Pearson eText The Cosmic Perspective Fundamentals -- Instant Access (Pearson+)
Pearson eText The Cosmic Perspective Fundamentals -- Instant Access (Pearson+)
3rd Edition
ISBN: 9780135775394
Author: Jeffrey Bennett, Megan Donahue
Publisher: PEARSON+
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Chapter 10, Problem 1QQ

Choose the best answer to each of the following. Explain your reasoning.

A white dwarf is (a) what most stars become when they die. (b) a slowly rotating neutron star. (c) a type of supernova.

Expert Solution & Answer
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To determine

The correct option for the meaning of a white dwarf.

Answer to Problem 1QQ

(a) What most stars become when they die.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

Stars have a lifecycle like any living specie. Stars are born in stellar nursery known as nebula. They grow and become a main-sequence star. Majority of their life is spent in the main sequence. Stars die and their fate depends on their mass.

An average mass star like sun becomes a red giant at the end of the main sequence stage and ultimately dies to become a white dwarf. Most of the stars have average mass and thus ultimately their core becomes a white dwarf after expelling majority of their mass. A white dwarf is a very dense core which contains electron-degenerate matter.

Thus, option (a) is correct.

A massive star goes supernova and becomes either a slowly rotating neutron star or a blackhole.

Thus, option (b) and (c) are incorrect.

Conclusion:

Thus, the correct option is (a).

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