Question 1

Although neutrino emission is used to detect supernovae, they do not play a role in the supernova explosion itself.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

A white dwarf that exceeds the Chandresekhar limit ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   will collapse to form a neutron star
B)   will explode as a nova, and may repeat the cycle over time
C)   is completely destroyed by carbon deflagration
D)   breaks apart and forms an excretion disk
E)   becomes a degenerate objectF) A) and D)
G) None of the above

Question 3

Describe the process that causes a massive star to become a supernova.

Accepted Answer

A massive star will follow the same step...

Question 4

A white dwarf is supported against its own gravity by the inability of its _______________ electrons to pack into a smaller volume.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A white dwarf is supported against its...

Question 5

As a white dwarf ages, its position on a standard H-R diagram will move ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   upward and to the right
B)   upward and to the left
C)   downward and to the right
D)   straight downward
E)   downward and to the leftF) A) and C)
G) C) and E)

Question 6

How have supernovae affected the development of life on Earth?

Accepted Answer

Supernova shock waves are capable of tri...

Question 7

The main energy source that drives a supernova explosion is ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   a shock wave from the collapse of the iron core
B)   a blast of gravitational waves emanating from the creation of a neutron star
C)   a burst of neutrinos generated in the core collapse
D)   energy from the radioactive decay of heavy elements
E)   fusion of the remaining hydrogen in the star through a chain reactionF) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 8

Stars with a mass of about 0.5 to 8 solar masses evolve differently than other mass ranges because ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   their interior structure is controlled by radiative energy transport
B)   they will never reach the temperature needed to ignite carbon fusion
C)   their interior structure is controlled by convective energy transport
D)   they have strong stellar winds throughout their main-sequence lifetimes
E)   they will never reach the temperature required to establish a helium-fusion shellF) A) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 9

Matter swirling into a compact object forms a(n) _______________ disk.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Matter swirling into a compact object forms...

Question 10

A white dwarf is always the remnant of a star that ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   ejected a planetary nebula
B)   was a member of a close binary system
C)   failed to ignite carbon
D)   failed to ignite helium
E)   became a red giant has a mass 20 times larger than our SunF) C) and D)
G) A) and C)

Question 11

____ supernovae are caused by the collapse of an iron core in a high mass star.

Accepted Answer

A)   Only type Ia
B)   Only type Ib
C)   Only type II
D)   type Ia and type II
E)   type Ib and type IIF) B) and D)
G) B) and C)

Question 12

During the Sun's main-sequence lifetime, ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   the solar wind will remove about 50% of the Sun's total mass
B)   the solar wind will remove about 10% of the Sun's total mass
C)   the solar wind will remove 1-2% of the Sun's total mass
D)   the solar wind will remove a tiny fraction of the Sun's total mass
E)   mass loss from the solar wind will be balanced by material falling onto the surface from the coronaF) A) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 13

Stars in binary systems can transfer matter from one star to another at a Lagrange point.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

It is possible for a medium-mass star to collapse and form a white dwarf, but no planetary nebula.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

A star with the mass of our Sun will go through several stages of energy generation through fusion. Which sequence accurately describes these stages in the correct order?

Accepted Answer

A)   hydrogen core → hydrogen shell → helium shell → helium core
B)   hydrogen core → helium core → hydrogen shell → helium shell
C)   hydrogen core → hydrogen shell → helium core → helium shell → carbon core
D)   hydrogen core → hydrogen shell → helium core → helium shell
E)   hydrogen shell → hydrogen core → helium shell → helium coreF) C) and E)
G) None of the above

Question 16

A nova is caused by the ignition of ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   hydrogen fusion in material on the surface of a white dwarf
B)   carbon fusion in a white dwarf core
C)   helium fusion in the core of a massive red giant
D)   silicon fusion in the core of a high mass star
E)   iron fusion in the core of a high mass starF) C) and D)
G) B) and D)

Question 17

Supernovae have little effect on the development of planets such as Earth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

The evolution of a "high mass star" is different from the evolution of smaller stars because these stars ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   do not generate strong stellar winds
B)   rotate faster
C)   have stronger magnetic fields
D)   can ignite carbon fusion
E)   are never in binary systemsF) All of the above
G) A) and E)

Question 19

A white dwarf generates energy through fusion.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Fusion processes in stellar cores involving heavy elements ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   generate more energy per atom than fusion of lighter elements
B)   generate less total energy because less atoms are available
C)   generate energy for longer periods of time for heavier elements
D)   occur in shells further and further from the center of the core
E)   occur in larger and larger volumes of the coreF) A) and E)
G) B) and D)

Exam 13: Deaths of Stars

During the Sun's main-sequence lifetime, ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A nova is caused by the ignition of ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A white dwarf is supported against its own gravity by the inability of its _______________ electrons to pack into a smaller volume.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A white dwarf that exceeds the Chandresekhar limit ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The evolution of a "high mass star" is different from the evolution of smaller stars because these stars ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The main energy source that drives a supernova explosion is ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Stars in binary systems can transfer matter from one star to another at a Lagrange point.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Fusion processes in stellar cores involving heavy elements ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Although neutrino emission is used to detect supernovae, they do not play a role in the supernova explosion itself.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A white dwarf generates energy through fusion.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A white dwarf is always the remnant of a star that ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Stars with a mass of about 0.5 to 8 solar masses evolve differently than other mass ranges because ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A star with the mass of our Sun will go through several stages of energy generation through fusion. Which sequence accurately describes these stages in the correct order?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

____ supernovae are caused by the collapse of an iron core in a high mass star.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Supernovae have little effect on the development of planets such as Earth.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Describe the process that causes a massive star to become a supernova.

Correct AnswerverifiedA massive star will follow the same step...View AnswerShow Answer

Matter swirling into a compact object forms a(n) _______________ disk.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

As a white dwarf ages, its position on a standard H-R diagram will move ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How have supernovae affected the development of life on Earth?

Correct AnswerverifiedSupernova shock waves are capable of tri...View AnswerShow Answer

It is possible for a medium-mass star to collapse and form a white dwarf, but no planetary nebula.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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A massive star will follow the same step...
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Supernova shock waves are capable of tri...
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Correct Answer
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