21st Century Astronomy
6th Edition
ISBN: 9780393428063
Author: Kay
Publisher: NORTON
expand_more
expand_more
format_list_bulleted
Concept explainers
Question
Chapter 16, Problem 5QP
To determine
The reason for which the most massive stars have the shortest lifetimes.
Expert Solution & Answer
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solution
Students have asked these similar questions
There is a mass–luminosity relation because
a.
hydrogen fusion produces helium.
b.
stars expand when they become giants.
c.
stars support their weight by making energy.
d.
the helium flash occurs in degenerate matter.
e.
all stars on the main sequence have about the same radius.
Which of the following binary star systems cannot exist?
A. A 1 solar-mass main sequence star and a 4 solar mass red giant with a size 100 times smaller than the orbital distance.
B. A 15 solar-mass main sequence star and a 10 solar mass red giant with a size 100 times smaller than the orbital distance.
C. A 1 solar-mass main sequence star and a 4 solar-mass main sequence star.
D. A 2 solar-mass main sequence star and a 1 solar mass red giant with a size a few times smaller than the orbital distance.
The gas and dust cocoon surrounding young stars
a.
is blown away when the young stellar surface heats up and becomes more luminous.
b.
remains surrounding the young star throughout its adult life.
c.
eventually collapses onto the star, increasing its mass and luminosity.
d.
evaporates gradually over the lifetime of the star.
e.
expands as the star’s luminosity increases eventually reaching a distance far enough that it condenses to form comets.
Chapter 16 Solutions
21st Century Astronomy
Ch. 16.1 - Prob. 16.1CYUCh. 16.3 - Prob. 16.3CYUCh. 16.4 - Prob. 16.4CYUCh. 16.5 - Prob. 16.5CYUCh. 16 - Prob. 1QPCh. 16 - Prob. 2QPCh. 16 - Prob. 3QPCh. 16 - Prob. 4QPCh. 16 - Prob. 5QPCh. 16 - Prob. 6QP
Ch. 16 - Prob. 8QPCh. 16 - Prob. 9QPCh. 16 - Prob. 10QPCh. 16 - Prob. 11QPCh. 16 - Prob. 12QPCh. 16 - Prob. 13QPCh. 16 - Prob. 14QPCh. 16 - Prob. 15QPCh. 16 - Prob. 16QPCh. 16 - Prob. 17QPCh. 16 - Prob. 18QPCh. 16 - Prob. 19QPCh. 16 - Prob. 20QPCh. 16 - Prob. 21QPCh. 16 - Prob. 23QPCh. 16 - Prob. 24QPCh. 16 - Prob. 25QPCh. 16 - Prob. 26QPCh. 16 - Prob. 27QPCh. 16 - Prob. 28QPCh. 16 - Prob. 29QPCh. 16 - Prob. 30QPCh. 16 - Prob. 31QPCh. 16 - Prob. 32QPCh. 16 - Prob. 33QPCh. 16 - Prob. 34QPCh. 16 - Prob. 35QPCh. 16 - Prob. 36QPCh. 16 - Prob. 37QPCh. 16 - Prob. 38QPCh. 16 - Prob. 39QPCh. 16 - Prob. 40QPCh. 16 - Prob. 41QPCh. 16 - Prob. 42QPCh. 16 - Prob. 43QPCh. 16 - Prob. 44QPCh. 16 - Prob. 45QP
Knowledge Booster
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, physics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.Similar questions
- The theory that the collapse of a massive star’s iron core produces neutrinos was supported by a. the size and structure of the Crab nebula. b. laboratory measurements of the mass of the neutrino. c. the brightening of supernovae a few days after they are first visible. d. underground counts from solar neutrinos. e. the detection of neutrinos from the supernova of 1987.arrow_forward4. Suppose we observe a binary star system in which one star is much more massive than the other and both are on the main sequence. We measure that the smaller star orbits the larger at a distance of 10¹3 m with a speed of 10 m/s. a. What is the mass of the larger star? b. Which star has a higher luminosity? c. Which has a larger radius? d. Which is hotter?arrow_forwardThe triple-alpha process a. controls the pulsations in Cepheid variable stars. b. is the nuclear fusion of hydrogen to helium in massive stars. c. is the process that produces the neutrinos we receive from the sun. d. requires a temperature of about 5,000,000 K to operate. e. fuses helium nuclei to make carbon and occurs during helium flash.arrow_forward
- Which of the following is wrong? A. Tidal effects in a binary star system become more important when one or both stars become giant stars. B. There is no fusion occurring in the core of a low-mass red giant star. C. Gold (the element) is produced during the supernova explosions of high-mass stars. D. Suppose the star Betelgeuse were to become a supernova tomorrow, we'd see by naked eyes a cloud of gas expanding away from the position where Betelgeuse used to be. Over a period of a few weeks, this cloud would fill a large part of our sky.arrow_forwardWhere does gold (the element) come from? A. It is produced during the supernova explosions of high-mass stars. B. It was produced during the Big Bang. C. It is produced by mass transfer in close binaries. D. It is produced during the late stages of fusion in low-mass stars.arrow_forwardThe hydrogen lines in spectral type A stars a. are most narrow for supergiants. b. are most narrow for main-sequence stars. c. cannot be used to estimate the luminosity of the star. d. are very weak and difficult to see. e. are useful in determining the apparent magnitude of the star.arrow_forward
