grygus Sept. 16, 2004, 12:38:22 PM EDT Expand All History
Post #174,642 by deSitter 9/16/04 12:38:52 PM Reply	Re: Stellar evolution funny. Oh be a fine manager sign my paycheck sweetie! -drl
Post #174,650 by Another Scott 9/16/04 1:14:56 PM Reply	:-)
Post #174,677 by JayMehaffey 9/16/04 2:39:21 PM Reply	Gravity? Gravity is easy, just pick her up and throw her a few times. She should get it pretty quickly. Jay
Post #174,793 by Steven A S 9/17/04 10:43:55 AM Reply	I actually have a Rand McNally World Atlas That describes it pretty well in the front. you may want to look at your local library for that. ~~~)-Steven---- "I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country..." General George S. Patton

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