Review for Midterm in Physical Science

What is the primary process by which stars generate light and heat?

• Nuclear fission

• Nuclear fusion

• Radioactive decay

• Thermal radiation

During the Big Bang nucleosynthesis, what was the first element formed when a proton and neutron combined?

• Helium

• Tritium

• Deuterium

• Lithium

What happens when a medium-sized star depletes its hydrogen fuel?

• It immediately becomes a black hole

• It remains unchanged

• It explodes as a supernova

• It becomes a red giant

Which elements can be formed through stellar fusion in stars?

• Only hydrogen and helium

• Elements from uranium to plutonium

• Elements from hydrogen to iron

• Only carbon and oxygen

What is stellar nucleosynthesis?

• The splitting of heavy atoms

• The decay of radioactive elements

• The formation of stars from nebulae

• The process of creating elements within stars

Where are the heaviest elements in a star typically located?

• In the corona

• In the core

• In the atmosphere

• In the surface layers

What cosmic event is responsible for creating elements heavier than iron?

• Solar flares

• Planetary collisions

• Regular stellar fusion

• Supernova explosions

What is the time frame after the Big Bang when nucleosynthesis began?

• Approximately one minute

• Several million years

• Immediately

• One thousand years

What happens to a massive star after it can no longer produce elements through fusion?

• It becomes a white dwarf

• It remains stable indefinitely

• It collapses and explodes as a supernova

• It turns into a planet

How are elements heavier than iron formed in neutron star mergers?

• Through chemical reactions

• Through the neutron-capture process

• Through radioactive decay

• Through photosynthesis