Question 1

The gas in a planetary nebula is composed of:

Accepted Answer

A)  primarily hydrogen from the surrounding interstellar medium. 
B)  primarily hydrogen from the post-asymptotic giant branch star. 
C)  hydrogen and elements processed in the core of the post-asymptotic giant branch star. 
D)  primarily helium from the post-asymptotic giant branch star. 
A)  primarily hydrogen from the surrounding interstellar medium. 
B)  primarily hydrogen from the post-asymptotic giant branch star. 
C)  hydrogen and elements processed in the core of the post-asymptotic giant branch star. 
D)  primarily helium from the post-asymptotic giant branch star.

Question 2

The evolutionary cutoff between low- and high-mass stars occurs at approximately:

Accepted Answer

A)  0.5 M¤. 
B)  1 M¤. 
C)  4 M¤. 
D)  8 M¤. 
A)  0.5 M¤. 
B)  1 M¤. 
C)  4 M¤. 
D)  8 M¤.

Question 3

What is the shortest phase of evolution for a 1 solar mass star that we can visibly see?

Accepted Answer

The planetary nebula phase is

Question 4

Describe the triple-alpha process of nuclear fusion.

Accepted Answer

The triple-alpha process is a two-stage

Question 5

Which point on the figure below represents the location on the H-R diagram where the star is expelling mass creating a planetary nebula?

Accepted Answer

A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D

Question 6

A single 1-M¤ star will eventually eject significant amounts of which of the following chemical elements into the interstellar medium?

Accepted Answer

A)  hydrogen 
B)  nickel 
C)  iron 
D)  all of the above 
A)  hydrogen 
B)  nickel 
C)  iron 
D)  all of the above

Question 7

When the Sun becomes an AGB star,its radius will be approximately 100 R¤.If its mass at this point will be approximately the same as it is now,how will its surface gravity as an AGB star compare to its current surface gravity as a main-sequence star? Note that g = GM/R².

Accepted Answer

Surface gravity: g = GM/R²
gMS /gAGB = (

Question 8

A nova is the result of which explosive situation?

Accepted Answer

A)  mass transfer onto a white dwarf 
B)  helium burning in a degenerate stellar core 
C)  a white dwarf that exceeds the Chandrasekhar limit 
D)  the collision of members of a binary system 
A)  mass transfer onto a white dwarf 
B)  helium burning in a degenerate stellar core 
C)  a white dwarf that exceeds the Chandrasekhar limit 
D)  the collision of members of a binary system

Question 9

When a low-mass star becomes an AGB star and has a temperature of 3300 K,in which wavelength range will it shine the brightest?

Accepted Answer

A)  visible 
B)  infrared 
C)  X-ray 
D)  radio 
A)  visible 
B)  infrared 
C)  X-ray 
D)  radio

Question 10

In what two ways does temperature affect the rate of nuclear reactions?

Accepted Answer

Higher temperature means atomic nuclei a

Question 11

The luminosity of a star depends on:

Accepted Answer

A)  its mass, its age, and its distance. 
B)  its mass. 
C)  its age. 
D)  its mass and its age. 
A)  its mass, its age, and its distance. 
B)  its mass. 
C)  its age. 
D)  its mass and its age.

Question 12

How many times longer does a 1.0-M¤ main-sequence star live compared to a 2.1-M¤ main-sequence star?

Accepted Answer

Main-sequence lifetime: 1.0 ×

Question 13

As a main-sequence star burns its core supply of hydrogen,what happens?

Accepted Answer

A)  Helium begins to fuse throughout the core. 
B)  Helium fuses in a shell surrounding the core. 
C)  Helium fusion takes place only at the very center of the core, where temperature and pressure are highest. 
D)  Helium builds up as ash in the core. 
A)  Helium begins to fuse throughout the core. 
B)  Helium fuses in a shell surrounding the core. 
C)  Helium fusion takes place only at the very center of the core, where temperature and pressure are highest. 
D)  Helium builds up as ash in the core.

Question 14

What factor is most important in determining a star's position on the main sequence and subsequent evolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  temperature 
B)  pressure 
C)  mass 
D)  radius 
A)  temperature 
B)  pressure 
C)  mass 
D)  radius

Question 15

Label the various regions of a horizontal branch star in the figure below.

Accepted Answer

From the inside out:

Question 16

Degenerate refers to a state of matter at:

Accepted Answer

A)  high temperature. 
B)  high density. 
C)  high luminosity. 
D)  high mass. 
A)  high temperature. 
B)  high density. 
C)  high luminosity. 
D)  high mass.

Question 17

The Ring Nebula (image below)is a planetary nebula that currently has a radius of 0.4 pc and an expansion velocity of 250 km/s.Approximately how long ago did its parent star die and eject its outer layers?

Accepted Answer

A)  1,600 years ago 
B)  3,200 years ago 
C)  5,400 years ago 
D)  28,000 years ago 
A)  1,600 years ago 
B)  3,200 years ago 
C)  5,400 years ago 
D)  28,000 years ago

Question 18

A Type Ia supernova has a luminosity of approximately:

Accepted Answer

A)  10,000 L¤. 
B)  10 million L¤. 
C)  10 billion L¤. 
D)  10 trillion L¤. 
A)  10,000 L¤. 
B)  10 million L¤. 
C)  10 billion L¤. 
D)  10 trillion L¤.

