Science 8.9A Quiz

Match the following stages with their order in the life cycle of a star. (Stellar nebula is stage 0)

• Second stage

• White dwarf

• Third stage

• Protostar

• Fifth stage

• Main sequence

• First stage

• Red giant

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

The main sequence stage of a star's life is when (a)  

• The star is collapsing under its own gravity
• The star is fusing hydrogen into helium
• The star is expanding and cooling
• The star is no longer producing energy

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

Our Sun is classified as a (a)   star on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.

• Red giant
• White dwarf
• Main sequence
• Supergiant

The axis on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram that represents a star's temperature is the (a)   axis.

• Vertical axis
• Diagonal axis
• Horizontal axis
• Z-axis

After a low-mass star (like our Sun) leaves the main sequence, it becomes a (a)  

• It becomes a black hole
• It becomes a neutron star
• It becomes a red giant
• It becomes a supernova

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

(a)   is NOT a stage in the life cycle of a massive star.

• Supernova
• White dwarf
• Red supergiant
• Neutron star

The vertical axis on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram represents (a)   .

• Mass
• Age
• Temperature
• Luminosity

How does a star's position on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram change as it evolves from a main sequence star to a red giant?

• It moves down and to the right

• It moves up and to the right

• It moves up and to the left

• It moves down and to the left

Compare the life cycles of a low-mass star and a high-mass star. Which of the following statements is correct?

• Low-mass stars have shorter lifespans than high-mass stars

• High-mass stars end their lives as white dwarfs, while low-mass stars become neutron stars

• Low-mass stars go through the red giant phase, while high-mass stars skip this stage

• High-mass stars have more dramatic end-of-life events than low-mass stars

A newly discovered star is observed to have a very high luminosity but a relatively low surface temperature. Using your knowledge of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and stellar evolution, what can you conclude about this star?

• It is likely a main sequence star in its prime

• It is probably a white dwarf nearing the end of its life

• It could be a red supergiant in the late stages of its evolution

• It must be a very young protostar just beginning its life cycle

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3