Question 1

All of the following are involved in carrying energy outward from a star's core except

Accepted Answer

A) convection. 
B) radiative diffusion. 
C) conduction. 
D) neutrinos. 
A) convection. 
B) radiative diffusion. 
C) conduction. 
D) neutrinos.

Question 2

The main source of energy for a star as it grows in size to become a red giant is

Accepted Answer

A) hydrogen fusion in the central core. 
B) helium fusion in the central core. 
C) hydrogen fusion in a shell surrounding the central core. 
D) gravitational contraction. 
A) hydrogen fusion in the central core. 
B) helium fusion in the central core. 
C) hydrogen fusion in a shell surrounding the central core. 
D) gravitational contraction.

Question 3

All stars that become supernovae will leave behind a neutron star.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

What types of stars end their lives with supernovae?

Accepted Answer

A) all stars that are red in color 
B) all stars that are yellow in color 
C) stars that are at least several times the mass of the Sun 
D) stars that are similar in mass to the Sun 
E) stars that have reached an age of 10 billion years 
A) all stars that are red in color 
B) all stars that are yellow in color 
C) stars that are at least several times the mass of the Sun 
D) stars that are similar in mass to the Sun 
E) stars that have reached an age of 10 billion years

Question 5

Will our Sun contribute heavy elements to the cosmos at the end of its life?

Accepted Answer

A) Yes,all stars do. 
B) No,only high mass stars make heavy elements,and our Sun is a low mass star. 
C) It is possible,but there is no way for us to know. 
D) Yes,but only because it is a low mass star and has plenty of time to produce those heavy elements. 
A) Yes,all stars do. 
B) No,only high mass stars make heavy elements,and our Sun is a low mass star. 
C) It is possible,but there is no way for us to know. 
D) Yes,but only because it is a low mass star and has plenty of time to produce those heavy elements.

Question 6

After a supernova explosion,the remains of the stellar core

Accepted Answer

A) will always be a neutron star. 
B) be either a neutron star or a black hole. 
C) will always be a black hole. 
D) may be either a white dwarf,neutron star,or black hole. 
A) will always be a neutron star. 
B) be either a neutron star or a black hole. 
C) will always be a black hole. 
D) may be either a white dwarf,neutron star,or black hole.

Question 7

Most interstellar dust grains are produced in

Accepted Answer

A) the Big Bang. 
B) the interstellar medium. 
C) the atmospheres of red giant stars. 
D) supernova explosions. 
E) the solar nebula. 
A) the Big Bang. 
B) the interstellar medium. 
C) the atmospheres of red giant stars. 
D) supernova explosions. 
E) the solar nebula.

Question 8

Algol consist of a 3.7 MSᵤn main-sequence star and a 0.8 MSᵤn subgiant.Why does this seem surprising,at least at first?

Accepted Answer

A) The two stars in a binary system should both be at the same stage of life;that is,they should either both be main-sequence stars or both be subgiants. 
B) It doesn't make sense to find a subgiant in a binary star system. 
C) The two stars should be the same age,so we'd expect the subgiant to be more massive than the main-sequence star. 
D) A star with a mass of 3.7 MSᵤn is too big to be a main-sequence star. 
A) The two stars in a binary system should both be at the same stage of life;that is,they should either both be main-sequence stars or both be subgiants. 
B) It doesn't make sense to find a subgiant in a binary star system. 
C) The two stars should be the same age,so we'd expect the subgiant to be more massive than the main-sequence star. 
D) A star with a mass of 3.7 MSᵤn is too big to be a main-sequence star.

Question 9

Process of Science: Explain how patterns in cosmic abundances (Figure 17.15 in the textbook)fit theoretical predictions for the origin of the elements.

Accepted Answer

Heavier elements are rarer as they are p

Question 10

Why is Supernova 1987A particularly important to astronomers?

Accepted Answer

A) It is the nearest supernova to have occurred at a time when we were capable of studying it carefully with telescopes. 
B) It was the first supernova detected in nearly 400 years. 
C) It provided the first evidence that supernovae really occur. 
D) It occurred only a few light-years from Earth. 
A) It is the nearest supernova to have occurred at a time when we were capable of studying it carefully with telescopes. 
B) It was the first supernova detected in nearly 400 years. 
C) It provided the first evidence that supernovae really occur. 
D) It occurred only a few light-years from Earth.

Question 11

A spinning neutron star has been observed at the center of a

Accepted Answer

A) planetary nebula. 
B) supernova remnant. 
C) red supergiant. 
D) protostar. 
A) planetary nebula. 
B) supernova remnant. 
C) red supergiant. 
D) protostar.

Question 12

Suppose the star Betelgeuse (the upper left shoulder of Orion)were to become a supernova tomorrow (as seen here on Earth).What would it look like to the naked eye?

Accepted Answer

A) Because the supernova event destroys the star,Betelgeuse would suddenly disappear from view. 
B) We'd see a cloud of gas expanding away from the position where Betelgeuse used to be.Over a period of a few weeks,this cloud would fill our entire sky. 
C) Betelgeuse would remain a dot of light but would suddenly become so bright that,for a few weeks,we'd be able to see this dot in the daytime. 
D) Betelgeuse would suddenly appear to grow larger in size,soon reaching the size of the full moon.It would also be about as bright as the full moon. 
A) Because the supernova event destroys the star,Betelgeuse would suddenly disappear from view. 
B) We'd see a cloud of gas expanding away from the position where Betelgeuse used to be.Over a period of a few weeks,this cloud would fill our entire sky. 
C) Betelgeuse would remain a dot of light but would suddenly become so bright that,for a few weeks,we'd be able to see this dot in the daytime. 
D) Betelgeuse would suddenly appear to grow larger in size,soon reaching the size of the full moon.It would also be about as bright as the full moon.

