Question 1

What role does the main sequence mass of the star play in the formation of heavy elements inthe giant stage?

Accepted Answer

Basically the greater the mass of the at

Question 2

Which of these is the likely progenitor of a Type I supernova?

Accepted Answer

A) a mass-transfer binary, with the white dwarf already at 1.3 solar masses 
B) a contact binary, with the neutron star at 2.3 solar masses 
C) an evolved red giant which is just starting to make silicon in its core 
D) an evolved blue supergiant that is about to experience the helium flash 
E) a helium-neon white dwarf 
A) a mass-transfer binary, with the white dwarf already at 1.3 solar masses 
B) a contact binary, with the neutron star at 2.3 solar masses 
C) an evolved red giant which is just starting to make silicon in its core 
D) an evolved blue supergiant that is about to experience the helium flash 
E) a helium-neon white dwarf

Question 3

The Chandrasekhar mass limit is:

Accepted Answer

A) .08 solar masses. 
B) .4 solar masses. 
C) 1.4 solar masses. 
D) 3 solar masses. 
E) 8 solar masses. 
A) .08 solar masses. 
B) .4 solar masses. 
C) 1.4 solar masses. 
D) 3 solar masses. 
E) 8 solar masses.

Question 4

Type I supernovae are NOT:

Accepted Answer

A) products of mass transfer. 
B) created by the mass of the white dwarf exceeding Chandrasekhar's Limit. 
C) rich in hydrogen from the outer envelope of the collapsed star. 
D) brighter than Type II supernovae. 
E) created by carbon detonation. 
A) products of mass transfer. 
B) created by the mass of the white dwarf exceeding Chandrasekhar's Limit. 
C) rich in hydrogen from the outer envelope of the collapsed star. 
D) brighter than Type II supernovae. 
E) created by carbon detonation.

Question 5

At temperatures of ________ K, photons can split apart nuclei until only protons andneutrons are left in photodisintegration.

Accepted Answer

A) ten million 
B) 100 million 
C) one billion 
D) ten billion 
E) one hundred billion 
A) ten million 
B) 100 million 
C) one billion 
D) ten billion 
E) one hundred billion

Question 6

What can you conclude about a Type I supernova?

Accepted Answer

A) It was originally a low-mass star. 
B) It was originally a high mass star. 
C) Its spectrum will show large amounts of hydrogen. 
D) Its core was mostly iron. 
E) The star never reached the Chandrasekhar Limit. 
A) It was originally a low-mass star. 
B) It was originally a high mass star. 
C) Its spectrum will show large amounts of hydrogen. 
D) Its core was mostly iron. 
E) The star never reached the Chandrasekhar Limit.

Question 7

What direct evidence do astronomers have that supports the heavy element formation instars?

Accepted Answer

A) the presence of technetium in giant star spectra 
B) observed elemental abundances 
C) gamma-ray emissions from decay of cobalt 56 in supernovae 
D) light curves of type-I supernovae 
E) All of the above are evidence of this. 
A) the presence of technetium in giant star spectra 
B) observed elemental abundances 
C) gamma-ray emissions from decay of cobalt 56 in supernovae 
D) light curves of type-I supernovae 
E) All of the above are evidence of this.

Question 8

Supernova remnants differ from star forming regions because, although there is ionizedhydrogen in both, supernova remnants:

Accepted Answer

A) don't look like star forming regions. 
B) are much bigger than star forming regions. 
C) are located far from star forming regions. 
D) are more diffuse than star forming regions. 
E) contain no ionizing stars. 
A) don't look like star forming regions. 
B) are much bigger than star forming regions. 
C) are located far from star forming regions. 
D) are more diffuse than star forming regions. 
E) contain no ionizing stars.

Question 9

Which statement about young stars is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A) They contain a larger fraction of heavy elements than previous generations. 
B) They are born in a dustier environment than earlier generations. 
C) They are more likely to have planets forming with them than earlier generations. 
D) The high mass stars will be more likely to produce heavier elements as they evolve. 
E) Being young, they will have more pure hydrogen than earlier generations. 
A) They contain a larger fraction of heavy elements than previous generations. 
B) They are born in a dustier environment than earlier generations. 
C) They are more likely to have planets forming with them than earlier generations. 
D) The high mass stars will be more likely to produce heavier elements as they evolve. 
E) Being young, they will have more pure hydrogen than earlier generations.

Question 10

Which of these does NOT depend on a close binary system to occur?

Accepted Answer

A) a nova 
B) a Type I supernova 
C) a Type II supernova 
D) All of these need mass transfer to occur. 
E) None of these depend on mass transfer. 
A) a nova 
B) a Type I supernova 
C) a Type II supernova 
D) All of these need mass transfer to occur. 
E) None of these depend on mass transfer.

Question 11

Iron is the most stably bonded atomic nucleus.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

What is the importance of 1.4 solar masses in stellar evolution?

Accepted Answer

1.4 solar masses is the Chandrasekhar Li

Question 13

Will our Sun become a supernova? Why?