Question 19

Asymptotic giant branch (AGB)stars have high mass-loss rates because they:

Accepted Answer

A)  are rotating quickly. 
B)  have weak magnetic fields. 
C)  have strong winds. 
D)  have low surface gravity. 
A)  are rotating quickly. 
B)  have weak magnetic fields. 
C)  have strong winds. 
D)  have low surface gravity.

Question 20

Which star spends the least time as a main-sequence star?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.5 M¤ 
B)  1 M¤ 
C)  3 M¤ 
D)  10 M¤ 
A)  0.5 M¤ 
B)  1 M¤ 
C)  3 M¤ 
D)  10 M¤

The gas in a planetary nebula is composed of:

The evolutionary cutoff between low- and high-mass stars occurs at approximately:

What is the shortest phase of evolution for a 1 solar mass star that we can visibly see?

Describe the triple-alpha process of nuclear fusion.

Which point on the figure below represents the location on the H-R diagram where the star is expelling mass creating a planetary nebula?

A single 1-M¤ star will eventually eject significant amounts of which of the following chemical elements into the interstellar medium?

When the Sun becomes an AGB star,its radius will be approximately 100 R¤.If its mass at this point will be approximately the same as it is now,how will its surface gravity as an AGB star compare to its current surface gravity as a main-sequence star? Note that g = GM/R².

A nova is the result of which explosive situation?

When a low-mass star becomes an AGB star and has a temperature of 3300 K,in which wavelength range will it shine the brightest?

In what two ways does temperature affect the rate of nuclear reactions?

The luminosity of a star depends on:

How many times longer does a 1.0-M¤ main-sequence star live compared to a 2.1-M¤ main-sequence star?

As a main-sequence star burns its core supply of hydrogen,what happens?

What factor is most important in determining a star's position on the main sequence and subsequent evolution?

Label the various regions of a horizontal branch star in the figure below.

Degenerate refers to a state of matter at:

The Ring Nebula (image below)is a planetary nebula that currently has a radius of 0.4 pc and an expansion velocity of 250 km/s.Approximately how long ago did its parent star die and eject its outer layers?

A Type Ia supernova has a luminosity of approximately:

Asymptotic giant branch (AGB)stars have high mass-loss rates because they:

Which star spends the least time as a main-sequence star?

Thinking Like an Astronomer

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth and the Moon

Laws of Motion

Light and Telescopes

The Formation of Stars and Planets

Terrestrial Worlds in the Inner Solar System

Atmospheres of Venus, earth, and Mars

The Giant Planets

Small Bodies of the Solar System

Measuring the Stars

Our Star: the Sun

Evolution of High-Mass Stars

Measuring Galaxies

Our Galaxy: the Milky Way

The Evolution of the Universe

Formation of Structure

Life in the Universe

Filters

Exam 12: Evolution of Low-Mass Stars

The gas in a planetary nebula is composed of:

The evolutionary cutoff between low- and high-mass stars occurs at approximately:

What is the shortest phase of evolution for a 1 solar mass star that we can visibly see?

Describe the triple-alpha process of nuclear fusion.

Which point on the figure below represents the location on the H-R diagram where the star is expelling mass creating a planetary nebula?

A single 1-M¤ star will eventually eject significant amounts of which of the following chemical elements into the interstellar medium?

When the Sun becomes an AGB star,its radius will be approximately 100 R¤.If its mass at this point will be approximately the same as it is now,how will its surface gravity as an AGB star compare to its current surface gravity as a main-sequence star? Note that g = GM/R².

A nova is the result of which explosive situation?

When a low-mass star becomes an AGB star and has a temperature of 3300 K,in which wavelength range will it shine the brightest?

In what two ways does temperature affect the rate of nuclear reactions?

The luminosity of a star depends on:

How many times longer does a 1.0-M¤ main-sequence star live compared to a 2.1-M¤ main-sequence star?

As a main-sequence star burns its core supply of hydrogen,what happens?

What factor is most important in determining a star's position on the main sequence and subsequent evolution?

Label the various regions of a horizontal branch star in the figure below.

Degenerate refers to a state of matter at:

The Ring Nebula (image below)is a planetary nebula that currently has a radius of 0.4 pc and an expansion velocity of 250 km/s.Approximately how long ago did its parent star die and eject its outer layers?

A Type Ia supernova has a luminosity of approximately:

Asymptotic giant branch (AGB)stars have high mass-loss rates because they:

Which star spends the least time as a main-sequence star?

Thinking Like an Astronomer

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth and the Moon

Laws of Motion

Light and Telescopes

The Formation of Stars and Planets

Terrestrial Worlds in the Inner Solar System

Atmospheres of Venus, earth, and Mars

The Giant Planets

Small Bodies of the Solar System

Measuring the Stars

Our Star: the Sun

Evolution of High-Mass Stars

Measuring Galaxies

Our Galaxy: the Milky Way

The Evolution of the Universe

Formation of Structure

Life in the Universe

Filters