Download “Reach for the Stars” Practice Exam

“Reach for the Stars” Practice Exam
Name: _____________________
Directions: Each part of this exam uses designated cards from the Chandra X-ray
Center’s Stellar Cycle card set. Information on how to obtain single copies of this
set is provided on the answer key to this activity.
Part I: Mid-Sized Star
Directions: Select the following numbered cards: 14, 10, 21, 2, 19, 24, 1
1. Arrange the cards to properly sequence the life stages of a mid-sized star
like the Sun. The first card number has been provided.
__19__, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____
2. Identify the stage(s), by card number(s), to match the phrases provided.
The number of lines indicates the number of correct responses.
a. mid-sized, main sequence star
____
b. white dwarf
____ ____ ____
c. red giant
____
d. stellar nursery
____
e. formation of a planetary system
____
f. planetary nebula
____ ____
g. white dwarf in a binary system
____
3. Select cards 28, 29, 30, 31, and 32 – all of which display graphs.
a. Which card illustrates a protostar dropping onto the main sequence of
the H-R diagram?
____
b. Between which numbered image cards in the sequence you listed in
question 1 would the event in 3a occur?
____ ____
c. Which graph illustrates a recurring event?
____
d. What characteristic varies to cause this fluctuation? ______________
e. The large numbers along the X-axis, card 28, record passing days on
the Julian calendar. About how many days pass between consecutive
peaks?
______________
f. Which image card (14, 10, 21, 2, 19, or 1) displays the evolutionary
stage of a star that may be causing the fluctuations recorded on graph
card # 28?
____
g. On approximately which Julian day, within the range displayed on # 28,
was the star’s magnitude the greatest?
______________
Part II: Type Ia Supernova
Background information: A Type I supernova event may occur within binary
system having a white dwarf and a red giant in relatively close proximity. The
exceedingly strong gravitational attraction of the white dwarf attracts materials
from the outer layers of its red giant companion. When the white dwarf exceeds
1.4 times the mass of the Sun, it explodes in a supernova. This catastrophic
explosion totally destroys the white dwarf.
Directions: Select cards 13, 18, 20, 10, 19, 12, 14, and 1 from the deck.
4. Arrange the cards to properly sequence the life stages of a mid-sized star that
may eventually explode in a type Ia supernova. The first card number has
been provided.
__19__, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____
5. Identify the stage, by card number, to match the phrases provided.
a. Type Ia supernova
____
b. young planetary system
____
c. supernova remnant
____
d. stellar nursery
____
e. planetary nebula
____
f. red giant
____
g. binary star system
____
h. main sequence star
____
6. Card 27 illustrates a light curve for a Type Ia supernova event.
a. According to the graph, what was the approximate magnitude of this
supernova event when it was at its brightest?
_______________
b. How would the fate of this star have differed had the distances separating
the two stars been significantly greater? ___________________________
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Part III: Type II Supernova of a Massive Star
Background information: Really massive stars end their lives as either black
holes or neutron stars (or pulsars).
Directions: Select cards 3, 4, 5, 7, 26, and 19 from the deck.
7. Arrange the cards to properly sequence the life stages of a massive star.
__19__, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____
8. Identify the stage, by card number, to match the phrases provided.
a. supernova remnant
____
b. red giant
____
c. black hole
____
d. open cluster of young massive stars
____
e. protoplanetary disk
____
f. stellar nursery
____
9. a. What was the end product of the sequence you created?
______________
b. What other end product could your sequence have created?
______________
10. Card 31 illustrates the light curve of a Type II Supernova explosion. How is
this light curve similar to the light curve of a Type Ia supernova?
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