Accepted Answer

No, it is not in a close binar

Question 14

Why does iron formation cause a high mass star to "have a heart attack"?

Accepted Answer

Iron is the most tightly bonded of all n

Question 15

In order of visual luminosity at the start, which is most luminous?

Accepted Answer

A) a red supergiant 
B) a planetary nebula 
C) a nova 
D) a Type I supernova 
E) a Type II supernova 
A) a red supergiant 
B) a planetary nebula 
C) a nova 
D) a Type I supernova 
E) a Type II supernova

Question 16

Which of these events is NOT possible?

Accepted Answer

A) low-mass stars swelling up to produce planetary nebulae 
B) red giants exploding as Type II supernovae 
C) close binary stars producing recurrent novae explosions 
D) white dwarfs and companion stars producing recurrent Type I supernova events 
E) a white dwarf being found in the center of a planetary nebula 
A) low-mass stars swelling up to produce planetary nebulae 
B) red giants exploding as Type II supernovae 
C) close binary stars producing recurrent novae explosions 
D) white dwarfs and companion stars producing recurrent Type I supernova events 
E) a white dwarf being found in the center of a planetary nebula

Question 17

If a white dwarf gains sufficient mass, it can become a:

Accepted Answer

A) brown dwarf. 
B) Type II supernova. 
C) Type I supernova. 
D) planetary nebula. 
E) black dwarf. 
A) brown dwarf. 
B) Type II supernova. 
C) Type I supernova. 
D) planetary nebula. 
E) black dwarf.

Question 18

What are two differences observed between Type I and Type II supernovae?

Accepted Answer

Type I supernovae have very little hydro

Question 19

Why does neutron capture work?

Accepted Answer

A) Neutrons have no repulsive barrier to overcome in combining with positively charged nuclei. 
B) Neutrinos, because of their low mass and high speed, easily penetrate nuclei. 
C) Single protons have little repulsion to heavy nuclei and easily fuse with them. 
D) Photodisintegration makes many alpha particles, available for capture by nuclei. 
E) Neutronization captures all the protons and electrons. 
A) Neutrons have no repulsive barrier to overcome in combining with positively charged nuclei. 
B) Neutrinos, because of their low mass and high speed, easily penetrate nuclei. 
C) Single protons have little repulsion to heavy nuclei and easily fuse with them. 
D) Photodisintegration makes many alpha particles, available for capture by nuclei. 
E) Neutronization captures all the protons and electrons.

Question 20

Unlike supernovae, novae can explode more than once, increasing their luminosity bythousands of times.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 21: Stellar Explosions: Novae, Supernovae, and the Formation of the Elements

What role does the main sequence mass of the star play in the formation of heavy elements inthe giant stage?

Which of these is the likely progenitor of a Type I supernova?

The Chandrasekhar mass limit is:

Type I supernovae are NOT:

At temperatures of ________ K, photons can split apart nuclei until only protons andneutrons are left in photodisintegration.

What can you conclude about a Type I supernova?

What direct evidence do astronomers have that supports the heavy element formation instars?

Supernova remnants differ from star forming regions because, although there is ionizedhydrogen in both, supernova remnants:

Which statement about young stars is FALSE?

Which of these does NOT depend on a close binary system to occur?

Iron is the most stably bonded atomic nucleus.

What is the importance of 1.4 solar masses in stellar evolution?

Will our Sun become a supernova? Why?

Why does iron formation cause a high mass star to "have a heart attack"?

In order of visual luminosity at the start, which is most luminous?

Which of these events is NOT possible?

If a white dwarf gains sufficient mass, it can become a:

What are two differences observed between Type I and Type II supernovae?

Why does neutron capture work?

Unlike supernovae, novae can explode more than once, increasing their luminosity bythousands of times.

Charting the Heavens: The Foundations of Astronomy

The Copernican Revolution: The Birth of Modern Science

Radiation: Information From the Cosmos

Spectroscopy: the Inner Workings of Atoms

Telescopes: The Tools of Astronomy

The Solar System: Comparative Planetology and Formation Models

Earth: Our Home in Space

The Moon and Mercury: Scorched and Battered Worlds

Venus: Earths Sister Planet

Mars: a Near Miss for Life

Jupiter: Giant of the Solar System

Saturn: Spectacular Rings and Mysterious Moons

Uranus and Neptune: The Outer Worlds of the Solar System

Solar System Debris: Keys to Our Origin

Exoplanets: Planetary Systems Beyond Our Own

The Sun: Our Parent Star

The Stars: Giants, Dwarfs, and the Main Sequence

The Interstellar Medium: Gas and Dust Among the Stars

Star Formation: a Traumatic Birth

Stellar Evolution: The Life and Death of a Star

Neutron Stars and Black Holes: Strange States of Matter

The Milky Way Galaxy: a Spiral in Space

Galaxies: Building Blocks of the Universe

Galaxies and Dark Matter: The Large-Scale Structure of the Cosmos

Cosmology: The Big Bang and the Fate of the Universe

The Early Universe: Toward the Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe: Are We Alone

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