ASP Stellar Astronomy and Star Life Cycles

Question 1

What is the Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram used to show?

Accepted Answer

The relationship between stellar luminosity and temperature

Answer

The positions of planets in the solar system

Answer

The orbital velocities of binary stars

Answer

The distribution of galaxies in the universe

Question 2

What powers a main-sequence star like the Sun?

Accepted Answer

Nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium

Answer

Gravitational contraction

Answer

Chemical combustion

Answer

Nuclear fission of uranium

Question 3

What stellar remnant is left after a low-mass star like the Sun ends its life?

Accepted Answer

White dwarf

Answer

Neutron star

Answer

Black hole

Answer

Brown dwarf

Question 4

What is a neutron star?

Accepted Answer

An ultra-dense stellar remnant composed mainly of neutrons

Answer

A star made entirely of hydrogen

Answer

A failed star that never ignited fusion

Answer

A star with no detectable magnetic field

Question 5

What is the Chandrasekhar limit?

Accepted Answer

The maximum mass (~1.4 solar masses) a white dwarf can have before collapsing

Answer

The maximum temperature a star's core can reach

Answer

The minimum mass required for nuclear fusion to begin

Answer

The maximum size of a neutron star

Question 6

What is a stellar parallax used to measure?

Accepted Answer

A star's distance from Earth

Answer

A star's surface temperature

Answer

A star's proper motion

Answer

A star's luminosity class