CCA: White Dwarves Quiz

What is the eventual fate of low mass stars like the Sun?

• They become black holes

• They become white dwarfs

• They explode

• They turn into neutron stars

What happens to the core of a star when it runs out of helium to fuse?

• It collapses into a black hole.

• It becomes a neutron star and explodes.

• It starts fusing carbon nuclei to make larger elements.

• It stops doing fusion and only the core remains.

What is the dominant force in supporting the core of a white dwarf?

• Strong nuclear force

• Electromagnetic force

• Electron degeneracy pressure

• Weak nuclear force

What is the approximate size of the core of a white dwarf compared to the original size of the Sun?

• 50% the original width

• 1% the original width

• 100 times smaller

• 10 times smaller

What causes the green glow in planetary nebulae?

• Hydrogen

• Tenuous oxygen

• Nitrogen

• Sulfur

What is the shape of the expanding gas in a planetary nebula if the dying star has a companion?

• Spherical

• Flattened

• Elongated

• Spiral

What is the reason for the weird and fantastic shapes of many planetary nebulae?

• Centrifugal force

• Swallowed planets

• Fast solar wind

• Binary stars

What is the expected fate of the Sun in the distant future?

• It will fade away quietly

• It will form a planetary nebula

• It will explode

• It will become a black hole