Question 1

Which of the following best describes the evolutionary track of the most massive stars?

Accepted Answer

A)  diagonally to lower right, then vertical, then horizontal left 
B)  horizontally right, diagonal to lower left, then horizontal right 
C)  horizontal right, then a clockwise loop 
D)  horizontal right 
E)  vertically left, then straight down 
A)  diagonally to lower right, then vertical, then horizontal left 
B)  horizontally right, diagonal to lower left, then horizontal right 
C)  horizontal right, then a clockwise loop 
D)  horizontal right 
E)  vertically left, then straight down

Question 2

A ten billion year old globular cluster has every star evolved into a giant,with no main sequence stars left.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Just as a low-mass main sequence star runs out of fuel in its core,it actually becomes brighter.How is this possible?

Accepted Answer

A)  Helium fusion gives more energy than hydrogen fusion does, based on masses. 
B)  Its outer envelope is stripped away and we see the brilliant core. 
C)  The core contracts, raising the temperature and increasing the size of the region of hydrogen shell-burning. 
D)  It explodes. 
E)  It immediately starts to fuse helium. 
A)  Helium fusion gives more energy than hydrogen fusion does, based on masses. 
B)  Its outer envelope is stripped away and we see the brilliant core. 
C)  The core contracts, raising the temperature and increasing the size of the region of hydrogen shell-burning. 
D)  It explodes. 
E)  It immediately starts to fuse helium.

Question 4

Which of the following is true regarding planetary nebulae?

Accepted Answer

A)  Some are spherical, but most have bipolar structure. 
B)  They are the result of the mass loss during the main sequence stage of the most massive stars. 
C)  They are the rings of material surrounding newly formed stars that will eventually form the planetary systems. 
D)  They are the ejected envelopes of highly evolved brown dwarf stars. 
E)  They are the coronas surrounding most blue stragglers. 
A)  Some are spherical, but most have bipolar structure. 
B)  They are the result of the mass loss during the main sequence stage of the most massive stars. 
C)  They are the rings of material surrounding newly formed stars that will eventually form the planetary systems. 
D)  They are the ejected envelopes of highly evolved brown dwarf stars. 
E)  They are the coronas surrounding most blue stragglers.

Question 5

What are at least three possible explanations for historical records indicating that Sirius was red,even though it is now clearly seen as blue-white?

Accepted Answer

1)This could be an error in the records.

Question 6

-Refer to the figure above.What is the name of the star labeled 10?

Accepted Answer

A)  planetary nebula 
B)  red giant branch 
C)  horizontal branch 
D)  asymptotic giant branch 
E)  white dwarf 
A)  planetary nebula 
B)  red giant branch 
C)  horizontal branch 
D)  asymptotic giant branch 
E)  white dwarf

Question 7

-Refer to the figure above.What is the name of the path between the points labeled 10 and 11?

Accepted Answer

A)  planetary nebula 
B)  red giant branch 
C)  horizontal branch 
D)  asymptotic giant branch 
E)  white dwarf 
A)  planetary nebula 
B)  red giant branch 
C)  horizontal branch 
D)  asymptotic giant branch 
E)  white dwarf

Question 8

All planetary nebulae are slowly-expanding spherical disks ejected by red giants,while their exposed cores appear as white dwarfs.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

What are black dwarfs?

Accepted Answer

A)  the lowest mass main sequence stars 
B)  the end result of massive star evolution 
C)  objects that are not quite massive enough to be stars 
D)  pulsars that have slowed down and stopped spinning 
E)  cooled off white dwarfs that no longer glow visibly 
A)  the lowest mass main sequence stars 
B)  the end result of massive star evolution 
C)  objects that are not quite massive enough to be stars 
D)  pulsars that have slowed down and stopped spinning 
E)  cooled off white dwarfs that no longer glow visibly

Question 10

What temperature is needed to fuse helium into carbon?

Accepted Answer

A)  5,800 K 
B)  100,000 K 
C)  15 million K 
D)  100 million K 
E)  one billion K 
A)  5,800 K 
B)  100,000 K 
C)  15 million K 
D)  100 million K 
E)  one billion K

Question 11

________ clusters are much older and richer than open clusters.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________ clusters are much older and richer...

Question 12

Virtually all the carbon-rich dust in the plane of the galaxy originated in:

Accepted Answer

A)  low-mass stars. 
B)  high-mass stars. 
C)  planetary nebulae. 
D)  white dwarfs. 
E)  brown dwarfs. 
A)  low-mass stars. 
B)  high-mass stars. 
C)  planetary nebulae. 
D)  white dwarfs. 
E)  brown dwarfs.

