Question 1

When helium capture occurs with a carbon 12 nucleus, what results?

Accepted Answer

A) nitrogen 14 
B) oxygen 16 
C) neon 20 
D) silicon 28 
E) nickel 56 
A) nitrogen 14 
B) oxygen 16 
C) neon 20 
D) silicon 28 
E) nickel 56

Question 2

Novae always occur in a close binary star system.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Why is the post-Main Sequence structure of a high mass star sometimes described by an"onion-layer" model? Explain.

Accepted Answer

Late in the evolution of massive stars,

Question 4

What evidence is there that supernovae really have occurred?

Accepted Answer

A) Crab Nebula 
B) supernova remnants 
C) existence of heavy radioactive elements in nature 
D) observations of the actual explosions 
E) all of the above 
A) Crab Nebula 
B) supernova remnants 
C) existence of heavy radioactive elements in nature 
D) observations of the actual explosions 
E) all of the above

Question 5

Because the Earth contains elements heavier than iron, we know that the solar nebula wasenriched due to:

Accepted Answer

A) a Type II supernova. 
B) a Type I supernova. 
C) a nova. 
D) a planetary nebula. 
E) the destruction of another planet. 
A) a Type II supernova. 
B) a Type I supernova. 
C) a nova. 
D) a planetary nebula. 
E) the destruction of another planet.

Question 6

Which type of heavy atomic nuclei are most common, and why?

Accepted Answer

A) Transuranium elements, for only very heavy elements are made in supernovae. 
B) Odd numbered elements, because hydrogen is the building block for all heavier elements. 
C) Even numbered elements, for helium is "giant food" for everything beyond itself. 
D) Metals, for iron is the last abundant element formed before the Type II supernova. 
E) Noble gases, for they are the most stable elements. 
A) Transuranium elements, for only very heavy elements are made in supernovae. 
B) Odd numbered elements, because hydrogen is the building block for all heavier elements. 
C) Even numbered elements, for helium is "giant food" for everything beyond itself. 
D) Metals, for iron is the last abundant element formed before the Type II supernova. 
E) Noble gases, for they are the most stable elements.

Question 7

When a stellar iron core collapses, large numbers of neutrinos are formed, and then:

Accepted Answer

A) they form the neutron star. 
B) they are absorbed by electrons to produce positrons. 
C) they are captured to form heavy elements. 
D) they are captured to form light elements. 
E) they immediately pass through the core and escape to space. 
A) they form the neutron star. 
B) they are absorbed by electrons to produce positrons. 
C) they are captured to form heavy elements. 
D) they are captured to form light elements. 
E) they immediately pass through the core and escape to space.

Question 8

How does the death of one very massive star give birth to perhaps hundreds of smaller onessoon thereafter?

Accepted Answer

The more massive the star, the faster it

Question 9

Under what circumstances will a nova occur?

Accepted Answer

When a white dwarf pulls mass off its co

Question 10

The element with the most stable nucleus and smallest mass per particle is:

Accepted Answer

A) uranium. 
B) argon. 
C) helium. 
D) hydrogen 
E) iron. 
A) uranium. 
B) argon. 
C) helium. 
D) hydrogen 
E) iron.

Question 11

The final core collapse of a massive star takes about 13 seconds.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

What produces a type-I supernova?

Accepted Answer

A) the collapse of the core of a massive star 
B) the helium flash blows apart a giant's core 
C) mass transfer onto a white dwarf pushing it over 1.4 solar masses 
D) a nova igniting a helium flash in its red giant companion 
E) the radioactive decay of nickel 56 into cobalt 56 into iron 56 
A) the collapse of the core of a massive star 
B) the helium flash blows apart a giant's core 
C) mass transfer onto a white dwarf pushing it over 1.4 solar masses 
D) a nova igniting a helium flash in its red giant companion 
E) the radioactive decay of nickel 56 into cobalt 56 into iron 56

Question 13

It takes less and less time to fuse heavier and heavier elements inside a high mass star.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

The spectra of the youngest stars show the most heavy elements present.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

The making of abundant iron nuclei is typical of:

Accepted Answer

A) planetary nebula ejection. 
B) the helium flash. 
C) all novae. 
D) Type I supernovae. 
E) Type II supernovae. 
A) planetary nebula ejection. 
B) the helium flash. 
C) all novae. 
D) Type I supernovae. 
E) Type II supernovae.

Question 16

Beyond the formation of iron, nuclear energy can be produced only by:

Accepted Answer

A) fusion of still heavier elements. 
B) ionization of the radioactive nuclei. 
C) fission of heavy nuclei back toward lighter ones. 
D) gravity. 
E) the dark force. 
A) fusion of still heavier elements. 
B) ionization of the radioactive nuclei. 
C) fission of heavy nuclei back toward lighter ones. 
D) gravity. 
E) the dark force.

Question 17

The alpha process tends to produce chiefly:

Accepted Answer

A) only carbon. 
B) stable elements. 
C) even numbered elements. 
D) odd numbered elements. 
E) only radioactive elements. 
A) only carbon. 
B) stable elements. 
C) even numbered elements. 
D) odd numbered elements. 
E) only radioactive elements.

Question 18

An object in the sky brightens suddenly, but shows no hydrogen lines in its spectrum. It ismost likely a(n):

Accepted Answer

A) comet. 
B) Type I supernova. 
C) Type II supernova. 
D) asteroid impact. 
E) stellar collision. 
A) comet. 
B) Type I supernova. 
C) Type II supernova. 
D) asteroid impact. 
E) stellar collision.

Question 19

Because they all involve formation of iron in cores of massive stars, all Type II supernovaeare equally luminous.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

In neutronization of the core, a proton and an electron make a neutron and a(n):

Accepted Answer

A) positron. 
B) muon. 
C) neutrino. 
D) pion. 
E) antineutron. 
A) positron. 
B) muon. 
C) neutrino. 
D) pion. 
E) antineutron.

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

When helium capture occurs with a carbon 12 nucleus, what results?

Novae always occur in a close binary star system.

Why is the post-Main Sequence structure of a high mass star sometimes described by an"onion-layer" model? Explain.

What evidence is there that supernovae really have occurred?

Because the Earth contains elements heavier than iron, we know that the solar nebula wasenriched due to:

Which type of heavy atomic nuclei are most common, and why?

When a stellar iron core collapses, large numbers of neutrinos are formed, and then:

How does the death of one very massive star give birth to perhaps hundreds of smaller onessoon thereafter?

Under what circumstances will a nova occur?

The element with the most stable nucleus and smallest mass per particle is:

The final core collapse of a massive star takes about 13 seconds.

What produces a type-I supernova?

It takes less and less time to fuse heavier and heavier elements inside a high mass star.

The spectra of the youngest stars show the most heavy elements present.

The making of abundant iron nuclei is typical of:

Beyond the formation of iron, nuclear energy can be produced only by:

The alpha process tends to produce chiefly:

An object in the sky brightens suddenly, but shows no hydrogen lines in its spectrum. It ismost likely a(n):

Because they all involve formation of iron in cores of massive stars, all Type II supernovaeare equally luminous.

In neutronization of the core, a proton and an electron make a neutron and a(n):

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

Filters