Question 1

Young star clusters have bluer turn-off points than old clusters.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Why can't a lower-mass star generate energy through carbon flash?

Accepted Answer

A lower-mass star cannot generate energy

Question 3

Synchrotron radiation is produced by

Accepted Answer

A)  objects with temperature below 10,000 K. 
B)  high-velocity electrons moving through a magnetic field. 
C)  cold hydrogen atoms in space. 
D)  the collapsing cores of massive stars. 
E)  a helium flash. 
A)  objects with temperature below 10,000 K. 
B)  high-velocity electrons moving through a magnetic field. 
C)  cold hydrogen atoms in space. 
D)  the collapsing cores of massive stars. 
E)  a helium flash.

Question 4

The Helix and Egg nebulae which originated from (what are today) white dwarf stars are

Accepted Answer

A)  supernova remnants. 
B)  planetary nebulae. 
C)  the result of uranium detonation. 
D)  the result of the collapse of the iron core of each star. 
E)  nebulae associated with protostars. 
A)  supernova remnants. 
B)  planetary nebulae. 
C)  the result of uranium detonation. 
D)  the result of the collapse of the iron core of each star. 
E)  nebulae associated with protostars.

Question 5

The energy a white dwarf emits into space is

Accepted Answer

A)  replaced by fusion of hydrogen atoms into helium. 
B)  replaced by fusion of helium atoms into carbon. 
C)  not replaced. 
A)  replaced by fusion of hydrogen atoms into helium. 
B)  replaced by fusion of helium atoms into carbon. 
C)  not replaced.

Question 6

As material leaves an expanding star and begins to fall into a white dwarf companion

Accepted Answer

A)  an accretion disk will form around the white dwarf. 
B)  the material will cool off because it begins to move at high velocities. 
C)  the material will fall directly straight onto the surface of the white dwarf. 
D)  the white dwarf will produce a protostar. 
E)  the white dwarf's iron core will collapse. 
A)  an accretion disk will form around the white dwarf. 
B)  the material will cool off because it begins to move at high velocities. 
C)  the material will fall directly straight onto the surface of the white dwarf. 
D)  the white dwarf will produce a protostar. 
E)  the white dwarf's iron core will collapse.

Question 7

For a star of sun-like mass, what is the last stage of the nuclear fusion?

Accepted Answer

A)  Hydrogen to helium 
B)  Helium to carbon and oxygen 
C)  Carbon to magnesium 
D)  Fusion goes all the way up to iron. 
A)  Hydrogen to helium 
B)  Helium to carbon and oxygen 
C)  Carbon to magnesium 
D)  Fusion goes all the way up to iron.

Question 8

The Algol paradox is explained by considering

Accepted Answer

A)  the degenerate nature of the hydrogen on the surface of the white dwarf. 
B)  synchrotron radiation. 
C)  the rate of expansion of the shock wave inside the supernova. 
D)  the rotation rate of a neutron star. 
E)  mass transfer between the two stars in a binary system. 
A)  the degenerate nature of the hydrogen on the surface of the white dwarf. 
B)  synchrotron radiation. 
C)  the rate of expansion of the shock wave inside the supernova. 
D)  the rotation rate of a neutron star. 
E)  mass transfer between the two stars in a binary system.

Question 9

Hydrogen fusion does not occur in stats in the giant region of the H-R diagram.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Why does a helium flash occur under some circumstances and not under other circumstances when helium fusion begins?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why does a helium flash occur under...

Question 11

If white dwarfs have exhausted their fuel, why are they hot?

Accepted Answer

The answer of If white dwarfs have exhausted their fuel,...

Question 12

Why can't lower-main-sequence stars become giant stars?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why can't lower-main-sequence stars become giant stars?...

Question 13

What are the two longest stages in the life of a one-solar-mass star?

Accepted Answer

A)  Protostar, pre-main-sequence 
B)  Protostar, white dwarf 
C)  Protostar, main-sequence 
D)  Main-sequence, white dwarf 
A)  Protostar, pre-main-sequence 
B)  Protostar, white dwarf 
C)  Protostar, main-sequence 
D)  Main-sequence, white dwarf

Question 14

Helium fusion is called the triple-alpha process because

Accepted Answer

A)  the helium nucleus is known as an alpha particle. 
B)  it occurs very rapidly. 
C)  it requires a temperature three times greater than that of hydrogen fusion. 
D)  it is the third source of the primary fusion processes. 
E)  each reaction produces three carbon nuclei. 
A)  the helium nucleus is known as an alpha particle. 
B)  it occurs very rapidly. 
C)  it requires a temperature three times greater than that of hydrogen fusion. 
D)  it is the third source of the primary fusion processes. 
E)  each reaction produces three carbon nuclei.