- Which of the following statements about novae is not true? A. A nova involves fusion taking place on the surface of a white dwarf. B. A star system that undergoes a nova may have another nova sometime in the future. C. Our Sun will probably undergo at least one nova when it becomes a white dwarf about 5 billion years from now. D. When a star system undergoes a nova, it brightens considerably, but not as much as a star system undergoing a supernova. Is the answer C? Since the sun has no companion star, it cannot gain accreted matter to initiate a nova and so it would not undergo a nova, it would just undergo a type I supernova? Thanks!arrow_forwardWhich of the following statements is wrong? A. A main-sequence star is cooler and brighter than it was as a protostar. B. Carbon fusion occurs in high-mass stars but not in low-mass stars because the cores of low-mass stars never contain significant amounts of carbon. C. when a main-sequence star exhausts its core hydrogen fuel supply, the core shrinks while the rest of the star expands. D. After a supernova explosion, the remains of the stellar core will be either a neutron star or a black hole.arrow_forwardFor a white dwarf to become a nova it is necessary for it to A. become a black hole. B. have begun life as a high-mass star. C. have a binary companion. D.rejoin the main sequence.arrow_forward
- Stars are born in a. reflection nebulae. b. dense molecular clouds. c. HII regions. d. the intercloud medium. e. the local bubble.arrow_forwardA helium flash occurs a. because helium is very explosive and cannot be controlled when the nuclear reactions occur. b. because degenerate electrons in the core do not allow the core to expand as it heats up. c. in Cepheid variables. d. in stars with masses less than 0.4 M. e. under none of the above conditions.arrow_forwardThe Hertzsprung-Russell diagram contains a region called the main sequence. Stars on this sequence have specific characteristics not found in other stars. What are these characteristics? a.Stars on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram main sequence have roughly the same age. b.Stars on the main sequence of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram are all roughly the same radius. c.Stars on the main sequence of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram have an orderly arrangement of stellar masses, decreasing in mass from lower right to upper left. d.Stars on the main sequence of a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram do not produce heavy elements like iron. e.Stars on the main sequence of a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram all generate energy from nuclear fusion. f.None of the mentioned choices. Aristotle was a great Greek philosopher with many amazing ideas. Which of these statements about him is not true? a.Many of his claims about physics and astronomy were wrong. b.He was the first person to recognize…arrow_forward
arrow_back_ios
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
arrow_forward_ios
Recommended textbooks for you
College PhysicsPhysicsISBN:9781305952300Author:Raymond A. Serway, Chris VuillePublisher:Cengage Learning
University Physics (14th Edition)PhysicsISBN:9780133969290Author:Hugh D. Young, Roger A. FreedmanPublisher:PEARSON
Introduction To Quantum MechanicsPhysicsISBN:9781107189638Author:Griffiths, David J., Schroeter, Darrell F.Publisher:Cambridge University Press
Physics for Scientists and EngineersPhysicsISBN:9781337553278Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. JewettPublisher:Cengage Learning
Lecture- Tutorials for Introductory AstronomyPhysicsISBN:9780321820464Author:Edward E. Prather, Tim P. Slater, Jeff P. Adams, Gina BrissendenPublisher:Addison-Wesley
College Physics: A Strategic Approach (4th Editio...PhysicsISBN:9780134609034Author:Randall D. Knight (Professor Emeritus), Brian Jones, Stuart FieldPublisher:PEARSON
College Physics
Physics
ISBN:9781305952300
Author:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Publisher:Cengage Learning
University Physics (14th Edition)
Physics
ISBN:9780133969290
Author:Hugh D. Young, Roger A. Freedman
Publisher:PEARSON
Introduction To Quantum Mechanics
Physics
ISBN:9781107189638
Author:Griffiths, David J., Schroeter, Darrell F.
Publisher:Cambridge University Press
Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Physics
ISBN:9781337553278
Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Lecture- Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy
Physics
ISBN:9780321820464
Author:Edward E. Prather, Tim P. Slater, Jeff P. Adams, Gina Brissenden
Publisher:Addison-Wesley
College Physics: A Strategic Approach (4th Editio...
Physics
ISBN:9780134609034
Author:Randall D. Knight (Professor Emeritus), Brian Jones, Stuart Field
Publisher:PEARSON