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Supernovae

Total questions: 25

Worksheet time: 19mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Why don't we need to worry about the sun becoming a supernova?

a)

The sun already became a supernova.

b)

It is spinning too slowly.

c)

It doesn't have the right elements.

d)

It is not big enough.

2.

When the energy production (nuclear fusion) of a star stops, what does gravity do to it?

a)

collapse the core

b)

cause it to spin rapidly

c)

shed the outer layers

d)

produce a blue light

3.

When our sun dies, it will leave behind a white dwarf star composed of the elements:

a)

hydrogen and helium

b)

silicon and oxygen

c)

carbon and oxygen

d)

iron and nitrogen

4.

Since most stars orbit in pairs, if one of the stars is a white dwarf, it can steal material from the other star and explode as a Type ____ supernova.

a)

II

b)

3G

c)

Ia

d)

X

5.

Where does most of the iron in the universe come from?

a)

Iron is fused in the core of some white dwarf stars and released during a Type 1a supernova.

b)

Iron is created as light leaves a star and interacts with the star's atmosphere.

c)

Recycled metal on Earth is launched into space.

d)

Iron was created during the big bang.

6.

What happens to a massive star's core when it starts producing iron?

a)

The core becomes unstable and begins to expand.

b)

Iron fusion releases energy, causing the star to brighten.

c)

The core collapses as iron fusion consumes energy instead of releasing it.

d)

The star's core becomes a black hole immediately.

7.

Neutron stars also rotate very rapidly. We call these ____.

a)

quasars

b)

pulsars

c)

black holes

d)

gamma ray bursts

8.

The Crab Nebula is an example of a _____. It rotates 30 times per second and will continue doing that for millions of years.

a)

red dwarf

b)

YHG

c)

pulsar

d)

white dwarf

9.

What element's spectral lines are commonly observed in the emission spectrum of a Type II supernova?

a)

Hydrogen

b)

Helium

c)

Plutonium

d)

Carbon

10.

Which type of supernova is characterized by the absence of hydrogen in its emission spectrum?

a)

Type Ia

b)

Type IIP

c)

Type IIL

d)

Type III

11.

How does a supernova impact the surrounding interstellar medium?

a)

It cools it down significantly

b)

It has no significant impact

c)

It enriches it with heavy elements

d)

It creates a vacuum in space

12.

What is a neutron star, and how is it related to supernovae?

a)

A star made entirely of neutrons, often the result of a Type Ia supernova

b)

A star made entirely of neutrons, often the result of a Type II supernova

c)

A hypothetical star with no relation to supernovae

d)

A star that emits only neutrons

13.

What is the significance of the "Chandrasekhar limit" in the context of supernovae?

a)

It is the maximum mass of a star that can become a supernova

b)

It is the minimum mass of a white dwarf above which it will explode as a Type Ia supernova

c)

It is the distance from a supernova at which its impact on the Earth would be catastrophic

d)

It is the maximum brightness of a supernova

14.

How long can the afterglow of a supernova last?

a)

A few days

b)

Several months

c)

Up to a few years

d)

Forever

15.

What is the "light curve" of a supernova?

a)

The path light takes as it escapes the supernova

b)

The shape of the supernova remnant

c)

A graph showing the change in brightness of the supernova over time

d)

The spectrum of light emitted by the supernova

16.

Which of the following elements is NOT produced in significant amounts by the supernova nucleosynthesis process?

a)

Uranium

b)

Oxygen

c)

Silicon

d)

Hydrogen

17.

What is the Crab Nebula, and how was it formed?

a)

A nebula formed from the remnants of a supernova observed in 1054 AD

b)

A nebula formed from the remnants of a galaxy collision

c)

A nebula that is the birthplace of new stars, unrelated to supernovae

d)

A theoretical nebula predicted to form from a future supernova

18.

How does a supernova contribute to the chemical evolution of the universe?

a)

By consuming all the hydrogen in the universe

b)

By producing and dispersing heavy elements necessary for the formation of planets and life

c)

By destroying heavy elements

d)

By creating black holes that consume nearby matter

19.

Which two things typically result from a Supernova II?

a)

Black Hole and Nova

b)

Black Hole and Neutron Star

c)

Neutron Star and Supernova II

d)

All of the above

20.

Which of the following is a distinguishing property of a neutron star?

a)

Spinning Rapidly

b)

Strong Magnetic Field

c)

Density beyond belief

d)

All of the above

21.

What conditions must exist for a black hole to form?

a)

When the core remnants of a Supernova I are greater than 3 solar masses.

b)

When core remnants of a Supernova II are less than 3 solar masses.

c)

When core remnants of a Supernova II are greater than 3 solar masses.

d)

When the core remnants of any type of Supernova are greater than 1 solar mass.

22.

Type II supernovae occur when a star with at least ____ times the mass of our sun explodes.

a)

1.5

b)

3

c)

8

23.

Which light curve graph is typical for a supernova?

a)

b)

c)

24.

Which of the following are examples of stars that are expected to supernova?

a)

Betelgeuse

b)

Eta Carinae

c)

Antares

d)

Sun

25.

According to the Chandrasekhar limit, a white dwarf star bigger than ____ times the mass of the Sun will supernova.

a)

1.4

b)

3

c)

8

d)

100