Question 13

Which of the following elements contained in your body is NOT formed in the cores of stars during thermonuclear fusion?

Accepted Answer

A)  hydrogen 
B)  carbon 
C)  calcium 
D)  iron 
E)  aluminum 
A)  hydrogen 
B)  carbon 
C)  calcium 
D)  iron 
E)  aluminum

Question 14

Which of these will the Sun probably become in the very distant future?

Accepted Answer

A)  hypernova 
B)  supernova 
C)  pulsar 
D)  planetary nebula 
E)  nova 
A)  hypernova 
B)  supernova 
C)  pulsar 
D)  planetary nebula 
E)  nova

Question 15

-Refer to the figure above.What is the name of the path between the points labeled 8 and 9?

Accepted Answer

A)  planetary nebula 
B)  red giant branch 
C)  horizontal branch 
D)  asymptotic giant branch 
E)  white dwarf 
A)  planetary nebula 
B)  red giant branch 
C)  horizontal branch 
D)  asymptotic giant branch 
E)  white dwarf

Question 16

In the evolution of massive stars,what is the significance of the temperature 600 million K?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is the temperature at which helium fuses into carbon. 
B)  It is the temperature needed for carbon fusing into heavier elements. 
C)  It is the main sequence core temperature which makes massive stars so bright. 
D)  It is the temperature needed for helium burning into boron. 
E)  It is the final temperature reached during their evolution. 
A)  It is the temperature at which helium fuses into carbon. 
B)  It is the temperature needed for carbon fusing into heavier elements. 
C)  It is the main sequence core temperature which makes massive stars so bright. 
D)  It is the temperature needed for helium burning into boron. 
E)  It is the final temperature reached during their evolution.

Question 17

Evolution of a star off the main sequence is caused by the loss of mass from hydrogen fusion by the star while a main sequence star.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

During various stages of evolution,low mass stars (like the Sun)differ significantly from high mass stars.How do they differ in terms of observational properties while Main Sequence stars?

Accepted Answer

High mass stars are blue or wh

Question 19

During the hydrogen shell burning phase:

Accepted Answer

A)  the star grows more luminous. 
B)  the star becomes less luminous. 
C)  helium is burning in the core. 
D)  the core is expanding. 
E)  hydrogen is burning in the central core. 
A)  the star grows more luminous. 
B)  the star becomes less luminous. 
C)  helium is burning in the core. 
D)  the core is expanding. 
E)  hydrogen is burning in the central core.

Question 20

A(n)________ stage is a relatively gentle mass-loss event which allows a star to peacefully readjust its structure into a white dwarf configuration.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A(n)________ stage is a relatively gentle mass-loss...

Exam 20: Stellar Evolution: The Life and Death of a Star

Which of the following best describes the evolutionary track of the most massive stars?

A ten billion year old globular cluster has every star evolved into a giant,with no main sequence stars left.

Just as a low-mass main sequence star runs out of fuel in its core,it actually becomes brighter.How is this possible?

Which of the following is true regarding planetary nebulae?

What are at least three possible explanations for historical records indicating that Sirius was red,even though it is now clearly seen as blue-white?

-Refer to the figure above.What is the name of the star labeled 10?

-Refer to the figure above.What is the name of the path between the points labeled 10 and 11?

All planetary nebulae are slowly-expanding spherical disks ejected by red giants,while their exposed cores appear as white dwarfs.

What are black dwarfs?

What temperature is needed to fuse helium into carbon?

________ clusters are much older and richer than open clusters.

Virtually all the carbon-rich dust in the plane of the galaxy originated in:

Which of the following elements contained in your body is NOT formed in the cores of stars during thermonuclear fusion?

Which of these will the Sun probably become in the very distant future?

-Refer to the figure above.What is the name of the path between the points labeled 8 and 9?

In the evolution of massive stars,what is the significance of the temperature 600 million K?

Evolution of a star off the main sequence is caused by the loss of mass from hydrogen fusion by the star while a main sequence star.

During various stages of evolution,low mass stars (like the Sun)differ significantly from high mass stars.How do they differ in terms of observational properties while Main Sequence stars?

During the hydrogen shell burning phase:

A(n)________ stage is a relatively gentle mass-loss event which allows a star to peacefully readjust its structure into a white dwarf configuration.

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: Earth's 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 Explosions: Novae,Supernovae,and the Formation of the Elements

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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