Question 13

Briefly summarize the stages of life for a low-mass star.

Accepted Answer

The protostar assembles from the molecul

Question 14

Which two energy sources can help a star maintain its internal thermal pressure?

Accepted Answer

A) nuclear fusion and gravitational contraction 
B) nuclear fission and gravitational contraction 
C) nuclear fusion and nuclear fission 
D) chemical reactions and gravitational contraction 
E) nuclear fusion and chemical reactions 
A) nuclear fusion and gravitational contraction 
B) nuclear fission and gravitational contraction 
C) nuclear fusion and nuclear fission 
D) chemical reactions and gravitational contraction 
E) nuclear fusion and chemical reactions

Question 15

Choose from the list below for the following questions.You may use a choice more than once.
-Which one provided the energy that made the Sun hot in the first place?

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 16

What is the CNO cycle?

Accepted Answer

A) a set of steps by which four hydrogen nuclei fuse into one helium nucleus 
B) the process by which helium is fused into carbon,nitrogen,and oxygen 
C) the process by which carbon is fused into nitrogen and oxygen 
D) the set of fusion reactions that have produced all the carbon,nitrogen,and oxygen in the universe 
A) a set of steps by which four hydrogen nuclei fuse into one helium nucleus 
B) the process by which helium is fused into carbon,nitrogen,and oxygen 
C) the process by which carbon is fused into nitrogen and oxygen 
D) the set of fusion reactions that have produced all the carbon,nitrogen,and oxygen in the universe

Question 17

Compared to the star it evolved from,a white dwarf is

Accepted Answer

A) hotter and brighter. 
B) hotter and dimmer. 
C) cooler and brighter. 
D) cooler and dimmer. 
E) the same temperature and brightness. 
A) hotter and brighter. 
B) hotter and dimmer. 
C) cooler and brighter. 
D) cooler and dimmer. 
E) the same temperature and brightness.

Question 18

What is a carbon star?

Accepted Answer

A) a red giant star whose atmosphere becomes carbon-rich through convection from the core 
B) a star that fuses carbon in its core 
C) another name for a white dwarf,a remnant of a star made mainly of carbon 
D) a star that produces carbon by fusion in its atmosphere 
E) a star that is made at least 50 percent of carbon 
A) a red giant star whose atmosphere becomes carbon-rich through convection from the core 
B) a star that fuses carbon in its core 
C) another name for a white dwarf,a remnant of a star made mainly of carbon 
D) a star that produces carbon by fusion in its atmosphere 
E) a star that is made at least 50 percent of carbon

Question 19

What happens when a star exhausts its core hydrogen supply?

Accepted Answer

A) Its core contracts,but its outer layers expand and the star becomes bigger and brighter. 
B) It contracts,becoming smaller and dimmer. 
C) It contracts,becoming hotter and brighter. 
D) It expands,becoming bigger but dimmer. 
E) Its core contracts,but its outer layers expand and the star becomes bigger but cooler and therefore remains at the same brightness. 
A) Its core contracts,but its outer layers expand and the star becomes bigger and brighter. 
B) It contracts,becoming smaller and dimmer. 
C) It contracts,becoming hotter and brighter. 
D) It expands,becoming bigger but dimmer. 
E) Its core contracts,but its outer layers expand and the star becomes bigger but cooler and therefore remains at the same brightness.

Question 20

How many helium nuclei fuse together when making carbon?

Accepted Answer

A) 2 
B) 3 
C) 4 
D) varies depending on the reaction 
E) none of the above 
A) 2 
B) 3 
C) 4 
D) varies depending on the reaction 
E) none of the above

Exam 17: Star Stuff

All of the following are involved in carrying energy outward from a star's core except

The main source of energy for a star as it grows in size to become a red giant is

All stars that become supernovae will leave behind a neutron star.

What types of stars end their lives with supernovae?

Will our Sun contribute heavy elements to the cosmos at the end of its life?

After a supernova explosion,the remains of the stellar core

Most interstellar dust grains are produced in

Algol consist of a 3.7 MSᵤn main-sequence star and a 0.8 MSᵤn subgiant.Why does this seem surprising,at least at first?

Process of Science: Explain how patterns in cosmic abundances (Figure 17.15 in the textbook)fit theoretical predictions for the origin of the elements.

Why is Supernova 1987A particularly important to astronomers?

A spinning neutron star has been observed at the center of a

Suppose the star Betelgeuse (the upper left shoulder of Orion)were to become a supernova tomorrow (as seen here on Earth).What would it look like to the naked eye?

Briefly summarize the stages of life for a low-mass star.

Which two energy sources can help a star maintain its internal thermal pressure?

Choose from the list below for the following questions.You may use a choice more than once. -Which one provided the energy that made the Sun hot in the first place?

What is the CNO cycle?

Compared to the star it evolved from,a white dwarf is

What is a carbon star?

What happens when a star exhausts its core hydrogen supply?

How many helium nuclei fuse together when making carbon?

A Modern View of the Universe

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Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

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Formation of the Solar System

Planetary Geology: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds

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Other Planetary Systems: The New Science of Distant Worlds

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Surveying the Stars

Star Birth

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Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundations of Modern Cosmology

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