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Life Cycle of stars AQA GCSE Physics

Total questions: 36

Worksheet time: 51mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Stars are formed from big clouds of gas and dust is known as:

a)

dust cloud

b)

space fog

c)

neutron clouds

d)

nebulae

2.

The only force acting on the nebulae is:

a)

thermal expansion

b)

singularities

c)

gravity

d)

microscopic adhesion

3.

A star is born when:

a)

nuclear fusion starts

b)

a nebula becomes a protostar

c)

gases in a nebula condense

d)

hydrogen is used up in fusion processes

4.

When the core of a Red Giant collapses it becomes a:

a)

White Dwarf

b)

Supernova

c)

Red Supergiant

d)

Black Hole

5.

When a massive star begins to cool and expand it is known as a:

a)

Black Dwarf

b)

Red Giant

c)

Red Supergiant

d)

White Dwarf

6.

When the core of a Red Supergiant collapses, a bright event occurs, known as:

a)

white dwarf

b)

supernova

c)

big bang

d)

black hole

7.

Our sun is currently in what star stage?

a)

Protostar

b)

Nebula

c)

Main Sequence

d)

Red Giant

8.

A black hole is black because:

a)

there is nothing in it

b)

it is too small to see

c)

it is inherently evil

d)

even light cannot escape its gravity

9.

One possible outcome that is left after a supernova is a super dense core called a:

a)

Neutron Star

b)

White Dwarf

c)

Red Giant

d)

Black Dwarf

10.

After a supernova, the core can collapse into a neutron star, or if massive enough it can become a:

a)

Black Hole

b)

White Dwarf

c)

Red Supergiant

d)

Black Dwarf

11.

When the core of a Red Supergiant collapses, a bright event occurs, known as:

a)

white dwarf

b)

supernova

c)

big bang

d)

black hole

12.

Main sequence stars are made primarily of which elements?

a)

Hydrogen only

b)

Helium and Carbon

c)

Carbon and Iron

d)

Hydrogen and Helium

13.

A star that has begun nuclear fusion will last for:

a)

millions of years

b)

a few thousand years

c)

as long as the universe survives

d)

forever

14.

When a nebula condenses and takes on a shape it is called:

a)

a red supergiant

b)

a black hole

c)

a white dwarf

d)

a protostar

15.
Why won't our sun ever become a black hole?
a)
It is too massive
b)
It is too old
c)
It is too young
d)
It is too small
16.

The stable and longest lasting period of a star’s life cycle is called:

a)

The birth of a star

b)

Nebula

c)

Neutron star

d)

Main Sequence

17.

What is a celestial body that is composed of gas and emits light from nuclear fusion reactions?

a)

Nebula

b)

Star

c)

Galaxy

d)

Planet

18.

The combining of two or more atoms in a stars core into a new heavier atom is called what?

a)

Fission

b)

Fusion

c)

Nuclear Reactions

d)

Nucleosynthesis

19.
The only way the sun can send heat to Earth. Heat travels as an electromagnetic wave.
a)
Conduction
b)
Convection
c)
Thermal Radiation
d)
Electromagnetic Waves
20.
A mixture of gasses, mainly hydrogen and helium, and dust consisting of heavier elements drifting through space. These are the birth and death sites of stars.
a)
Nebula
b)
Supernova remnant
c)
Stellar dust cloud
d)
Pulsar
21.

What is the name of the dense ball of concentrated matter at the center of a rotating disk of nebular material? This material will heat up and eventually form a star.

a)

Protostar

b)

Protoplanetary disk

c)

Plasma ball

d)

Incandescent star

22.
Any star that is fusing hydrogen in its core and has a stable balance of outward pressure from core nuclear fusion and gravitational forces pulling inward.
a)
Red giant star
b)
White dwarf star
c)
Supergiant star
d)
Main sequence star
23.

What term do we use for an massive star that explodes? (These explosions are responsible for forming all atoms heavier than iron.)

a)

Novas

b)

Big bangs

c)

Supernova

d)

Thermonuclear detonation

24.

The highly dense remains of a high mass star after a supernova. An object whose gravity is so strong that all atoms have been crushed into neutrons. What is it called?

a)

Neutron star

b)

Pulsar

c)

White hole

d)

Black hole

25.

What is the term for the high-density remains of a high mass star after a supernova? An object whose gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape.

a)

Black hole

b)

Quasar

c)

Cephid

d)

Neutron star

26.

At 10,000,000 degrees Celsius (10 million oC), hydrogen begins to change into helium and energy is released in a process called?

a)

supernova

b)

pulsar

c)

nuclear fusion

d)

nuclear fission

27.

All stars begin their life in a ...?

(a)  

28.

What are the final two stages of a star about the same size as our Sun?

a)

white dwarf - black dwarf

b)

neutron star - black hole

c)

supernova - neutron star

d)

pulsar - neutron star

29.
Gravity pulls gases and dust particles in space toward one another, squeezing them into a smaller and smaller space. The temperature at the center rises high enough for nuclear fusion of hydrogen to begin.
What stage in a stars life cycle is this describing? 
a)
The birth of a star
b)
The death of a star
c)
Black Hole
d)
Stellar Nebula
30.
A star at the stage in its life cycle when it stops burning hydrogen, begins burning helium, and expands to a large, low-density star.
What stage in the life cycle does this describe? 
a)
Supernova
b)
Black Hole
c)
Main Sequence
d)
Red Giant or Red Supergiant
31.
Larger stars (stars with more mass) have a longer life cycle. 
a)
True
b)
False
32.
A relatively small, dense star at the end of its life cycle, which generates little or no energy and has contracted to its densest state.
What stage in the life cycle does this describe? 
a)
Black Hole
b)
Nebula
c)
White Dwarf
d)
Red Giant
33.
At what stage in a stars life cycle are elements heavier than iron form? 
a)
Red Giant
b)
Supernova
c)
Black Hole
d)
Main Sequence
34.
This is an image of the formation of a star, also known as a .... 
a)
Main Sequence
b)
Planetary Nebula
c)
Supernova
d)
Stellar Nebula
35.

After the main sequence of a star is over, a star much larger than our sun will become a ...? (clue; three words)

(a)  

36.

After the main sequence of a star is over, a star about the same size as our sun will become a ...? (clue; two words)

(a)