Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Because they all involve formation of iron in cores of massive stars, all type II supernovae are equally luminous.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

How do astronomers know that the Crab Nebula is the remains of a supernova?

Accepted Answer

Both Chinese and Arab records show a gue

Question 4

The element with the most stable nucleus and smallest mass per particle is

Accepted Answer

A)  uranium. 
B)  argon. 
C)  helium. 
D)  hydrogen. 
E)  iron. 
A)  uranium. 
B)  argon. 
C)  helium. 
D)  hydrogen. 
E)  iron.

Question 5

A surface explosion on a white dwarf, caused by falling matter from the atmosphere of its binary companion, creates what kind of object?

Accepted Answer

A)  Hypernova 
B)  Nova 
C)  Gamma ray burstar 
D)  Type I supernova 
E)  Type II supernova 
A)  Hypernova 
B)  Nova 
C)  Gamma ray burstar 
D)  Type I supernova 
E)  Type II supernova

Question 6

A carbon-detonation supernova starts out as a white dwarf in a close binary system.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

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.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

What is the importance of 1.4 solar masses in stellar evolution?

Accepted Answer

1.4 solar masses is the Chandrasekhar Li

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

A 20 solar mass star will stay on the main sequence for 10 million years, yet its iron core can exist for only a

Accepted Answer

A)  day. 
B)  week. 
C)  month. 
D)  year. 
E)  century. 
A)  day. 
B)  week. 
C)  month. 
D)  year. 
E)  century.

Question 12

Two important properties of young neutron stars are

Accepted Answer

A)  extremely slow rotation and a strong magnetic field. 
B)  extremely rapid rotation and a weak magnetic field. 
C)  extremely rapid rotation and a strong magnetic field. 
D)  no rotation and a weak magnetic field. 
E)  no rotation and no magnetic field. 
A)  extremely slow rotation and a strong magnetic field. 
B)  extremely rapid rotation and a weak magnetic field. 
C)  extremely rapid rotation and a strong magnetic field. 
D)  no rotation and a weak magnetic field. 
E)  no rotation and no magnetic field.

Question 13

The spectra of the youngest stars show the most heavy elements present.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

In the lighthouse model

Accepted Answer

A)  the star literally turns on and off like a lighthouse beacon. 
B)  all pulsars must have their poles pointed directly toward us. 
C)  if the beam sweeps across us, we will detect a pulse of radiation. 
D)  the period of pulsation must speed up as the neutron star continues collapsing. 
E)  the period of pulsation slows down due to the drag of the remnant on its field. 
A)  the star literally turns on and off like a lighthouse beacon. 
B)  all pulsars must have their poles pointed directly toward us. 
C)  if the beam sweeps across us, we will detect a pulse of radiation. 
D)  the period of pulsation must speed up as the neutron star continues collapsing. 
E)  the period of pulsation slows down due to the drag of the remnant on its field.

Question 15

In the lighthouse model

Accepted Answer

A)  pulsars are observable only if they lie in the galactic plane. 
B)  pulsars are navigational devices created by interstellar navigators as discovered by Jocelyn Bell in 1967. 
C)  all pulsars have their poles pointed directly at us or they would be not observable. 
D)  if the beams sweeps across us, we can observe the pulse. 
E)  the period of pulsation must speed up as the neutron star continues contracting. 
A)  pulsars are observable only if they lie in the galactic plane. 
B)  pulsars are navigational devices created by interstellar navigators as discovered by Jocelyn Bell in 1967. 
C)  all pulsars have their poles pointed directly at us or they would be not observable. 
D)  if the beams sweeps across us, we can observe the pulse. 
E)  the period of pulsation must speed up as the neutron star continues contracting.

Question 16

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 17

Iron nuclei are the most tightly bound nuclei, which is why their production leads to type II supernovae.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

The helium capture process tends to produce chiefly

Accepted Answer

A)  only carbon. 
B)  stable elements. 
C)  even numbered elements. 
D)  odd numbered elements. 
E)  only radioactive elements. 
A)  only carbon. 
B)  stable elements. 
C)  even numbered elements. 
D)  odd numbered elements. 
E)  only radioactive elements.

Question 19

The Crab Nebula is a bright, long lasting supernova remnant that was made by a ________ supernova.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Crab Nebula is a bright, long...

Question 20

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

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

Because they all involve formation of iron in cores of massive stars, all type II supernovae are equally luminous.

How do astronomers know that the Crab Nebula is the remains of a supernova?

The element with the most stable nucleus and smallest mass per particle is

A surface explosion on a white dwarf, caused by falling matter from the atmosphere of its binary companion, creates what kind of object?

A carbon-detonation supernova starts out as a white dwarf in a close binary system.

A star can be a supernova

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

What is the importance of 1.4 solar masses in stellar evolution?

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

A 20 solar mass star will stay on the main sequence for 10 million years, yet its iron core can exist for only a

Two important properties of young neutron stars are

The spectra of the youngest stars show the most heavy elements present.

In the lighthouse model

In the lighthouse model

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.

Iron nuclei are the most tightly bound nuclei, which is why their production leads to type II supernovae.

The helium capture process tends to produce chiefly

The Crab Nebula is a bright, long lasting supernova remnant that was made by a ________ supernova.

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

The Night Sky

Light and Telescopes

The Solar System

Earth and Its Moon

The Eight Planets

Small Bodies in the Solar System

Formation of Planetary Systems

The Sun

Measuring the Stars

Star Formation and Evolution

Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Cosmology and the Universe

Filters

Exam 11: Stellar Explosions

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

Because they all involve formation of iron in cores of massive stars, all type II supernovae are equally luminous.

How do astronomers know that the Crab Nebula is the remains of a supernova?

The element with the most stable nucleus and smallest mass per particle is

A surface explosion on a white dwarf, caused by falling matter from the atmosphere of its binary companion, creates what kind of object?

A carbon-detonation supernova starts out as a white dwarf in a close binary system.

A star can be a supernova

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

What is the importance of 1.4 solar masses in stellar evolution?

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

A 20 solar mass star will stay on the main sequence for 10 million years, yet its iron core can exist for only a

Two important properties of young neutron stars are

The spectra of the youngest stars show the most heavy elements present.

In the lighthouse model

In the lighthouse model

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.

Iron nuclei are the most tightly bound nuclei, which is why their production leads to type II supernovae.

The helium capture process tends to produce chiefly

The Crab Nebula is a bright, long lasting supernova remnant that was made by a ________ supernova.

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

The Night Sky

Light and Telescopes

The Solar System

Earth and Its Moon

The Eight Planets

Small Bodies in the Solar System

Formation of Planetary Systems

The Sun

Measuring the Stars

Star Formation and Evolution

Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Cosmology and the Universe

Filters