Astronomy a beginners guide to the universe 8th CHaisson mcmillan chapter 13 clicker questions

Astronomy
A BEGINNER’S GUIDE
TO THE UNIVERSE
EIGHTH EDITION

CHAPTER 13

Neutron Stars
and
Black Holes
Clickers
© 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.


Question 1
Pulsars usually show all of the following EXCEPT

a)
b)

extremely rapid rotation.
high-temperature fusion
reactions.

c)

a narrow regular pulse
of radiation.

d)

high-speed motion through
the Galaxy.

e)

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an intense magnetic field.


Question 1
Pulsars usually show all of the following EXCEPT

a)
b)

extremely rapid rotation.
high-temperature fusion
reactions.

c)

a narrow regular pulse
of radiation.

d)

high-speed motion through
the Galaxy.

e)

an intense magnetic field.

Explanation: Pulsars are neutron stars no longer undergoing fusion in their cores.

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Question 2
Many millisecond pulsars lie within

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

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emission nebulae.
giant molecular clouds.
globular clusters.
planetary nebulae.
open clusters.


Question 2
Many millisecond pulsars lie within

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

emission nebulae.
giant molecular clouds.
globular clusters.
planetary nebulae.
open clusters.

Explanation: The cores of globular
clusters are densely packed with
stars, suggesting that millisecond
pulsars might result from
“spinning up” as a result of
stellar encounters.
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The core of globular cluster 47 Tucanae


Question 3
The lighthouse model explains how

a)
b)
c)
d)

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pulsars can be used as interstellar navigation beacons.
the period of pulsation increases as a neutron star collapses.
pulsars have their rotation axis pointing toward Earth.
a rotating neutron star generates an observable beam of light.


Question 3
The lighthouse model explains how

a)
b)
c)

pulsars can be used as interstellar navigation beacons.
the period of pulsation increases as a neutron star collapses.
pulsars have their rotation
axis pointing toward Earth.

d)

a rotating neutron star
generates an observable
beam of light.

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Question 4
One possible explanation for a gamma-ray burster is

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

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matter spiraling into a large black hole.
the collision of neutron stars in a binary system.
variations in the magnetic fields of a pulsar.
repeated nova explosions.
All of the above are possible.


Question 4
One possible explanation for a gamma-ray burster is

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

matter spiraling into a large black hole.
the collision of neutron stars in a binary system.
variations in the magnetic fields of a pulsar.

repeated nova explosions.
All of the above are possible.

Explanation: Gamma-ray bursts vary
in length, and the coalescence of two
neutron stars seems to account for
short bursts.

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Question 5
Cygnus X-1 is

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

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NASA’s latest X-ray orbiting telescope.
a millisecond pulsar with three planets.
the strongest X-ray eclipsing binary system.
a likely black hole binary star system.
the first gamma-ray burster spotted in X-rays.


Question 5

Cygnus X-1 is

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

NASA’s latest X-ray orbiting telescope.
a millisecond pulsar with three planets.
the strongest X-ray eclipsing binary system.
a likely black hole binary star system.
the first gamma-ray burster spotted in X-rays.

Explanation: Cygnus X-1 is an
X-ray source with one visible
star orbited by an unseen
companion of at least 10 solar
masses and very rapid changes
in the signal indicating a small
source.
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Question 6
The force of gravity can pull on

a)
b)
c)

d)
e)

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a beam of light.
a massive object.
neutrinos.
antimatter.
All of the above are correct.


Question 6
The force of gravity can pull on

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

a beam of light.
a massive object.
neutrinos.
antimatter.
All of the above are
correct.

Explanation: Gravity is described by general relativity as a bending of space, and all particles, including photons,
move through warped space along curved paths.

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Question 7
If the sun was replaced by a 1-solar-mass black hole,

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

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Earth’s orbit would not change.
Earth would be pulled into the black hole.
X-rays would destroy Earth.
Earth would be torn apart from the tidal force.
life would be unchanged.


Question 7
If the sun was replaced by a 1-solar-mass black hole,

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Earth’s orbit would not change.
Earth would be pulled into the black hole.
X-rays would destroy Earth.
Earth would be torn apart from the tidal force.
life would be unchanged.

Explanation: The force of gravity depends only on mass and distance, not the type of matter or its size.

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Question 8
The event horizon of a black hole

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

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is the point where X-rays emerge.
is the physical surface of the hole.
defines the outer edge of an accretion disk.
is measured by the Schwarzschild radius.
extends for millions of miles into space.

Question 8
The event horizon of a black hole

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

is the point where X-rays emerge.
is the physical surface of the hole.
defines the outer edge of an accretion disk.
is measured by the Schwarzschild radius.
extends for millions of miles into
space.

Explanation: The event horizon is the
surface of an imaginary sphere around
a collapsed object inside of which
nothing, including light, can escape.

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Question 9
The equivalence between an accelerating windowless elevator in space and a stationary elevator in a
gravity field

a)
b)

c)
d)
e)

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is a prediction of Newton’s theory of gravity.
explains why elevators don’t work in space.
2
explains why E = mc is true.
helps explain Einstein’s theory of gravity.
All of the above are correct.


Question 9
The equivalence between an accelerating windowless elevator in space and a stationary elevator in a
gravity field

a)
b)
c)
d)

is a prediction of Newton’s theory of gravity.
explains why elevators don’t work in space.
2
explains why E = mc is true.
helps explain Einstein’s theory
of gravity.

e)

All of the above are correct.

Explanation: Einstein reasoned in his
1915 general theory of relativity that no
measurements could distinguish
between the two elevators. That led to
his description of gravity as a bending
of space and time.
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