Question 15

A star begins fusing hydrogen to helium the moment it leaves the main sequence.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

We know that the central object in a planetary nebula has a surface temperature of at least ____ because the nebula contains large amounts of ionized hydrogen.

Accepted Answer

A)  50 K 
B)  100 K 
C)  500 K 
D)  5,000 K 
E)  25,000 K 
A)  50 K 
B)  100 K 
C)  500 K 
D)  5,000 K 
E)  25,000 K

Question 17

What evidence do we have that some stars lose mass?

Accepted Answer

We have several pieces of evidence that

Question 18

A planetary nebula

Accepted Answer

A)  produces an absorption spectrum. 
B)  produces an emission spectrum. 
C)  is contracting to form planets. 
D)  is contracting to form a star. 
E)  is the result of carbon detonation in a 1-star. 
A)  produces an absorption spectrum. 
B)  produces an emission spectrum. 
C)  is contracting to form planets. 
D)  is contracting to form a star. 
E)  is the result of carbon detonation in a 1-star.

Question 19

No known white dwarf has a mass greater than the Chandrasekhar limit.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Once a star ejects a planetary nebula, it becomes a white dwarf.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Young star clusters have bluer turn-off points than old clusters.

Why can't a lower-mass star generate energy through carbon flash?

Synchrotron radiation is produced by

The Helix and Egg nebulae which originated from (what are today) white dwarf stars are

The energy a white dwarf emits into space is

As material leaves an expanding star and begins to fall into a white dwarf companion

For a star of sun-like mass, what is the last stage of the nuclear fusion?

The Algol paradox is explained by considering

Hydrogen fusion does not occur in stats in the giant region of the H-R diagram.

Why does a helium flash occur under some circumstances and not under other circumstances when helium fusion begins?

If white dwarfs have exhausted their fuel, why are they hot?

Why can't lower-main-sequence stars become giant stars?

What are the two longest stages in the life of a one-solar-mass star?

Helium fusion is called the triple-alpha process because

A star begins fusing hydrogen to helium the moment it leaves the main sequence.

We know that the central object in a planetary nebula has a surface temperature of at least ____ because the nebula contains large amounts of ionized hydrogen.

What evidence do we have that some stars lose mass?

A planetary nebula

No known white dwarf has a mass greater than the Chandrasekhar limit.

Once a star ejects a planetary nebula, it becomes a white dwarf.

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A Users Guide to the Sky

Cycles of the Sun and Moon

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

The Family of Stars

The Formation and Structure of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies: Normal and Active

Modern Cosmology

The Origin of the Solar System

Earth and Moon: Bases for Comparative Planetology

Mercury, Venus and Mars

The Outer Solar System

Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets

Astrobiology: Life on Other Worlds

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Exam 10: The Deaths of Stars

Young star clusters have bluer turn-off points than old clusters.

Why can't a lower-mass star generate energy through carbon flash?

Synchrotron radiation is produced by

The Helix and Egg nebulae which originated from (what are today) white dwarf stars are

The energy a white dwarf emits into space is

As material leaves an expanding star and begins to fall into a white dwarf companion

For a star of sun-like mass, what is the last stage of the nuclear fusion?

The Algol paradox is explained by considering

Hydrogen fusion does not occur in stats in the giant region of the H-R diagram.

Why does a helium flash occur under some circumstances and not under other circumstances when helium fusion begins?

If white dwarfs have exhausted their fuel, why are they hot?

Why can't lower-main-sequence stars become giant stars?

What are the two longest stages in the life of a one-solar-mass star?

Helium fusion is called the triple-alpha process because

A star begins fusing hydrogen to helium the moment it leaves the main sequence.

We know that the central object in a planetary nebula has a surface temperature of at least ____ because the nebula contains large amounts of ionized hydrogen.

What evidence do we have that some stars lose mass?

A planetary nebula

No known white dwarf has a mass greater than the Chandrasekhar limit.

Once a star ejects a planetary nebula, it becomes a white dwarf.

Here and Now

A Users Guide to the Sky

Cycles of the Sun and Moon

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

The Family of Stars

The Formation and Structure of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies: Normal and Active

Modern Cosmology

The Origin of the Solar System

Earth and Moon: Bases for Comparative Planetology

Mercury, Venus and Mars

The Outer Solar System

Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets

Astrobiology: Life on Other Worlds

Filters