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Nuclear Fusion & Emission Spectra

Total questions: 13

Worksheet time: 25mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

A scientist has a sample of an unknown gas. In order to identify it, they shine a continuous spectrum of white light through the gas and observes which wavelengths of light are absorbed by it. This is shown in the figure, as well as the absorption spectra of five pure, gaseous elements. Which of the five elements is the unknown gas?

a)

xenon

b)

oxygen

c)

helium

d)

neon

e)

argon

2.

A scientist has a sample of an unknown gas. In order to identify the gas, they look at the spectrum of visible light emitted from it when it is heated. This is shown in the figure. Also shown in the figure are the emission spectra of five pure, gaseous elements. Which of the five elements is the unknown gas?

a)

helium

b)

neon

c)

xenon

d)

oxygen

e)

argon

3.

An astronomer looks at the spectrum of light from a distant star. Between Earth and the star is a large cloud of dust and gas. The star emits continuous-spectrum white light, but some of the light is absorbed by the cloud. The figure shows the spectrum of light that the astronomer observes as well as the absorption spectra of several pure elements. Which of the five elements shown does the interstellar cloud contain?

a)

hydrogen and helium

b)

hydrogen and oxygen

c)

hydrogen, helium, and nitrogen

d)

oxygen and nitrogen

4.

An astronomer looks at the spectrum of light from a distant star. The spectrum they see is shown in the figure. They compare the emission lines within the spectrum to the emission lines in the spectra of pure elements, which are also shown in the figure, in order to identify which elements are present in the outer layers of the star. State all of the elements that are present in the outer layers of the star.

a)

hydrogen, helium, and carbon

b)

hydrogen, helium, and boron

c)

helium, oxygen , and carbon

d)

hydrogen, helium, boron, and carbon

5.

Which class of star has the highest temperature?

a)

O

b)

M

c)

A

d)

G

6.

Which class of star has the lowest temperature?

a)

O

b)

M

c)

A

d)

G

7.

According to the emission spectra, the surface temperature of the star Vega is ____ that of the Sun.

a)

higher than

b)

lower than

c)

equal to

8.
In nuclear fusion, smaller atoms are forced together to create larger atoms. Does this process release, absorb or maintain energy?
a)
Absorb energy
b)
Maintain energy
c)
Release energy
9.

Define nuclear fusion.

a)

combining lighter atoms to make heavier ones

b)

splitting lighter atoms to make heavier ones

c)

combining heavier atoms to make lighter ones

d)

splitting heavier atoms to make lighter ones

10.

When hydrogen is "fused" together in the Sun, what new element is created?

a)

Helium

b)

Carbon Dioxide

c)

Oxygen

d)

Light

11.

Where does nuclear fusion occur in the sun?

a)

Surface

b)

Corona

c)

Core

d)

Convective zone

12.

When stars are in the main sequence, fusing hydrogen into helium, and are neither expanding nor contracting, they are said to be...

a)

dying

b)

in hydrostatic equilibrium

c)

white dwarfs

d)

red hypergiants

13.

How will this star change based on the interaction of the gravitational forces (black arrows) and the internal nuclear forces (grey arrows)?

a)

It is in equilibrium and will not change

b)

The gravitational forces are greater therefore the star's size will get smaller

c)

The gravitational forces are greater therefore the star's size will get larger

d)

The nuclear forces are greater therefore the star's size will get smaller

e)

The nuclear forces are greater therefore the star's size will get larger