Question 1

How are low-mass red giant stars important to our existence?

Accepted Answer

A) These stars manufactured virtually all the elements out of which we and our planet are made. 
B) These stars generate the energy that makes life on Earth possible. 
C) These stars manufactured most of the carbon atoms in our bodies. 
D) These stars provide most of the light that reaches us from globular clusters. 
A) These stars manufactured virtually all the elements out of which we and our planet are made. 
B) These stars generate the energy that makes life on Earth possible. 
C) These stars manufactured most of the carbon atoms in our bodies. 
D) These stars provide most of the light that reaches us from globular clusters.

Question 2

Which of the following pairs of atomic nuclei would feel the strongest repulsive electromagnetic force if you tried to push them together?

Accepted Answer

A) helium and helium 
B) hydrogen and hydrogen 
C) hydrogen and helium 
D) hydrogen and deuterium 
A) helium and helium 
B) hydrogen and hydrogen 
C) hydrogen and helium 
D) hydrogen and deuterium

Question 3

This diagram represents the life track of a 1-solar-mass star.Refer to the life stages labeled with Roman numerals.
  
-What will happen to the star after stage VIII?

Accepted Answer

A) Its outer layers will be ejected as a planetary nebula and its core will become a white dwarf. 
B) It will continue to expand gradually until carbon fusion begins in its core. 
C) It will explode as a supernova and leave a neutron star or black hole behind. 
D) It will remain in stage VIII for about 10 billion years,after which its outer layers will shrink back and cool. 
A) Its outer layers will be ejected as a planetary nebula and its core will become a white dwarf. 
B) It will continue to expand gradually until carbon fusion begins in its core. 
C) It will explode as a supernova and leave a neutron star or black hole behind. 
D) It will remain in stage VIII for about 10 billion years,after which its outer layers will shrink back and cool.

Question 4

Sun is considered to be a

Accepted Answer

A) low-mass star. 
B) intermediate-mass star. 
C) high-mass star. 
D) brown dwarf. 
A) low-mass star. 
B) intermediate-mass star. 
C) high-mass star. 
D) brown dwarf.

Question 5

Why does a star grow larger after it exhausts its core hydrogen?

Accepted Answer

A) The outer layers of the star are no longer gravitationally attracted to the core. 
B) Hydrogen fusion in a shell outside the core generates enough thermal pressure to push the upper layers outward. 
C) Helium fusion in the core generates enough thermal pressure to push the upper layers outward. 
D) Helium fusion in a shell outside the core generates enough thermal pressure to push the upper layers outward. 
E) The internal radiation generated by the hydrogen fusion in the core has heated the outer layers enough that they can expand after the star is no longer fusing hydrogen. 
A) The outer layers of the star are no longer gravitationally attracted to the core. 
B) Hydrogen fusion in a shell outside the core generates enough thermal pressure to push the upper layers outward. 
C) Helium fusion in the core generates enough thermal pressure to push the upper layers outward. 
D) Helium fusion in a shell outside the core generates enough thermal pressure to push the upper layers outward. 
E) The internal radiation generated by the hydrogen fusion in the core has heated the outer layers enough that they can expand after the star is no longer fusing hydrogen.

Question 6

What happens when a main-sequence star exhausts its core hydrogen fuel supply?

Accepted Answer

A) The entire star shrinks in size. 
B) The core shrinks while the rest of the star expands. 
C) The core immediately begins to fuse its helium into carbon. 
D) The star becomes a neutron star. 
A) The entire star shrinks in size. 
B) The core shrinks while the rest of the star expands. 
C) The core immediately begins to fuse its helium into carbon. 
D) The star becomes a neutron star.

Question 7

What is the range of star masses for high-mass stars?

Accepted Answer

A) between 500 and about 1,000 solar masses 
B) between 200 and about 500 solar masses 
C) between 8 and about 100 solar masses 
D) between 2 and about 10 solar masses 
E) between 2 and about 5 solar masses 
A) between 500 and about 1,000 solar masses 
B) between 200 and about 500 solar masses 
C) between 8 and about 100 solar masses 
D) between 2 and about 10 solar masses 
E) between 2 and about 5 solar masses

Question 8

Choose from the list below for the following questions.You may use a choice more than once.
-Which process leads to the production of carbon?

Accepted Answer

A) H fusion by the proton-proton chain 
B) H fusion by the CNO cycle 
C) helium fusion 
D) matter-antimatter annihilation 
E) gravitational contraction 
A) H fusion by the proton-proton chain 
B) H fusion by the CNO cycle 
C) helium fusion 
D) matter-antimatter annihilation 
E) gravitational contraction

Question 9

What type of star is our Sun?

Accepted Answer

A) low-mass star 
B) intermediate-mass star 
C) high-mass star 
D) brown dwarf 
A) low-mass star 
B) intermediate-mass star 
C) high-mass star 
D) brown dwarf

Question 10

Do you think it is possible that a 10-solar-mass main-sequence star could harbor an advanced civilization? Explain your reasoning.

