Question 1

The average size of a white dwarf is about the same size as the Earth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 2

A(n) _________ is a collection of 10 to 1000 stars in a region about 25 pc in diameter. The stars in the collection are typically quite young.

Accepted Answer

A) Herbig-Haro object 
B) globular cluster 
C) open cluster 
D) giant cluster 
E) supernova 
A) Herbig-Haro object 
B) globular cluster 
C) open cluster 
D) giant cluster 
E) supernova C

Question 3

Why can't a massive star generate energy through iron fusion

Accepted Answer

Iron is the most tightly bound of all atomic nuclei. Nuclear fusion is able to release energy by combining less tightly bound nuclei into a more tightly bound nucleus, but once the gas in the core of the star has been converted to iron, there are no nuclear reactions that can combine iron nuclei and release energy. The iron core is a dead end in the evolution of a massive star.

Question 4

The triple-alpha process involves the fusion of

Accepted Answer

A) three alpha particles. 
B) three neutral helium atoms. 
C) three alpha particles or three neutral helium atoms. 
D) None of the other choices are correct. 
A) three alpha particles. 
B) three neutral helium atoms. 
C) three alpha particles or three neutral helium atoms. 
D) None of the other choices are correct.

Question 5

A star begins fusing hydrogen to helium the moment it leaves the main sequence.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Which of the following nuclear fuels does a one-solar-mass star fuse over the course of its entire evolution

Accepted Answer

A) hydrogen 
B) hydrogen and helium 
C) hydrogen, helium and carbon 
D) hydrogen, helium, carbon, and neon 
E) hydrogen, helium, carbon, neon, and oxygen 
A) hydrogen 
B) hydrogen and helium 
C) hydrogen, helium and carbon 
D) hydrogen, helium, carbon, and neon 
E) hydrogen, helium, carbon, neon, and oxygen

Question 7

Explain the major differences between type II supernova and a type I supernova.

Accepted Answer

Supernovae that do not have hy

Question 8

Stars that have ejected a planetary nebula eventually become

Accepted Answer

A) protostars. 
B) brown dwarfs. 
C) white dwarfs. 
D) red giants. 
A) protostars. 
B) brown dwarfs. 
C) white dwarfs. 
D) red giants.

Question 9

What nuclear fusion mechanism does an isolated white dwarf use to generate energy

Accepted Answer

A) proton-proton chain 
B) CNO cycle 
C) triple alpha process 
D) white dwarfs don't generate their own energy. 
A) proton-proton chain 
B) CNO cycle 
C) triple alpha process 
D) white dwarfs don't generate their own energy.

Question 10

A white dwarf converts __________________ energy into _________________ energy.

Accepted Answer

A) nuclear, gravitational 
B) chemical, potential 
C) kinetic, potential 
D) gravitational, thermal 
A) nuclear, gravitational 
B) chemical, potential 
C) kinetic, potential 
D) gravitational, thermal

Question 11

The Chandrasekhar limit tells us that

Accepted Answer

A) accretion disks can grow hot through friction. 
B) neutron stars of more than 3 solar masses are not stable. 
C) white dwarfs more massive than 1.4 solar masses are not stable. 
D) stars cannot travel through space too fast. 
E) stars with a mass less than 0.5 solar masses will not go through helium flash. 
A) accretion disks can grow hot through friction. 
B) neutron stars of more than 3 solar masses are not stable. 
C) white dwarfs more massive than 1.4 solar masses are not stable. 
D) stars cannot travel through space too fast. 
E) stars with a mass less than 0.5 solar masses will not go through helium flash.

Question 12

The explosion of a supernova type II can leave behind

Accepted Answer

A) a planetary nebula. 
B) a shell of hot, expanding gas with a white dwarf at the center. 
C) a shell of hot, expanding gas with a neutron star at the center. 
D) Nothing is ever left behind. 
A) a planetary nebula. 
B) a shell of hot, expanding gas with a white dwarf at the center. 
C) a shell of hot, expanding gas with a neutron star at the center. 
D) Nothing is ever left behind.

Question 13

Type II supernovae are believed to occur when the cores of massive stars collapse.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

A nova is a new star.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

What are the two longest stages in the life of a one-solar-mass star

Accepted Answer

A) Protostar, pre-main-sequence 
B) Protostar, white dwarf 
C) Protostar, main-sequence 
D) Main-sequence, white dwarf 
A) Protostar, pre-main-sequence 
B) Protostar, white dwarf 
C) Protostar, main-sequence 
D) Main-sequence, white dwarf

Question 16

If the theory that novae occur in close binary systems is correct, then recurrent novae should

Accepted Answer

A) produce synchrotron radiation. 
B) occur in regions of star formation. 
C) not occur in old star clusters. 
D) all be visual binaries. 
E) repeat after some interval. 
A) produce synchrotron radiation. 
B) occur in regions of star formation. 
C) not occur in old star clusters. 
D) all be visual binaries. 
E) repeat after some interval.

