PHYS 1412: Lab 24

Finished the lab on planetary nebulae. It was pretty easy. I'm really enjoying all the 'star-stuff' this semester. I know the two introductory classes are meant to be available independent of each other, but I'm really glad I had them in order. Otherwise I'd be intimidated by and probably lost on some of the physics concepts. Even the simple things like the fundamental behaviour of atomic particles.

I still don't know if I'd rather end my life as a white dwarf, a neutron star, or a black hole.

Conclusion for Lab 24
"Planetary nebulae can take spherical forms (Ring Nebula), symmetrical forms (Dumbbell Nebula), or a form suggesting many spheres (NGC 6543). Shells of gas and dust move away from the star because the core is collapsing and the shells are no longer bound as tightly by gravity. Colours found in nebulae are often pinkish or greenish, the pink being hydrogen and the green being ionized oxygen. The star at the center of a planetary nebula will be small and very hot, usually blue or white, and it will eventually become a white dwarf."