Question 1

The ultimate fate of our Sun is to ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  become a white dwarf that will slowly cool with time 
B)  explode in a supernova 
C)  become a rapidly spinning neutron star 
D)  become a black hole 
A)  become a white dwarf that will slowly cool with time 
B)  explode in a supernova 
C)  become a rapidly spinning neutron star 
D)  become a black hole

Question 2

After a supernova explosion, the remains of the stellar core ________.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 3

What can we learn about a star from a life track on an H-R diagram?

Accepted Answer

A)  how long ago it was born 
B)  when it will die 
C)  where it is located 
D)  what surface temperature and luminosity it will have at each stage of its life 
E)  all of the above 
A)  how long ago it was born 
B)  when it will die 
C)  where it is located 
D)  what surface temperature and luminosity it will have at each stage of its life 
E)  all of the above

Question 4

Why is a 1 solar-mass red giant more luminous than a 1 solar-mass main sequence star?

Accepted Answer

A)  Fusion reactions are producing energy at a greater rate in the red giant. 
B)  The red giant has a hotter core. 
C)  The red giant's surface is hotter. 
D)  The red giant is more massive. 
A)  Fusion reactions are producing energy at a greater rate in the red giant. 
B)  The red giant has a hotter core. 
C)  The red giant's surface is hotter. 
D)  The red giant is more massive.

Question 5

Photographs of many young stars show long jets of material apparently being ejected from their poles.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Which of the following types of data provide evidence that helps us understand the life tracks of low-mass stars?

Accepted Answer

A)  H-R diagrams of globular clusters 
B)  H-R diagrams of open clusters 
C)  Observing a low-mass star over many years 
D)  Spacecraft observations of the Sun 
A)  H-R diagrams of globular clusters 
B)  H-R diagrams of open clusters 
C)  Observing a low-mass star over many years 
D)  Spacecraft observations of the Sun

Question 7

Consider a large molecular cloud that will give birth to a cluster of stars. Which of the following would you expect to be true?

Accepted Answer

A)  A few massive stars will form, live, and die before the majority of the star's clusters even complete their protostar stage. 
B)  All the stars in the cluster will be of about the same mass. 
C)  All the stars in the cluster will become main-sequence stars at about the same time. 
D)  All the stars in the cluster will have approximately the same luminosity and surface temperature. 
A)  A few massive stars will form, live, and die before the majority of the star's clusters even complete their protostar stage. 
B)  All the stars in the cluster will be of about the same mass. 
C)  All the stars in the cluster will become main-sequence stars at about the same time. 
D)  All the stars in the cluster will have approximately the same luminosity and surface temperature.

Question 8

Which star spends the longest time in the protostellar phase of life?

Accepted Answer

A)  A 1 solar mass star 
B)  A 2 solar mass star 
C)  A 3 solar mass star 
D)  A 4 solar mass star 
E)  A 5 solar mass star 
A)  A 1 solar mass star 
B)  A 2 solar mass star 
C)  A 3 solar mass star 
D)  A 4 solar mass star 
E)  A 5 solar mass star

Question 9

In order to predict whether a star will eventually fuse oxygen into a heavier element, you mainly want to know what fact about the star?

Accepted Answer

A)  Its mass 
B)  Its luminosity 
C)  How much oxygen it now has in its core 
D)  Its overall abundance of elements heavier than helium 
A)  Its mass 
B)  Its luminosity 
C)  How much oxygen it now has in its core 
D)  Its overall abundance of elements heavier than helium

Question 10

Which event marks the beginning of a supernova?

Accepted Answer

A)  The sudden collapse of an iron core into a compact ball of neutrons 
B)  The onset of helium burning after a helium flash 
C)  The beginning of neon burning in an extremely massive star 
D)  The sudden initiation of the CNO cycle 
A)  The sudden collapse of an iron core into a compact ball of neutrons 
B)  The onset of helium burning after a helium flash 
C)  The beginning of neon burning in an extremely massive star 
D)  The sudden initiation of the CNO cycle

Question 11

Which statement about this cluster is not true?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is likely to be located in the halo of the galaxy. 
B)  It contains some stars that are burning helium in their cores. 
C)  It is the type of cluster known as an open cluster of stars. 
D)  It probably contains no young stars at all. 
E)  It is likely to be spherical in shape. 
A)  It is likely to be located in the halo of the galaxy. 
B)  It contains some stars that are burning helium in their cores. 
C)  It is the type of cluster known as an open cluster of stars. 
D)  It probably contains no young stars at all. 
E)  It is likely to be spherical in shape.

Question 12

What is the CNO cycle?

Accepted Answer

A)  the process by which helium is fused into carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen 
B)  the process by which carbon is fused into nitrogen and oxygen 
C)  a type of hydrogen fusion that uses carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen atoms as catalysts 
D)  the period of a massive star's life when carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen are fusing in different shells outside the core 
E)  the period of a low-mass star's life when it can no longer fuse carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen in its core 
A)  the process by which helium is fused into carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen 
B)  the process by which carbon is fused into nitrogen and oxygen 
C)  a type of hydrogen fusion that uses carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen atoms as catalysts 
D)  the period of a massive star's life when carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen are fusing in different shells outside the core 
E)  the period of a low-mass star's life when it can no longer fuse carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen in its core

Question 13

Choose from the list below for the following questions. You may use a choice more than once.
-Which one is used by a main-sequence star of spectral type B2?

