Question 1

Our Sun is currently undergoing the triple-alpha process for turning helium into carbon in the core.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

All stars on the main sequence

Accepted Answer

A)  are at a late stage of evolution after the red-giant stage. 
B)  are changing slowly in size by gravitational contraction. 
C)  generate energy by hydrogen fusion in their centers. 
D)  have approximately the same age to within a few million years. 
A)  are at a late stage of evolution after the red-giant stage. 
B)  are changing slowly in size by gravitational contraction. 
C)  generate energy by hydrogen fusion in their centers. 
D)  have approximately the same age to within a few million years.

Question 3

What physical process is taking place inside a star that is in the main-sequence phase of its life?

Accepted Answer

A)  Hydrogen is being converted to helium in its core. 
B)  Hydrogen is being converted to helium in a shell around a core where no nuclear reactions are occurring. 
C)  The gas in the star is contracting gravitationally without nuclear reactions taking place. 
D)  Helium is being converted to carbon in its core. 
A)  Hydrogen is being converted to helium in its core. 
B)  Hydrogen is being converted to helium in a shell around a core where no nuclear reactions are occurring. 
C)  The gas in the star is contracting gravitationally without nuclear reactions taking place. 
D)  Helium is being converted to carbon in its core.

Question 4

A spectral class-G type of star would have a main-sequence life span of about how many years?

Accepted Answer

A)  30 million 
B)  50 thousand 
C)  10 billion 
D)  60 trillion 
A)  30 million 
B)  50 thousand 
C)  10 billion 
D)  60 trillion

Question 5

The remains of large,exploded stars that have run out of usable fuel are called

Accepted Answer

A)  planetary nebulae. 
B)  supernova remnants. 
C)  protoplanetary disks. 
D)  circumstellar accretion disk 
A)  planetary nebulae. 
B)  supernova remnants. 
C)  protoplanetary disks. 
D)  circumstellar accretion disk

Question 6

A white dwarf is a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  object like Jupiter that was not massive enough to become a star. 
B)  low-mass star at the end of its life. 
C)  hot,main-sequence star. 
D)  type of protostar. 
A)  object like Jupiter that was not massive enough to become a star. 
B)  low-mass star at the end of its life. 
C)  hot,main-sequence star. 
D)  type of protostar.

Question 7

The final remnant of the evolution of a red-giant star that has ejected a planetary nebula is a

Accepted Answer

A)  blue supergiant. 
B)  neutron star. 
C)  supernova. 
D)  white-dwarf star. 
A)  blue supergiant. 
B)  neutron star. 
C)  supernova. 
D)  white-dwarf star.

Question 8

Which wavelength region is most useful for investigating dense cores inside giant molecular clouds?

Accepted Answer

A)  Infrared 
B)  X-rays 
C)  Ultraviolet 
D)  Optical (visual) 
A)  Infrared 
B)  X-rays 
C)  Ultraviolet 
D)  Optical (visual)

Question 9

A white-dwarf star is at what stage of its evolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  Protostar phase,just after formation 
B)  Very late phase of evolution 
C)  Post-supernova stage,after the explosion of a star 
D)  Main-sequence phase,"middle-aged" 
A)  Protostar phase,just after formation 
B)  Very late phase of evolution 
C)  Post-supernova stage,after the explosion of a star 
D)  Main-sequence phase,"middle-aged"

Question 10

When does the helium flash occur?

Accepted Answer

A)  When helium fusion begins in a low-mass star 
B)  When a planetary nebula is formed 
C)  When a Type II supernova is formed 
D)  When a pulsar is formed 
A)  When helium fusion begins in a low-mass star 
B)  When a planetary nebula is formed 
C)  When a Type II supernova is formed 
D)  When a pulsar is formed

Question 11

When an average-sized star reaches the end of its main sequence life,it becomes a T Tauri star.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Over time,the turnoff point (the upper end of the remaining main sequence)of a cluster of stars plotted on the H-R Diagram moves

Accepted Answer

A)  down and to the right. 
B)  down and to the left. 
C)  up and to the right. 
D)  up and to the left. 
A)  down and to the right. 
B)  down and to the left. 
C)  up and to the right. 
D)  up and to the left.

Question 13

The stars that have the longest lifetimes are

Accepted Answer

A)  K and M stars. 
B)  A and F stars 
C)  G and K stars. 
D)  O and B stars. 
A)  K and M stars. 
B)  A and F stars 
C)  G and K stars. 
D)  O and B stars.

Question 14

How is gas distributed in interstellar space?

Accepted Answer

A)  Uniformly distributed through space 
B)  In clumps concentrated in interstellar clouds 
C)  Concentrated in thin walls throughout the universe 
D)  Concentrated around existing stars because of the stars' gravitational pull 
A)  Uniformly distributed through space 
B)  In clumps concentrated in interstellar clouds 
C)  Concentrated in thin walls throughout the universe 
D)  Concentrated around existing stars because of the stars' gravitational pull

Question 15

During short-lived bursts called thermal pulses,stars begin their

Accepted Answer

A)  planetary nebula phase. 
B)  red-giant phase. 
C)  asymptotic giant branch phase. 
D)  main-sequence phase. 
A)  planetary nebula phase. 
B)  red-giant phase. 
C)  asymptotic giant branch phase. 
D)  main-sequence phase.

