Which spectral class would a star fit into if it had a surface temperature of 20,000 K?

(1 point)
Responses

O
O

A
A

B
B

F
F

11 answers

A star with a surface temperature of 20,000 K would fit into the spectral class O. Stars in the O spectral class are characterized by very high temperatures, typically ranging from about 30,000 K to 60,000 K, but 20,000 K is still consistent with the O class, especially at the lower end of the temperature range.

Which of these is a heavy element in a star?(1 point)
Responses

lithium
lithium

helium
helium

carbon
carbon

hydrogen

In the context of stellar nucleosynthesis, carbon is considered a heavy element compared to hydrogen and helium.

  • Hydrogen and helium are the lightest and most abundant elements in stars.
  • Lithium is also relatively light compared to heavier elements.

Thus, the correct answer is carbon.

Which is the first stage in the life cycle of a massive star?(1 point)
Responses

white drawf
white drawf

nebula
nebula

black hole
black hole

red giant

The first stage in the life cycle of a massive star is a nebula. A nebula is a cloud of gas and dust in space where stars are formed. Once the conditions are right, gravity causes the gas and dust in the nebula to collapse and form protostars, which eventually evolve into massive stars.

So, the correct answer is nebula.

According to the diagram, where do all stars begin their evolution?

(1 point)
Responses

red giant
red giant

supernova
supernova

stellar nebula
stellar nebula

white dwarf

All stars begin their evolution in a stellar nebula. A stellar nebula is a large cloud of gas and dust in space, where the processes that lead to star formation occur. Gravity causes parts of the nebula to collapse, forming protostars that eventually evolve into main-sequence stars.

So, the correct answer is stellar nebula.

Which statement correctly explains how the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram helps to compare stars?(1 point)
Responses

The Sun's high temperature places it to the far left of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.
The Sun's high temperature places it to the far left of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.

The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram plots stars according to their size and shape.
The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram plots stars according to their size and shape.

Stars with the highest temperatures appear towards the right side of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.
Stars with the highest temperatures appear towards the right side of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.

The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram plots stars according to their luminosity and temperature, which is also associated with spectral class.

The correct statement is: The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram plots stars according to their luminosity and temperature, which is also associated with spectral class.

The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram is a graph that shows the relationship between the luminosity (or absolute magnitude) of stars and their temperature (or spectral class), allowing astronomers to classify and compare different stars.

As a star's size increases, its luminosity
. As a star's temperature
, its luminosity increases.

As a star's size increases, its luminosity increases. As a star's temperature increases, its luminosity also increases.

Therefore, the complete statements would be:

  • As a star's size increases, its luminosity increases.
  • As a star's temperature increases, its luminosity increases.

This reflects the general relationship between these properties in stars: larger and hotter stars tend to be more luminous.