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 14

Which element is the dead end for cores of the most massive stars?

Accepted Answer

A)  Iron 
B)  Lead 
C)  Hydrogen 
D)  Oxygen 
E)  Uranium 
A)  Iron 
B)  Lead 
C)  Hydrogen 
D)  Oxygen 
E)  Uranium

Question 15

This diagram represents the life track of a 1 solar mass star. Refer to the life stages labeled with roman numerals. Which stage lasts the longest?

Accepted Answer

A)  iii 
B)  i 
C)  iv 
D)  vi 
E)  viii 
A)  iii 
B)  i 
C)  iv 
D)  vi 
E)  viii

Question 16

Compared to the star it evolved from, a red giant 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 17

After a supernova event occurring in a high-mass star, what is left behind?

Accepted Answer

A)  always a white dwarf 
B)  always a neutron star 
C)  always a black hole 
D)  either a white dwarf or a neutron star 
E)  either a neutron star or a black hole 
A)  always a white dwarf 
B)  always a neutron star 
C)  always a black hole 
D)  either a white dwarf or a neutron star 
E)  either a neutron star or a black hole

Question 18

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 19

Which process is required to allow a gravitationally-collapsing gas cloud to continue to collapse?

Accepted Answer

A)  The cloud must radiate much of its thermal energy. 
B)  The cloud must trap most of its thermal energy. 
C)  The cloud must collide with other clouds. 
D)  New dust particles must continually be made in the cloud. 
A)  The cloud must radiate much of its thermal energy. 
B)  The cloud must trap most of its thermal energy. 
C)  The cloud must collide with other clouds. 
D)  New dust particles must continually be made in the cloud.

Question 20

Do you think it is possible that a 1.5-solar-mass red giant could harbor an advanced civilization? Explain your reasoning.

Accepted Answer

A 1.5-solar-mass red giant is a temporar

The ultimate fate of our Sun is to ________.

After a supernova explosion, the remains of the stellar core ________.

What can we learn about a star from a life track on an H-R diagram?

Why is a 1 solar-mass red giant more luminous than a 1 solar-mass main sequence star?

Photographs of many young stars show long jets of material apparently being ejected from their poles.

Which of the following types of data provide evidence that helps us understand the life tracks of low-mass stars?

Consider a large molecular cloud that will give birth to a cluster of stars. Which of the following would you expect to be true?

Which star spends the longest time in the protostellar phase of life?

In order to predict whether a star will eventually fuse oxygen into a heavier element, you mainly want to know what fact about the star?

Which event marks the beginning of a supernova?

Which statement about this cluster is not true?

What is the CNO cycle?

Choose from the list below for the following questions. You may use a choice more than once. -Which one is used by a main-sequence star of spectral type B2?

Which element is the dead end for cores of the most massive stars?

This diagram represents the life track of a 1 solar mass star. Refer to the life stages labeled with roman numerals. Which stage lasts the longest?

Compared to the star it evolved from, a red giant is

After a supernova event occurring in a high-mass star, what is left behind?

What is the CNO cycle?

Which process is required to allow a gravitationally-collapsing gas cloud to continue to collapse?

Do you think it is possible that a 1.5-solar-mass red giant could harbor an advanced civilization? Explain your reasoning.

Our Place in the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

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

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of Planetary Systems: Our Solar System and Beyond

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet Systems

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

The Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe

Filters

Exam 12: Star Stuff

The ultimate fate of our Sun is to ________.

After a supernova explosion, the remains of the stellar core ________.

What can we learn about a star from a life track on an H-R diagram?

Why is a 1 solar-mass red giant more luminous than a 1 solar-mass main sequence star?

Photographs of many young stars show long jets of material apparently being ejected from their poles.

Which of the following types of data provide evidence that helps us understand the life tracks of low-mass stars?

Consider a large molecular cloud that will give birth to a cluster of stars. Which of the following would you expect to be true?

Which star spends the longest time in the protostellar phase of life?

In order to predict whether a star will eventually fuse oxygen into a heavier element, you mainly want to know what fact about the star?

Which event marks the beginning of a supernova?

Which statement about this cluster is not true?

What is the CNO cycle?

Choose from the list below for the following questions. You may use a choice more than once. -Which one is used by a main-sequence star of spectral type B2?

Which element is the dead end for cores of the most massive stars?

This diagram represents the life track of a 1 solar mass star. Refer to the life stages labeled with roman numerals. Which stage lasts the longest?

Compared to the star it evolved from, a red giant is

After a supernova event occurring in a high-mass star, what is left behind?

What is the CNO cycle?

Which process is required to allow a gravitationally-collapsing gas cloud to continue to collapse?

Do you think it is possible that a 1.5-solar-mass red giant could harbor an advanced civilization? Explain your reasoning.

Our Place in the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

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

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of Planetary Systems: Our Solar System and Beyond

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet Systems

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

The Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe

Filters