Physics A-Level
Planetary nebula
What Planetary nebula means in Physics A-Level, as defined for OCR.
Definition of Planetary nebula
Check what you remember
Read the wording for your board, then hide it and explain Planetary nebula in your own words. Rough notes are fine. This is a self-check, with no mark or grade.
Reference: OCR
An expanding shell of gas ejected from the star and ionised by the exposed hot core; the name is historical and has nothing to do with planets.
Topics that use Planetary nebula
- Stars (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- Black hole
- Chandrasekhar limit
- Electron degeneracy pressure
- Gravitational collapse
- HR diagram
- Main sequence
- Neutron star
- Planet
Using Planetary nebula in the exam
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