0

White Dwarf Asteroseismology: Unraveling the Mysteries of Compact Stars

Description: White Dwarf Asteroseismology: Unraveling the Mysteries of Compact Stars
Number of Questions: 14
Created by:
Tags: astrophysics stellar astrophysics asteroseismology white dwarfs
Attempted 0/14 Correct 0 Score 0

What is the primary method used in white dwarf asteroseismology to study the internal structure of white dwarfs?

  1. Photometry

  2. Spectroscopy

  3. Asteroseismology

  4. Radio Interferometry


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Asteroseismology, the study of stellar pulsations, is the primary method used to probe the internal structure of white dwarfs.

What is the typical range of pulsation periods observed in white dwarfs?

  1. Seconds to minutes

  2. Hours to days

  3. Weeks to months

  4. Years to decades


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

White dwarfs typically exhibit pulsation periods ranging from a few seconds to a few minutes.

What physical mechanism drives the pulsations in white dwarfs?

  1. Nuclear fusion

  2. Gravitational waves

  3. Magnetic fields

  4. Convection


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Convection, the transport of heat by the movement of fluid, is the primary mechanism driving pulsations in white dwarfs.

What information can be obtained from the analysis of white dwarf pulsations?

  1. Mass and radius

  2. Internal composition

  3. Magnetic field strength

  4. Rotation rate


Correct Option:
Explanation:

Asteroseismology of white dwarfs allows us to determine their mass, radius, internal composition, magnetic field strength, and rotation rate.

What is the significance of studying white dwarf asteroseismology?

  1. It provides insights into the evolution of stars

  2. It helps understand the properties of compact objects

  3. It tests theories of stellar structure and evolution

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

White dwarf asteroseismology contributes to our understanding of stellar evolution, the properties of compact objects, and tests theories of stellar structure and evolution.

What are some of the challenges associated with white dwarf asteroseismology?

  1. Low signal-to-noise ratio

  2. Contamination from other sources

  3. Limited observational data

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

White dwarf asteroseismology faces challenges such as low signal-to-noise ratio, contamination from other sources, and limited observational data.

Which space mission played a significant role in advancing white dwarf asteroseismology?

  1. Hubble Space Telescope

  2. Kepler Space Telescope

  3. Chandra X-ray Observatory

  4. Spitzer Space Telescope


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The Kepler Space Telescope provided valuable data for white dwarf asteroseismology, enabling the detection and analysis of pulsations in a large number of white dwarfs.

What is the relationship between the pulsation frequency and the internal structure of a white dwarf?

  1. Higher frequency indicates a denser core

  2. Lower frequency indicates a more massive core

  3. Higher frequency indicates a larger radius

  4. Lower frequency indicates a smaller radius


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

In general, higher pulsation frequency in white dwarfs corresponds to a denser core.

What is the typical mass range of white dwarfs?

  1. 0.1 to 1.4 solar masses

  2. 1.4 to 2.5 solar masses

  3. 2.5 to 5 solar masses

  4. 5 to 10 solar masses


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

White dwarfs typically have masses ranging from 0.1 to 1.4 solar masses.

What is the Chandrasekhar limit for the mass of a white dwarf?

  1. 1.4 solar masses

  2. 2.5 solar masses

  3. 5 solar masses

  4. 10 solar masses


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Chandrasekhar limit is approximately 1.4 solar masses, representing the maximum mass a white dwarf can support without undergoing a catastrophic collapse.

What is the typical temperature range of white dwarfs?

  1. 10,000 to 100,000 Kelvin

  2. 100,000 to 1,000,000 Kelvin

  3. 1,000,000 to 10,000,000 Kelvin

  4. 10,000,000 to 100,000,000 Kelvin


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

White dwarfs typically have surface temperatures ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 Kelvin.

What is the primary energy source for white dwarfs?

  1. Nuclear fusion

  2. Gravitational contraction

  3. Residual heat from stellar evolution

  4. Magnetic fields


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

White dwarfs primarily rely on residual heat from their previous stages of stellar evolution as their energy source.

What is the final fate of a white dwarf?

  1. Collapse into a neutron star

  2. Explosion as a supernova

  3. Cooling and becoming a black dwarf

  4. Merging with another white dwarf


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The ultimate fate of a white dwarf is to cool and eventually become a black dwarf, a cold, dark remnant of a star.

What is the significance of studying white dwarf asteroseismology for understanding stellar evolution?

  1. It provides insights into the formation and evolution of white dwarfs

  2. It helps constrain the initial mass of the progenitor star

  3. It allows us to test theories of stellar structure and evolution

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

White dwarf asteroseismology contributes to our understanding of the formation and evolution of white dwarfs, constrains the initial mass of the progenitor star, and allows us to test theories of stellar structure and evolution.

- Hide questions