White dwarf

White dwarfs are stars in their final evolutionary stage, characterized by low temperature and luminosity, having exhausted their nuclear fuel. They consist of a carbon and oxygen core, glowing white hot but cooling over time. Most stars, including the Sun, will eventually become white dwarfs.

What are the defining characteristics of a white dwarf?

• High temperature and high luminosity

• Low temperature and low luminosity

• High temperature and low luminosity

• Low temperature and high luminosity

What marks the final stage of a white dwarf's evolution?

• Exhaustion of nuclear fuel

• Increase in luminosity

• Beginning of nuclear fusion

• Formation of a new star

What elements primarily make up the core of a white dwarf?

• Hydrogen and helium

• Iron and nickel

• Carbon and oxygen

• Silicon and sulfur

How does the core of a white dwarf change over time?

• It explodes

• It cools down gradually

• It remains at a constant temperature

• It heats up rapidly

What is the eventual fate of most stars, including our Sun?

• They become black holes

• They explode as supernovae

• They end as white dwarfs

• They turn into neutron stars