Question 1

Unlike supernovae,novae can explode more than once,increasing their luminosity by thousands of times.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 2

What is stellar nucleosynthesis?

Accepted Answer

A)  the formation of heavier elements inside stars 
B)  the formation of planetary nebulae by red giants 
C)  the formation of stars from a nucleus of contracting material 
D)  the formation of white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes from stars 
E)  the process by which stars form interstellar dust 
A)  the formation of heavier elements inside stars 
B)  the formation of planetary nebulae by red giants 
C)  the formation of stars from a nucleus of contracting material 
D)  the formation of white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes from stars 
E)  the process by which stars form interstellar dust A

Question 3

Novae always occur in a close binary star system.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 4

Nearly all the elements found in nature were formed inside stars,EXCEPT for:

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon and silicon. 
B)  hydrogen and helium. 
C)  helium and carbon. 
D)  silver and technetium. 
E)  uranium and radium. 
A)  carbon and silicon. 
B)  hydrogen and helium. 
C)  helium and carbon. 
D)  silver and technetium. 
E)  uranium and radium.

Question 5

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 6

Under what circumstances will a nova occur?

Accepted Answer

When a white dwarf pulls mass off its co

Question 7

What is the reason a type I supernova slows its dimming after about 2 months?

Accepted Answer

A)  The planetary nebula cooled enough to form a dust shell. 
B)  Energy is released from the decay of radioactive cobalt 56 to iron 56. 
C)  The supernova remnant suddenly becomes transparent. 
D)  The burst of energy carried by neutrinos is finally observed. 
E)  Energy from the supernova's shock wave is released as it hits interstellar matter. 
A)  The planetary nebula cooled enough to form a dust shell. 
B)  Energy is released from the decay of radioactive cobalt 56 to iron 56. 
C)  The supernova remnant suddenly becomes transparent. 
D)  The burst of energy carried by neutrinos is finally observed. 
E)  Energy from the supernova's shock wave is released as it hits interstellar matter.

Question 8

Type II supernovae and star forming regions are related to one another because:

Accepted Answer

A)  they both contain ionized hydrogen. 
B)  they both involve high mass ionizing stars. 
C)  the shock waves of a supernova can trigger star formation. 
D)  as a result of both processes, lighter elements are transformed into heavier elements. 
E)  All of the above. 
A)  they both contain ionized hydrogen. 
B)  they both involve high mass ionizing stars. 
C)  the shock waves of a supernova can trigger star formation. 
D)  as a result of both processes, lighter elements are transformed into heavier elements. 
E)  All of the above.

Question 9

Why does conversion of its core to iron have to mark the end of a star's life? Which stars can end up with iron cores?

Accepted Answer

Stars with a total mass of 8 solar masse

Question 10

What can you conclude about a Type I supernova?

Accepted Answer

A)  It was originally a low-mass star. 
B)  It was originally a high mass star. 
C)  Its spectrum will show large amounts of hydrogen. 
D)  Its core was mostly iron. 
E)  The star never reached the Chandrasekhar Limit. 
A)  It was originally a low-mass star. 
B)  It was originally a high mass star. 
C)  Its spectrum will show large amounts of hydrogen. 
D)  Its core was mostly iron. 
E)  The star never reached the Chandrasekhar Limit.

Question 11

Type I supernovae are NOT:

Accepted Answer

A)  products of mass transfer. 
B)  created by the mass of the white dwarf exceeding Chandrasekhar's Limit. 
C)  rich in hydrogen from the outer envelope of the collapsed star. 
D)  brighter than type II supernovae. 
E)  created by carbon detonation. 
A)  products of mass transfer. 
B)  created by the mass of the white dwarf exceeding Chandrasekhar's Limit. 
C)  rich in hydrogen from the outer envelope of the collapsed star. 
D)  brighter than type II supernovae. 
E)  created by carbon detonation.

Question 12

An iron core will collapse in approximately one ________ in a type II supernova event.

Accepted Answer

The answer of An iron core will collapse in approximately...

Question 13

After reaching its peak luminosity in hours or days,a nova declines in brightness over a period of a few ________ before returning to its pre-explosion luminosity.

Accepted Answer

The answer of After reaching its peak luminosity in hours...

Question 14

Most of the energy released during a supernova is emitted as neutrinos.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Because they all involve the detonation of a carbon-rich white dwarf at Chandrasekhar's limit,all type I supernovae are equally luminous.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Which of these is NOT true about supernovae?

Accepted Answer

A)  Type I involves carbon detonation. 
B)  Type II involves formation of iron in the core. 
C)  The two types are both closely related to evolution of white dwarfs. 
D)  The one in 1987 in the Large Magellanic Cloud was of type II. 
E)  Neutronization is vital in understanding type II core collapse. 
A)  Type I involves carbon detonation. 
B)  Type II involves formation of iron in the core. 
C)  The two types are both closely related to evolution of white dwarfs. 
D)  The one in 1987 in the Large Magellanic Cloud was of type II. 
E)  Neutronization is vital in understanding type II core collapse.

Question 17

A recurrent nova could eventually build up to a:

Accepted Answer

A)  planetary nebula. 
B)  type I supernova. 
C)  type II supernova. 
D)  hypernova. 
E)  quasar. 
A)  planetary nebula. 
B)  type I supernova. 
C)  type II supernova. 
D)  hypernova. 
E)  quasar.

Question 18

What is the only element in your body that was formed during the Big Bang,and not in cores of stars? Explain how you know this.

Accepted Answer

Hydrogen was formed during the

Question 19

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 20

A star can be a supernova:

Accepted Answer

A)  in predictable cycles of decades. 
B)  a few times, at unpredictable intervals. 
C)  only if it can fuse iron in its core. 
D)  before it reaches the main sequence, if it is massive enough. 
E)  only once. 
A)  in predictable cycles of decades. 
B)  a few times, at unpredictable intervals. 
C)  only if it can fuse iron in its core. 
D)  before it reaches the main sequence, if it is massive enough. 
E)  only once.

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

Unlike supernovae,novae can explode more than once,increasing their luminosity by thousands of times.

What is stellar nucleosynthesis?

Novae always occur in a close binary star system.

Nearly all the elements found in nature were formed inside stars,EXCEPT for:

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

Under what circumstances will a nova occur?

What is the reason a type I supernova slows its dimming after about 2 months?

Type II supernovae and star forming regions are related to one another because:

Why does conversion of its core to iron have to mark the end of a star's life? Which stars can end up with iron cores?

What can you conclude about a Type I supernova?

Type I supernovae are NOT:

An iron core will collapse in approximately one ________ in a type II supernova event.

After reaching its peak luminosity in hours or days,a nova declines in brightness over a period of a few ________ before returning to its pre-explosion luminosity.

Most of the energy released during a supernova is emitted as neutrinos.

Because they all involve the detonation of a carbon-rich white dwarf at Chandrasekhar's limit,all type I supernovae are equally luminous.

Which of these is NOT true about supernovae?

A recurrent nova could eventually build up to a:

What is the only element in your body that was formed during the Big Bang,and not in cores of stars? Explain how you know this.

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

A star can be a supernova:

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 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?

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