Study questions

Study Questions Week 9 Astronomy 104: Stellar Astronomy Fall 2002

Study questions from Chapter 20

What does an evolutionary track on the HR diagram show?
Draw an evolution track for a 1 solar mass star. Label the different stages of post main sequence evolution.
What causes stars to evolve off the main sequence?
What is "hydrostatic equilibrium"?
Explain why main sequence stars are so stable.
Outline the stages of post main sequence evolution for a 1 solar mass star.
What is the "proton-proton chain"?
What is "hydrogen shell burning"?
What is the "triple alpha process"?
What are the "horizontal branch" and the "asymptotic giant branch"?
What is the "helium flash"?
What are the heaviest elements produced in core of a 1 solar mass star?
What is a planetary nebula?
Describe the appearance of planetary nebulae.
Explain how planetary nebulae are formed.
What elements are present in a planetary nebula?
What is the maximum mass of a white dwarf star?
Describe the composition and state of a white dwarf star.
What is the typical size of a white dwarf?
How does the mass of a star affect it's post main sequence evolution?
Compare and contrast the characteristics of open clusters and globular clusters.
What information can we learn about a cluster from its HR diagram?
What is main sequence fitting? What is the main sequence turnoff?

The following are also from Chapter 20, but we will probably not talk about binary systems until next week.

Explain the possible changes to a star's evolution if it is in a binary system.
What is a "Roche lobe"?
What are "mass transfer binaries" and "contact binaries"?
What is unusual about the Algol system, and how can its strange properties be explained by its being a binary system?

Review and Discussion:

Chapter 20: all

Study questions from other weeks: