Term
|
Definition
Polaris
Sirius
The Sun
Bettleguese |
|
|
Term
What is the speed of light in kilometers per second? |
|
Definition
Light travels at
300,000 km/s |
|
|
Term
If we lived on Mars rather than the earth, would the shift in star positions due to parallax be larger, smaller, or the same? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
What did Galileo measure using sunspots in the 1660's? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Which one solar mass star is the largest?
Red giant, white dwarf or the sun |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
What does hydrogen become in the core of the sun that releases energy today? |
|
Definition
Hydrogen becomes
Helium
in the sun to release energy |
|
|
Term
Is it thought that virtually all 10 solar mass stars will become supernova? |
|
Definition
Yes
Virtually all 10 solar mass stars will become supernova |
|
|
Term
Which stars have hotter surfaces, red or blue? |
|
Definition
Blue
stars have hotter surfaces |
|
|
Term
True or False: All main sequence stars convert hydrogen to helium in their cores |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
True or False: Star clusters with lots of bright blue stars are young |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Which is brighter, a 2nd magnitude star of a 6th magnitude star? |
|
Definition
The 2nd magnitude star
The lower the magnitude number the brighter the star. A -2 magnitude is brighter than a 1, etc. |
|
|
Term
Why doesn't gravity cause a main sequence star to collapse? |
|
Definition
Hot gas pressure
stops gravity from collapsing a main sequence star |
|
|
Term
How many years until the Sun become a Red Giant? |
|
Definition
The Sun will become a Red Giant in
5 Billion Years |
|
|
Term
What is the core of an isolated 10 solar mass start made of just before it supernovas? |
|
Definition
The core of a 10 solar mass star is made of
Iron
just before it supernovas |
|
|
Term
What is the source of energy in an early pre-main sequence star? |
|
Definition
Gravitational contraction
is the source of energy in an early pre-main sequence star |
|
|
Term
What is the Chandasekhar limit for the stability of white dwarf stars equal to in solar masses? |
|
Definition
1.4 solar masses
is the Chandasekhar limit for the stability of white dwarf stars |
|
|
Term
Why are sunspots cooler than the rest of the surface of the Sun? |
|
Definition
Magnetism slows convection |
|
|
Term
What is the dominant energy source for the sun today? |
|
Definition
Hydrogen fusion into helium
is the dominant energy source for the Sun today |
|
|
Term
From what part of the Sun do solar neutrinos observed on earth originate? |
|
Definition
Solar neutrinos observed on earth originate in sun's
Core |
|
|
Term
Which of the following is on the Main Sequence of the Hertzsprung-Russell (HR) diagram?
White dwarfs, the sun or red giants? |
|
Definition
The Sun
is on the main sequence |
|
|
Term
Through what angle can a nearby star appear to move in 6 months due to parallax? |
|
Definition
A nearby star can appear to move
one second of arc
in a 6 month period |
|
|
Term
What diagram might you look at to find the age of a star cluster? |
|
Definition
Luminosity-Temperature diagram
can tell you the age of a star cluster |
|
|
Term
Which sub-atomic particle can pass most quickly from the core to the surface of the sun? |
|
Definition
Neutrinos
pass most quickly |
|
|
Term
Do nearby or distant stars appear to move more due to parallax? |
|
Definition
Nearby stars
appear to move more due to parallax |
|
|
Term
What causes mass transfer in a binary star system? |
|
Definition
Tides
cause mass transfer in a binary star system |
|
|
Term
If 1000 grams of hydrogen atoms are converted into helium atoms in the core of the Sun, what will be the mass of the helium atoms? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Which of these one solar mass stars would have the lowest luminosity?
Main sequence, red giant, or white dwarf? |
|
Definition
White dwarf would have the lowest luminosity of those three |
|
|
Term
Why doesn't a White Dwarf star collapse? |
|
Definition
Degenerate electron gas
prevents a white dwarf star from collapsing |
|
|
Term
How long can a one solar mass star like the sun live on the main sequence? |
|
Definition
A one solar mass star like the sun can live
10 billion years
on the main sequence |
|
|
Term
What can helium become in the core of a Red Giant that releases energy? |
|
Definition
Helium becomes
Carbon
in the core of a red giant releasing energy |
|
|
Term
If the distance to a star were to triple, how much dimmer would it appear? |
|
Definition
*The brightness of a star decreases as the square of distance*
3^2= 9
9x dimmer
|
|
|
Term
A binary star system is found with a semi-major axis of 20 AU and a period of 50 years. How many solar masses are in the system? |
|
Definition
*Binary star system mass= orbital size cubed divided by the period squared*
3 Solar Masses |
|
|
Term
What important quantity can be calculated from the luminosity (absolute magnitude) of a star and its apparent magnitude? |
|
Definition
Distance
can be calculated from the luminosity of a star and its apparent magnitude |
|
|
Term
If the surface temperature of a star were to double, what would happen to the energy output? Diameter is fixed. |
|
Definition
Energy output would go up 16x |
|
|
Term
Which sub-atomic particle can pass through the earth? |
|
Definition
Neutrinos
can pass through the earth |
|
|
Term
What is plotted on the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram of Stars? |
|
Definition
Temperature vs. Luminosity
is plotted on the HR Diagram |
|
|
Term
During what phase does a star spend most of its time? |
|
Definition
A star spends most of its time on
the Main Sequence |
|
|
Term
Can a shock wave trigger star formation? |
|
Definition
Yes, a shock wave can trigger star formation |
|
|
Term
Can an isolated one solar mass star like our sun become a supernova? |
|
Definition
No, an isolated one SM star like the sun cannot become a supernova |
|
|
Term
What must be added to a white dwarf to make it become a supernova? |
|
Definition
Mass
must be added to a white dwarf to make it become a supernova |
|
|
Term
What would happen to the radius of a half solar mass black hole if it ate the Sun? |
|
Definition
If a half solar mass black hole ate a 1 solar mass star, its radius would
increase 3x |
|
|
Term
At some point in time what will our Sun eventually become? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
In X-Ray light, which is brighter, Sirius A or Sirius B? |
|
Definition
Sirius B
is brighter in X-Ray light |
|
|
Term
Can the emission of gravity waves by two neutron stars in orbit around each other cause the orbital period to change? |
|
Definition
Yes
The emission of gravity waves by two neutron stars in orbit around each other can cause the orbital period to change |
|
|
Term
Is it possible to see inside a black hole from the outside? |
|
Definition
No
it is impossible to see the inside of a black hole from outside it |
|
|