Stellar evolution quiz

All 8 questions. After you submit, each question shows the right answer and why. Back to the quick check

ExplorerQuestion 1 of 8

When the Sun runs out of fuel, it will leave behind a small, hot star about the size of Earth called a white dwarf.

True

False

ExplorerQuestion 2 of 8

Which stage of a star's life lasts the longest?

The planetary nebula stage

The protostar stage

The main sequence, when it fuses hydrogen into helium

The supernova explosion

InvestigatorQuestion 3 of 8

Which star stays on the main sequence for longer?

It cannot be predicted

A star of about 40 solar masses

A star of about 1 solar mass, like the Sun

Both stay the same time

InvestigatorQuestion 4 of 8

Every star ends its life in a supernova explosion.

True

False

ScientistQuestion 5 of 8

Why does the chain of fusion reactions in a massive star's core stop at iron?

The star runs out of hydrogen before it makes iron

Iron immediately turns back into helium

Iron is too light to fuse

Fusing iron would take in energy instead of releasing it

ScientistQuestion 6 of 8

A young star cluster contains a white dwarf, while stars of 6 solar masses are still on its main sequence. A white dwarf can be at most about 1.4 solar masses. At least how many solar masses must the white dwarf's parent star have lost?

Your answer

AdvancedQuestion 7 of 8

Stars born with up to about 8 solar masses can still end as white dwarfs, even though a white dwarf cannot exceed about 1.4 solar masses. Explain why there is no contradiction.

Your answer

ExpertQuestion 8 of 8

One NASA page says stars of about 7–20 solar masses become neutron stars and those above about 20 become black holes; another says stars of about 15 or more solar masses can leave black holes. What does the mismatch tell you about these boundaries?

Your answer

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