Unit 7: Investigating Components of the Universe: 8.8 A, B, C, D

Betelgeuse is one of the brightest stars in the night sky even though it is 640 light years from Earth. Barnard’s Star, on the other hand, is relatively close but is not visible to the unaided eye.

Which of the following is a correct explanation for this?

• The two stars have different colors.

• The two stars have different surface temperatures.

• The two stars have different absolute magnitudes.

• Betelgeuse’s orbit brings it closer to Earth.

Stars form inside giant clouds of gas and dust. What are these giant clouds of gas and dust called?

• Black hole

• Quasar

• Supernova

• Nebula

Students were asked to describe the characteristics of nebulae and galaxies. The results of four student descriptions are below.

 

 Which student has the most accurate description of both nebulae and galaxies?

  ?

• Student A

• Student B

• Student C

• Student D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Which component of the universe contains all of the other components listed below and would have the greatest mass?

• Solar system

• Nebula

• Galaxy

• Planetary system

When a mass of hydrogen has enough density, it begins to fuse the hydrogen atoms together. This fusion process creates large amounts of heat and light.

When a mass of hydrogen begins the fusion process, it is classified as a —

• star

• nebula

• galaxy

• planet

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

Most of the space in the universe is empty. Part of the reason for the emptiness of space is that the matter in the universe is gravitationally attracted to other pieces of matter. Most matter in the universe gets pulled into one of the many massive systems held together by the gravitational pull of black holes. These massive systems can be millions of light years wide and contain millions of stars and planets.

What do scientists call these massive systems?

• Solar systems

• Nebulae

• Galaxies

• Planetary systems

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

Which of the following statements best describes the relationship of our Sun with nebulae and galaxies?

• The Sun formed from a nebula outside of the Milky Way galaxy. Later, the Sun was trapped by the gravitational pull of the Milky Way galaxy and became a part of it

• The Sun was formed from a large cloud of gas and dust called a galaxy. After the Sun formed, it became part of a nebula called the Milky Way.

• The Sun formed near the outer edge of the Milky Way galaxy. After its formation, the Sun interacted with nebulae to form planets and comets.

• The Sun was formed from a nebula. The nebula was part of the Milky Way galaxy and the Sun remains in that galaxy today.

The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram below shows the relationship between the brightness and temperature of a star.

Which of the following statements accurately describes the star at location ‘A’?

• The star at location ‘A’ is less bright than the sun and has a surface temperature above 25,000 K.

• The star at location ‘A’ is brighter than the sun and has a surface temperature below 25,000 K.

• The star at location ‘A’ is less bright than the sun and has a surface temperature above 11,000 K.

• The star at location ‘A’ is brighter than the sun and has a surface temperature below 11,000 K.

Based on the above diagram, which type of stars belong to spectral class K and have the lowest luminosity?

• Giants

• White dwarfs

• Supergiants

• Main-sequence stars

Our Sun is one of the many stars that has been classified as average. Its luminosity and its temperature place it in the middle of the which area of the H-R diagram.

• Main sequence

• White dwarf

• Red giant

• Super giant