Astro 101 Final Exam Questions and
Answers Graded A+
Nuclear fusion reactions of helium produce primarily - Correct answer-Carbon and
Oxygen Nuclei
What is the last nuclear fusion stage in the life of a low-mass star like the Sun? -
Correct answer-fusion of helium nuclei to form carbon and oxygen
A planetary nebula is - Correct answer-a shell of ejected gases.
Stars that have ejected a planetary nebula go on to become - Correct answer-White
Dwarfs
The Sun will end its life by becoming a - Correct answer-white dwarf
A white dwarf star, as it evolves, undergoes which of the following changes -
Correct answer-Luminosity and temperature decrease while its size remains
constant
Which nuclear fusion cycle is the next one to begin after helium fusion ends in a
massive star? - Correct answer-carbon fusion
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, What is the source of most of the heavy elements on Earth and in our own bodies -
Correct answer-explosive nucleosynthesis during supernova explosions of massive
stars
An old high-mass star can have a number of shells (hydrogen, helium, carbon,
neon, oxygen, silicon) plus an iron core. Fusion generally takes place everywhere
except - Correct answer-Iron Core
The explosion of a supernova appears to leave behind - Correct answer-a rapidly
expanding shell of gas and a central neutron
which of the following astronomical objects is most closely associated with a
pulsar? - Correct answer-neutron star
What is a pulsar? - Correct answer-rapidly rotating neutron star, producing beams
of radio energy and occasionally of X rays and visible light
The diameter of a typical neutron star of 1 solar mass is predicted to be
approximately - Correct answer-that of an average city, a few km
A white dwarf star is about the same size as - Correct answer-earth
Two spaceships are traveling past Earth at 90% of the speed of light in opposite
directions (i.e., they are approaching each other). One turns on a searchlight, which
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Answers Graded A+
Nuclear fusion reactions of helium produce primarily - Correct answer-Carbon and
Oxygen Nuclei
What is the last nuclear fusion stage in the life of a low-mass star like the Sun? -
Correct answer-fusion of helium nuclei to form carbon and oxygen
A planetary nebula is - Correct answer-a shell of ejected gases.
Stars that have ejected a planetary nebula go on to become - Correct answer-White
Dwarfs
The Sun will end its life by becoming a - Correct answer-white dwarf
A white dwarf star, as it evolves, undergoes which of the following changes -
Correct answer-Luminosity and temperature decrease while its size remains
constant
Which nuclear fusion cycle is the next one to begin after helium fusion ends in a
massive star? - Correct answer-carbon fusion
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
, What is the source of most of the heavy elements on Earth and in our own bodies -
Correct answer-explosive nucleosynthesis during supernova explosions of massive
stars
An old high-mass star can have a number of shells (hydrogen, helium, carbon,
neon, oxygen, silicon) plus an iron core. Fusion generally takes place everywhere
except - Correct answer-Iron Core
The explosion of a supernova appears to leave behind - Correct answer-a rapidly
expanding shell of gas and a central neutron
which of the following astronomical objects is most closely associated with a
pulsar? - Correct answer-neutron star
What is a pulsar? - Correct answer-rapidly rotating neutron star, producing beams
of radio energy and occasionally of X rays and visible light
The diameter of a typical neutron star of 1 solar mass is predicted to be
approximately - Correct answer-that of an average city, a few km
A white dwarf star is about the same size as - Correct answer-earth
Two spaceships are traveling past Earth at 90% of the speed of light in opposite
directions (i.e., they are approaching each other). One turns on a searchlight, which
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