Accepted Answer

A 10-solar-mass star has a ver

Question 11

In any star cluster,stars with lower masses greatly outnumber those with higher masses.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

The overall helium fusion reaction is

Accepted Answer

A) three helium nuclei fuse to form one carbon nucleus. 
B) two helium nuclei fuse to form one beryllium nucleus. 
C) two hydrogen nuclei fuse to form one helium nucleus. 
D) four helium nuclei fuse to form one oxygen nucleus. 
A) three helium nuclei fuse to form one carbon nucleus. 
B) two helium nuclei fuse to form one beryllium nucleus. 
C) two hydrogen nuclei fuse to form one helium nucleus. 
D) four helium nuclei fuse to form one oxygen nucleus.

Question 13

Choose from the list below for the following questions.You may use a choice more than once.
-When a 1-solar-mass star stabilizes as a giant for about a billion years,which method of energy generation occurs in its central core?

Accepted Answer

A) H fusion by the proton-proton chain 
B) H fusion by the CNO cycle 
C) helium fusion 
D) matter-antimatter annihilation 
E) gravitational contraction 
A) H fusion by the proton-proton chain 
B) H fusion by the CNO cycle 
C) helium fusion 
D) matter-antimatter annihilation 
E) gravitational contraction

Question 14

Choose from the list below for the following questions.You may use a choice more than once.
-Which method of energy generation provides the source of energy for a protostar?

Accepted Answer

A) H fusion by the proton-proton chain 
B) H fusion by the CNO cycle 
C) helium fusion 
D) matter-antimatter annihilation 
E) gravitational contraction 
A) H fusion by the proton-proton chain 
B) H fusion by the CNO cycle 
C) helium fusion 
D) matter-antimatter annihilation 
E) gravitational contraction

Question 15

This diagram represents the life track of a 1-solar-mass star.Refer to the life stages labeled with Roman numerals.
  
-During which stage does the star have an inert (non-burning)helium core?

Accepted Answer

A) III 
B) IV 
C) VI 
D) VII 
E) VIII 
A) III 
B) IV 
C) VI 
D) VII 
E) VIII

Question 16

Where does gold (the element)come from?

Accepted Answer

A) It is produced by mass transfer in close binaries. 
B) It is produced during the supernova explosions of high-mass stars. 
C) It is produced during the late stages of fusion in low-mass stars. 
D) It was produced during the Big Bang. 
A) It is produced by mass transfer in close binaries. 
B) It is produced during the supernova explosions of high-mass stars. 
C) It is produced during the late stages of fusion in low-mass stars. 
D) It was produced during the Big Bang.

Question 17

Lithium,beryllium,and boron are elements with atomic number 3,4,and 5,respectively.Even though they are three of the five simplest elements,why are they rare compared to many heavier elements?

Accepted Answer

Helium fuses into carbon by combining th

Question 18

After a supernova event,what is left behind?

Accepted Answer

A) always a white dwarf 
B) always a neutron star 
C) always a black hole 
D) either a white dwarf or a neutron star 
E) either a neutron star or a black hole 
A) always a white dwarf 
B) always a neutron star 
C) always a black hole 
D) either a white dwarf or a neutron star 
E) either a neutron star or a black hole

Question 19

It is impossible to know whether our Sun will end its life as a white dwarf or neutron star.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Which is more common: a star blows up as a supernova,or a star forms a planetary nebula/white dwarf system?

Accepted Answer

A) Supernovae are more common. 
B) Planetary nebula formation is more common. 
C) They both occur in about equal numbers. 
D) It is impossible to say. 
A) Supernovae are more common. 
B) Planetary nebula formation is more common. 
C) They both occur in about equal numbers. 
D) It is impossible to say.

Exam 17: Star Stuff

How are low-mass red giant stars important to our existence?

Which of the following pairs of atomic nuclei would feel the strongest repulsive electromagnetic force if you tried to push them together?

This diagram represents the life track of a 1-solar-mass star.Refer to the life stages labeled with Roman numerals. -What will happen to the star after stage VIII?

Sun is considered to be a

Why does a star grow larger after it exhausts its core hydrogen?

What happens when a main-sequence star exhausts its core hydrogen fuel supply?

What is the range of star masses for high-mass stars?

Choose from the list below for the following questions.You may use a choice more than once. -Which process leads to the production of carbon?

What type of star is our Sun?

Do you think it is possible that a 10-solar-mass main-sequence star could harbor an advanced civilization? Explain your reasoning.

In any star cluster,stars with lower masses greatly outnumber those with higher masses.

The overall helium fusion reaction is

Choose from the list below for the following questions.You may use a choice more than once. -When a 1-solar-mass star stabilizes as a giant for about a billion years,which method of energy generation occurs in its central core?

Choose from the list below for the following questions.You may use a choice more than once. -Which method of energy generation provides the source of energy for a protostar?

This diagram represents the life track of a 1-solar-mass star.Refer to the life stages labeled with Roman numerals. -During which stage does the star have an inert (non-burning)helium core?

Where does gold (the element)come from?

Lithium,beryllium,and boron are elements with atomic number 3,4,and 5,respectively.Even though they are three of the five simplest elements,why are they rare compared to many heavier elements?

After a supernova event,what is left behind?

It is impossible to know whether our Sun will end its life as a white dwarf or neutron star.

Which is more common: a star blows up as a supernova,or a star forms a planetary nebula/white dwarf system?

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