La'Mya Vocab crossword

1234567891011121314
Across
  1. 2. The formation of new atomic nuclei, specifically the creation of heavier elements from lighter ones inside stars or during supernova explosions.
  2. 4. A contracting, immature star formed within a collapsing nebula that has not yet ignited nuclear fusion in its core.
  3. 6. A more efficient hydrogen-to-helium fusion process dominant in stars more massive than 1.3 solar masses, using Carbon, Nitrogen, and Oxygen as catalysts.
  4. 8. An expanding shell of ionized gas ejected by a low-to-medium mass star during the final stages of its evolution into a white dwarf.
  5. 11. A region of spacetime where gravity is so intense that nothing, not even light, can escape; formed when a massive core collapses beyond the point where neutron degeneracy pressure can stop it.
  6. 13. The primary fusion process in low-mass stars (like the Sun), which converts hydrogen into helium.
  7. 14. The stable, long-term state of a star where the inward pull of gravity is perfectly balanced by the outward pressure of thermal gas or radiation.
Down
  1. 1. A violent, luminous explosion marking the death of a massive star, scattering heavy elements into the interstellar medium.
  2. 3. A stronger, inward-stopping pressure, resulting from the Pauli exclusion principle applied to neutrons, which supports neutron stars after a supernova.
  3. 5. A quantum mechanical force that prevents electrons from being squeezed into the same state; it supports white dwarfs against further gravitational collapse.
  4. 7. Outward pressure generated by the hot gas in a star’s core, which counteracts gravity; it is produced by high-temperature nuclear fusion reactions.
  5. 9. The pressure exerted on matter by photons (light) as they are absorbed or reflected; in massive stars, this outward force is crucial for supporting the star against gravity.
  6. 10. A rapid, explosive onset of helium fusion in the core of a low-mass red giant star, occurring after hydrogen is exhausted.
  7. 12. A dense-than-average region of dust, gas, and plasma in space (molecular clouds) that serves as the birth site for new stars.