Question 16

The most likely places in which stars and planetary systems are forming in the universe are

Accepted Answer

A)  the rarified outer space between galaxies. 
B)  regions of hot gas in the spiral arms of galaxies. 
C)  gas and dust nebulae. 
D)  the centers of galaxies. 
A)  the rarified outer space between galaxies. 
B)  regions of hot gas in the spiral arms of galaxies. 
C)  gas and dust nebulae. 
D)  the centers of galaxies.

Question 17

Why does helium fusion require much higher temperatures than hydrogen fusion?

Accepted Answer

Each helium nucleus contains two protons

Question 18

Stars in a second red-giant phase are

Accepted Answer

A)  T Tauri stars. 
B)  main-sequence stars. 
C)  asymptotic giant branch stars. 
D)  protostars. 
A)  T Tauri stars. 
B)  main-sequence stars. 
C)  asymptotic giant branch stars. 
D)  protostars.

Question 19

The stellar remnant left at the end of a moderately low-mass star like our Sun is a brown dwarf.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

What is the most abundant element in the universe?

Accepted Answer

A)  Helium 
B)  Hydrogen 
C)  Carbon 
D)  Oxygen 
A)  Helium 
B)  Hydrogen 
C)  Carbon 
D)  Oxygen

Our Sun is currently undergoing the triple-alpha process for turning helium into carbon in the core.

All stars on the main sequence

What physical process is taking place inside a star that is in the main-sequence phase of its life?

A spectral class-G type of star would have a main-sequence life span of about how many years?

The remains of large,exploded stars that have run out of usable fuel are called

A white dwarf is a(n)

The final remnant of the evolution of a red-giant star that has ejected a planetary nebula is a

Which wavelength region is most useful for investigating dense cores inside giant molecular clouds?

A white-dwarf star is at what stage of its evolution?

When does the helium flash occur?

When an average-sized star reaches the end of its main sequence life,it becomes a T Tauri star.

Over time,the turnoff point (the upper end of the remaining main sequence)of a cluster of stars plotted on the H-R Diagram moves

The stars that have the longest lifetimes are

How is gas distributed in interstellar space?

During short-lived bursts called thermal pulses,stars begin their

The most likely places in which stars and planetary systems are forming in the universe are

Why does helium fusion require much higher temperatures than hydrogen fusion?

Stars in a second red-giant phase are

The stellar remnant left at the end of a moderately low-mass star like our Sun is a brown dwarf.

What is the most abundant element in the universe?

Predicting the Motions of the Stars, Sun, and Moon

Decoding the Hidden Messages in Starlight

Analyzing Scales and Motions of the Universe

Exploring Our Evolving Solar System

Uncovering Earths Systems

Exploring Terrestrial Surface Processes and Atmospheres

Observing the Dynamic Giant Planets

Looking for Life Beyond Earth

Probing the Dynamic Sun

Observing Properties of Distant Stars

Predicting the Violent End of the Largest Stars

Exploring Our Galaxy

Investigating Other Galaxies

Observing the Evolution of the Universe

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Exam 11: Inferring Patterns in Star Life Cycles

Our Sun is currently undergoing the triple-alpha process for turning helium into carbon in the core.

All stars on the main sequence

What physical process is taking place inside a star that is in the main-sequence phase of its life?

A spectral class-G type of star would have a main-sequence life span of about how many years?

The remains of large,exploded stars that have run out of usable fuel are called

A white dwarf is a(n)

The final remnant of the evolution of a red-giant star that has ejected a planetary nebula is a

Which wavelength region is most useful for investigating dense cores inside giant molecular clouds?

A white-dwarf star is at what stage of its evolution?

When does the helium flash occur?

When an average-sized star reaches the end of its main sequence life,it becomes a T Tauri star.

Over time,the turnoff point (the upper end of the remaining main sequence)of a cluster of stars plotted on the H-R Diagram moves

The stars that have the longest lifetimes are

How is gas distributed in interstellar space?

During short-lived bursts called thermal pulses,stars begin their

The most likely places in which stars and planetary systems are forming in the universe are

Why does helium fusion require much higher temperatures than hydrogen fusion?

Stars in a second red-giant phase are

The stellar remnant left at the end of a moderately low-mass star like our Sun is a brown dwarf.

What is the most abundant element in the universe?

Predicting the Motions of the Stars, Sun, and Moon

Decoding the Hidden Messages in Starlight

Analyzing Scales and Motions of the Universe

Exploring Our Evolving Solar System

Uncovering Earths Systems

Exploring Terrestrial Surface Processes and Atmospheres

Observing the Dynamic Giant Planets

Looking for Life Beyond Earth

Probing the Dynamic Sun

Observing Properties of Distant Stars

Predicting the Violent End of the Largest Stars

Exploring Our Galaxy

Investigating Other Galaxies

Observing the Evolution of the Universe

Filters