Question 1

What characteristic of a star cluster is used to determine its age?

Accepted Answer

A)  the ratio of main sequence to white dwarfs stars 
B)  the number of red giants 
C)  the faintest stars seen in the cluster 
D)  the main sequence turnoff 
E)  the total number of stars in the cluster 
A)  the ratio of main sequence to white dwarfs stars 
B)  the number of red giants 
C)  the faintest stars seen in the cluster 
D)  the main sequence turnoff 
E)  the total number of stars in the cluster

Question 2

In general,as stars go through the last stage of post-main sequence evolution,they will lose mass in the process of settling down into their final state.Explain the mass-loss process and the final state of the star for a low mass star.

Accepted Answer

For a low mass star,the hydrogen fuel is

Question 3

There is no helium flash for a high mass star; for them,it is just one more step toward the heaviest element formation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

What inevitably forces a star like the Sun to evolve away from being a main sequence star?

Accepted Answer

A)  The core begins fusing iron. 
B)  The star uses up all its supply of hydrogen. 
C)  The carbon detonation explodes it as a type I supernova. 
D)  Helium builds up in the core, while the hydrogen burning shell expands. 
E)  The core loses all its neutrinos, so all fusion ceases. 
A)  The core begins fusing iron. 
B)  The star uses up all its supply of hydrogen. 
C)  The carbon detonation explodes it as a type I supernova. 
D)  Helium builds up in the core, while the hydrogen burning shell expands. 
E)  The core loses all its neutrinos, so all fusion ceases.

Question 5

How is it possible that life cycles of stars are so well understood and tested,even though they can take billions of years to happen?

Accepted Answer

Astronomers have observed many

Question 6

While none yet exist,in the very distant future,black dwarfs will comprise the majority of the "normal matter" of the universe.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The brightest stars in a young open cluster will be:

Accepted Answer

A)  massive blue stars at the top left on the H-R diagram. 
B)  red T-tauri stars still heading for the main sequence. 
C)  red giants that are fusing helium into carbon. 
D)  yellow giants like our Sun, but much larger. 
E)  the core stars of planetary nebulae. 
A)  massive blue stars at the top left on the H-R diagram. 
B)  red T-tauri stars still heading for the main sequence. 
C)  red giants that are fusing helium into carbon. 
D)  yellow giants like our Sun, but much larger. 
E)  the core stars of planetary nebulae.

What characteristic of a star cluster is used to determine its age?

In general,as stars go through the last stage of post-main sequence evolution,they will lose mass in the process of settling down into their final state.Explain the mass-loss process and the final state of the star for a low mass star.

There is no helium flash for a high mass star; for them,it is just one more step toward the heaviest element formation.

What inevitably forces a star like the Sun to evolve away from being a main sequence star?

How is it possible that life cycles of stars are so well understood and tested,even though they can take billions of years to happen?

While none yet exist,in the very distant future,black dwarfs will comprise the majority of the "normal matter" of the universe.

The brightest stars in a young open cluster will be:

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

What characteristic of a star cluster is used to determine its age?

In general,as stars go through the last stage of post-main sequence evolution,they will lose mass in the process of settling down into their final state.Explain the mass-loss process and the final state of the star for a low mass star.

There is no helium flash for a high mass star; for them,it is just one more step toward the heaviest element formation.

What inevitably forces a star like the Sun to evolve away from being a main sequence star?

How is it possible that life cycles of stars are so well understood and tested,even though they can take billions of years to happen?

While none yet exist,in the very distant future,black dwarfs will comprise the majority of the "normal matter" of the universe.

The brightest stars in a young open cluster will be:

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?

Filters