
Concept explainers
The reason why the interior of an evolved high-mass stars has layers like those of an onion.

Answer to Problem 1QP
Options (c).
Explanation of Solution
High-mass stars are stars with masses greater than about eight times mass of the Sun. As a high-mass star evolves, it builds up a layered structure like that of an onion, with progressively more advanced stages of nuclear fusion found deeper and deeper within the star.
As the high-mass star leaves the main sequence, the core will begin to collapse and the carbon fusion will occur. Carbon fusion will produce more massive elements including oxygen, sodium, neon and magnesium. The star then will have a carbon fusing core surrounded by a helium-fusing shell surrounded by a hydrogen-fusing shell, which moves outward as fusion products accumulate in the core. When carbon is exhausted as a nuclear fuel at the center of the star, neon breaks down to oxygen and helium or fuses to magnesium; and when neon is exhausted, oxygen begins to fuse. Thus, the residue of one reaction becomes the fuel for the next as the star evolves a layered structure like that of onion.
Conclusion:
Since a high-mass star develops a layered structure as a result of the heavier atoms fuse closer to the center because the high pressure and temperature available there, option (c) is correct.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 17 Solutions
21st Century Astronomy (fifth Edition)
- Hi! I need help with these calculations for part i and part k for a physics Diffraction Lab. We used a slit width 0.4 mm to measure our pattern.arrow_forwardExamine the data and % error values in Data Table 3 where the angular displacement of the simple pendulum decreased but the mass of the pendulum bob and the length of the pendulum remained constant. Describe whether or not your data shows that the period of the pendulum depends on the angular displacement of the pendulum bob, to within a reasonable percent error.arrow_forwardIn addition to the anyalysis of the graph, show mathematically that the slope of that line is 2π/√g . Using the slope of your line calculate the value of g and compare it to 9.8.arrow_forward
- An object is placed 24.1 cm to the left of a diverging lens (f = -6.51 cm). A concave mirror (f= 14.8 cm) is placed 30.2 cm to the right of the lens to form an image of the first image formed by the lens. Find the final image distance, measured relative to the mirror. (b) Is the final image real or virtual? (c) Is the final image upright or inverted with respect to the original object?arrow_forwardConcept Simulation 26.4 provides the option of exploring the ray diagram that applies to this problem. The distance between an object and its image formed by a diverging lens is 5.90 cm. The focal length of the lens is -2.60 cm. Find (a) the image distance and (b) the object distance.arrow_forwardPls help ASAParrow_forward
- Foundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)PhysicsISBN:9781337399920Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana BackmanPublisher:Cengage LearningStars and Galaxies (MindTap Course List)PhysicsISBN:9781337399944Author:Michael A. SeedsPublisher:Cengage LearningAstronomyPhysicsISBN:9781938168284Author:Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. WolffPublisher:OpenStax
- Horizons: Exploring the Universe (MindTap Course ...PhysicsISBN:9781305960961Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana BackmanPublisher:Cengage LearningStars and GalaxiesPhysicsISBN:9781305120785Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana BackmanPublisher:Cengage Learning