Question 17

Giant and supergiant stars are rare because

Accepted Answer

A) they do not form as often as main-sequence stars. 
B) the star blows up before the giant or supergiant stage is reached 
C) the giant or supergiant stage is very short. 
D) the giant or supergiant stage is very long 
A) they do not form as often as main-sequence stars. 
B) the star blows up before the giant or supergiant stage is reached 
C) the giant or supergiant stage is very short. 
D) the giant or supergiant stage is very long

Question 18

Mass is transferred from a normal star in a close binary system toward a white dwarf. The material that is transferred to the white dwarf forms a rapidly growing whirlpool of material known around the white dwarf known as a(n)

Accepted Answer

A) accretion disk. 
B) Lagrangian point. 
C) Algol paradox. 
D) planetary nebula. 
E) supernova remnant. 
A) accretion disk. 
B) Lagrangian point. 
C) Algol paradox. 
D) planetary nebula. 
E) supernova remnant.

Question 19

A planetary nebula has a radius of 0.5 pc and is expanding at 20 km/s. What is the approximate age of this planetary nebula (1 pc is equal to $3×10^{13}$ km and 1 year is equal to $3.15×10^7$ seconds.)

Accepted Answer

A) 240 years 
B) 790,000 years 
C) 96,000 years 
D) 960 years 
E) 24,000 years 
A) 240 years 
B) 790,000 years 
C) 96,000 years 
D) 960 years 
E) 24,000 years

Question 20

The spectra of Type II supernova contain no hydrogen lines.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

The average size of a white dwarf is about the same size as the Earth.

A(n) _________ is a collection of 10 to 1000 stars in a region about 25 pc in diameter. The stars in the collection are typically quite young.

Why can't a massive star generate energy through iron fusion

The triple-alpha process involves the fusion of

A star begins fusing hydrogen to helium the moment it leaves the main sequence.

Which of the following nuclear fuels does a one-solar-mass star fuse over the course of its entire evolution

Explain the major differences between type II supernova and a type I supernova.

Stars that have ejected a planetary nebula eventually become

What nuclear fusion mechanism does an isolated white dwarf use to generate energy

A white dwarf converts __ energy into _ energy.

The Chandrasekhar limit tells us that

The explosion of a supernova type II can leave behind

Type II supernovae are believed to occur when the cores of massive stars collapse.

A nova is a new star.

What are the two longest stages in the life of a one-solar-mass star

If the theory that novae occur in close binary systems is correct, then recurrent novae should

Giant and supergiant stars are rare because

Mass is transferred from a normal star in a close binary system toward a white dwarf. The material that is transferred to the white dwarf forms a rapidly growing whirlpool of material known around the white dwarf known as a(n)

A planetary nebula has a radius of 0.5 pc and is expanding at 20 km/s. What is the approximate age of this planetary nebula (1 pc is equal to $3×10^{13}$ km and 1 year is equal to $3.15×10^7$ seconds.)

The spectra of Type II supernova contain no hydrogen lines.

Here and Now

A Users Guide to the Sky

Cycles of the Sun and Moon

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

The Family of Stars

The Formation and Structure of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies: Normal and Active

Modern Cosmology

The Origin of the Solar System

Earth and Moon: Bases for Comparative Planetology

Mercury, Venus, and Mars

The Outer Solar System

Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets

Astrobiology: Life on Other Worlds

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Exam 10: The Deaths of Stars

The average size of a white dwarf is about the same size as the Earth.

A(n) _________ is a collection of 10 to 1000 stars in a region about 25 pc in diameter. The stars in the collection are typically quite young.

Why can't a massive star generate energy through iron fusion

The triple-alpha process involves the fusion of

A star begins fusing hydrogen to helium the moment it leaves the main sequence.

Which of the following nuclear fuels does a one-solar-mass star fuse over the course of its entire evolution

Explain the major differences between type II supernova and a type I supernova.

Stars that have ejected a planetary nebula eventually become

What nuclear fusion mechanism does an isolated white dwarf use to generate energy

A white dwarf converts __________________ energy into _________________ energy.

The Chandrasekhar limit tells us that

The explosion of a supernova type II can leave behind

Type II supernovae are believed to occur when the cores of massive stars collapse.

A nova is a new star.

What are the two longest stages in the life of a one-solar-mass star

If the theory that novae occur in close binary systems is correct, then recurrent novae should

Giant and supergiant stars are rare because

Mass is transferred from a normal star in a close binary system toward a white dwarf. The material that is transferred to the white dwarf forms a rapidly growing whirlpool of material known around the white dwarf known as a(n)

A planetary nebula has a radius of 0.5 pc and is expanding at 20 km/s. What is the approximate age of this planetary nebula (1 pc is equal to 3×10133×10^{13}3×1013 km and 1 year is equal to 3.15×1073.15×10^73.15×107 seconds.)

The spectra of Type II supernova contain no hydrogen lines.

Here and Now

A Users Guide to the Sky

Cycles of the Sun and Moon

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

The Family of Stars

The Formation and Structure of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies: Normal and Active

Modern Cosmology

The Origin of the Solar System

Earth and Moon: Bases for Comparative Planetology

Mercury, Venus, and Mars

The Outer Solar System

Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets

Astrobiology: Life on Other Worlds

Filters

A white dwarf converts __ energy into _ energy.

A planetary nebula has a radius of 0.5 pc and is expanding at 20 km/s. What is the approximate age of this planetary nebula (1 pc is equal to $3×10^{13}$ km and 1 year is equal to $3.15×10^7$ seconds.)