Black Holes, Neutron Stars, and White Dwarfs (Collab. w/ MinuteEarth)

What is the primary process that defines a celestial body as a star?

• Gravitational collapse of gas and dust

• Nuclear fusion of hydrogen in its core

• Emission of light and heat

• Orbiting a galactic center

Which physical principle prevents a white dwarf from collapsing further under its immense gravity?

• The strong nuclear force

• Neutron degeneracy pressure

• Electron degeneracy pressure

• Thermal pressure from nuclear fusion

A star with an initial mass approximately 8 to 18 times that of the Sun is likely to end its life as which type of stellar remnant?

• A white dwarf

• A brown dwarf

• A neutron star

• A black hole

What happens to the core of a dying star if its mass is too great for both electron degeneracy pressure and neutron degeneracy pressure to resist gravitational collapse?

• It becomes a brown dwarf

• It expands into a red giant

• It forms a black hole

• It undergoes a supernova explosion and dissipates