WorksheetsThe Origins of Gold
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 10mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Instead of arising from the planet's rocky crust, gold is formed in space. It's _____
a)
terrestrial
b)
extraterrestrial
c)
geological
d)
topographical
2.
Which stellar event leads to the formation of gold?
a)
the creation of a black hole
b)
the birth of a neutron star
c)
a supernova explosion
d)
the cooling of a white dwarf
3.
The simplest and lightest element is abundantly found in stars. Which element is it?
a)
hydrogen
b)
helium
c)
iron
d)
nickel
4.
What process occurs in a star's core, causing it to shine?
a)
physical compaction
b)
chemical synthesis
c)
nuclear fission
d)
nuclear fusion
5.
Over many millions of years, stellar fusion transforms hydrogen into _____
a)
lighter elements
b)
heavier elements
c)
gold
d)
uranium
6.
Stellar fusion transforms hydrogen into heavier elements, up to and including _____
a)
helium and lithium
b)
iron and nickel
c)
gold and lead
d)
uranium and plutonium
7.
Which subatomic particles are forced together early in a supernova explosion?
a)
protons and electrons
b)
protons and neutrons
c)
neutrons and electrons
d)
baryons and mesons
8.
In the extreme pressure of a collapsing star, protons and electrons are forced together forming _____
a)
neutrons
b)
leptons
c)
photons
d)
bosons
9.
Neutrons are easily captured by the iron group elements because _____
a)
they have no electric charge
b)
they have a positive charge
c)
they have a negative charge
d)
they have no mass
10.
What do the iron group elements capture to enable the formation of heavier elements?
a)
electrons
b)
protons
c)
neutrons
d)
photons
11.
How long does it take to form the heaviest elements?
a)
a few seconds
b)
a few years
c)
a few thousand years
d)
a few million years
12.
How are the newly formed elements largely dispersed through the interstellar medium?
a)
by magnetic repulsion
b)
by gravitational attraction
c)
by the supernova shockwave
d)
by nuclear propulsion
13.
Earth's gold was kneaded into veins by _____
a)
interstellar activity
b)
cryogenic activity
c)
geothermal activity
d)
gravitational attraction
14.
How many Olympic-size swimming pools could be filled by all of the gold that we've mined in history?
a)
one
b)
two
c)
three
d)
four
15.
How dense is gold compared to water?
a)
twice as dense
b)
ten times as dense
c)
20 times as dense
d)
100 times as dense
16.
What device can mimic the complex nuclear reactions that create gold in stars?
a)
a particle accelerator
b)
a mass spectrometer
c)
a liquid helium cryocooler
d)
a nuclear fission reactor
17.
Using a particle accelerator, how long would it take to produce one gram of gold?
a)
a few hours
b)
a few years
c)
several thousand years
d)
several billion years
18.
Where can you find an estimated 20 million tons of gold?
a)
dissolved in Earth's oceans
b)
buried below the ocean floor
c)
in Earth's upper mantle
d)
deep in Earth's core
19.
What is the chemical symbol for gold?
a)
Au
b)
He
c)
Gd
d)
Fe
20.
What name is given to medieval people who wanted to transform lowly lead into gleaming gold?
a)
eccentrics
b)
clerics
c)
alchemists
d)
elders
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