Question 1

Which of these does NOT depend on a close binary system to occur?

Accepted Answer

A)  a nova 
B)  a Type I supernova 
C)  a Type II supernova 
D)  All of these need mass transfer to occur. 
E)  None of these depend on mass transfer. 
A)  a nova 
B)  a Type I supernova 
C)  a Type II supernova 
D)  All of these need mass transfer to occur. 
E)  None of these depend on mass transfer.

Question 2

An iron core cannot support a star because:

Accepted Answer

A)  iron is the heaviest element, and sinks upon differentiation. 
B)  iron has poor nuclear binding energy. 
C)  iron cannot fuse with other nuclei to produce energy. 
D)  iron supplies too much pressure. 
E)  iron is in the form of a gas, not a solid, in the center of a star. 
A)  iron is the heaviest element, and sinks upon differentiation. 
B)  iron has poor nuclear binding energy. 
C)  iron cannot fuse with other nuclei to produce energy. 
D)  iron supplies too much pressure. 
E)  iron is in the form of a gas, not a solid, in the center of a star.

Question 3

When helium capture occurs with a carbon 12 nucleus,what results?

Accepted Answer

A)  nitrogen 14 
B)  oxygen 16 
C)  neon 20 
D)  silicon 28 
E)  nickel 56 
A)  nitrogen 14 
B)  oxygen 16 
C)  neon 20 
D)  silicon 28 
E)  nickel 56

Question 4

What do X-ray observations tell us about conditions around a potential nova?

Accepted Answer

The mass transfer causes an accretion di

Question 5

Stellar nucleosynthesis is responsible for the existence of all elements except hydrogen.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Why should the youngest stars be made of the heaviest elements?

Accepted Answer

With each generation of supern

Question 7

What would be most likely to disrupt the normal evolution of a star? Give examples of this.

Accepted Answer

If it has a close companion,mass transfe

Question 8

The central star of the Crab Nebula has now collapsed into a(n)________,whose energy keeps this famous nebula visible even in binoculars.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The central star of the Crab Nebula...

Question 9

What is the amount of energy emitted in the form of neutrinos,during a supernova explosion,compared to the amount of energy radiated as electromagnetic radiation?

Accepted Answer

A)  only .007 as much 
B)  about equal amounts 
C)  about twice as much 
D)  ten times more 
E)  100 times more 
A)  only .007 as much 
B)  about equal amounts 
C)  about twice as much 
D)  ten times more 
E)  100 times more

Question 10

Contrast the progenitors of a type I and a type II supernova.

Accepted Answer

The progenitor of a type II su

Question 11

Supernova remnants differ from star forming regions because,although there is ionized hydrogen in both,supernova remnants:

Accepted Answer

A)  don't look like star forming regions. 
B)  are much bigger than star forming regions. 
C)  are located far from star forming regions. 
D)  are more diffuse than star forming regions. 
E)  contain no ionizing stars. 
A)  don't look like star forming regions. 
B)  are much bigger than star forming regions. 
C)  are located far from star forming regions. 
D)  are more diffuse than star forming regions. 
E)  contain no ionizing stars.

Question 12

When observing a star that increases dramatically in brightness,if a plateau is observed in the light curve during the declining phase,the event is probably:

Accepted Answer

A)  a nova. 
B)  a type I supernova. 
C)  a type II supernova. 
D)  fusion in an accretion disk around a white dwarf. 
E)  fusion in an accretion disk around a neutron star. 
A)  a nova. 
B)  a type I supernova. 
C)  a type II supernova. 
D)  fusion in an accretion disk around a white dwarf. 
E)  fusion in an accretion disk around a neutron star.

Question 13

What direct evidence do astronomers have that supports the heavy element formation in stars?

Accepted Answer

A)  the presence of technetium in giant star spectra 
B)  observed elemental abundances 
C)  gamma-ray emissions from decay of cobalt 56 in supernovae 
D)  light curves of type-I supernovae 
E)  All of the above are evidence of this. 
A)  the presence of technetium in giant star spectra 
B)  observed elemental abundances 
C)  gamma-ray emissions from decay of cobalt 56 in supernovae 
D)  light curves of type-I supernovae 
E)  All of the above are evidence of this.

Question 14

The heaviest nuclei of all are formed:

Accepted Answer

A)  by neutron capture during a type II supernova explosion. 
B)  during a nova explosion. 
C)  during a carbon detonation supernova. 
D)  during carbon burning in the giant stage. 
E)  during the triple alpha process. 
A)  by neutron capture during a type II supernova explosion. 
B)  during a nova explosion. 
C)  during a carbon detonation supernova. 
D)  during carbon burning in the giant stage. 
E)  during the triple alpha process.

Question 15

Compare the amount of time a 20 solar mass star will stay on the main sequence to the length of time its iron core can exist.

Accepted Answer

A 20 solar mass star will stay

Question 16

How does the death of one very massive star give birth to perhaps hundreds of smaller ones soon thereafter?

Accepted Answer

The more massive the star,the faster it

Question 17

In a nova,there is a white dwarf,an evolving companion star,and a(n)________ surrounding the white dwarf's equator.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a nova,there is a white dwarf,an...

Question 18

Will our Sun become a supernova? Why?

Accepted Answer

No,it is not in a close binary

Question 19

It takes less and less time to fuse heavier and heavier elements inside a high mass star.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

In order of visual luminosity at the start,which is most luminous?

Accepted Answer

A)  a red supergiant 
B)  a planetary nebula 
C)  a nova 
D)  a type I supernova 
E)  a type II supernova 
A)  a red supergiant 
B)  a planetary nebula 
C)  a nova 
D)  a type I supernova 
E)  a type II supernova

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

Which of these does NOT depend on a close binary system to occur?

An iron core cannot support a star because:

When helium capture occurs with a carbon 12 nucleus,what results?

What do X-ray observations tell us about conditions around a potential nova?

Stellar nucleosynthesis is responsible for the existence of all elements except hydrogen.

Why should the youngest stars be made of the heaviest elements?

What would be most likely to disrupt the normal evolution of a star? Give examples of this.

The central star of the Crab Nebula has now collapsed into a(n)________,whose energy keeps this famous nebula visible even in binoculars.

What is the amount of energy emitted in the form of neutrinos,during a supernova explosion,compared to the amount of energy radiated as electromagnetic radiation?

Contrast the progenitors of a type I and a type II supernova.

Supernova remnants differ from star forming regions because,although there is ionized hydrogen in both,supernova remnants:

When observing a star that increases dramatically in brightness,if a plateau is observed in the light curve during the declining phase,the event is probably:

What direct evidence do astronomers have that supports the heavy element formation in stars?

The heaviest nuclei of all are formed:

Compare the amount of time a 20 solar mass star will stay on the main sequence to the length of time its iron core can exist.

How does the death of one very massive star give birth to perhaps hundreds of smaller ones soon thereafter?

In a nova,there is a white dwarf,an evolving companion star,and a(n)________ surrounding the white dwarf's equator.

Will our Sun become a supernova? Why?

It takes less and less time to fuse heavier and heavier elements inside a high mass star.

In order of visual luminosity at the start,which is most luminous?

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?

Filters