The Structure and Evolution of Stars

Approximate solutions of the equations for stellar structure are given. They are the first objects we see in the night sky, dominate the light produced in our own and other galaxies and nucleosynthesis in stars produces all the elements heavier than helium. A knowledge of stars and their evolution is vital in understanding other astrophysical objects from accreting black holes and galaxies to the Universe itself. From the Inside Flap Stars are the fundamental observable constituents of the Universe. Attention is given to the virial theorem, polytropic gas spheres and homology principles. Supernova explosions as the deaths of massive stars along with the nucleosynthesis of elements within stars are explained. . The structure of a star can be described mathematically by differential equations which can be derived from the principles of hydrodynamics, electromagnetic theory, thermodynamics, quantum

Approximate solutions of the equations for stellar structure are given. A knowledge of stars and their evolution is vital in understanding other astrophysical objects from accreting black holes and galaxies to the Universe itself. They are the first objects we see in the night sky, dominate the light produced in our own and other galaxies and nucleosynthesis in stars produces all the elements heavier than helium. The procedure for numerical solution of the equations is outlined. The basic equations of a spherical star are derived in detail, the m