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White Dwarfs: The Compact Remnants of Stellar Collapse

Description: White Dwarfs: The Compact Remnants of Stellar Collapse
Number of Questions: 14
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Tags: stellar evolution white dwarfs chandrasekhar limit electron degeneracy pressure supernovae
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What is the primary mechanism responsible for the formation of white dwarfs?

  1. Gravitational collapse of massive stars

  2. Nuclear fusion in the core of low-mass stars

  3. Accretion of matter from a companion star

  4. Collision between two neutron stars


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

White dwarfs are formed when massive stars exhaust their nuclear fuel and undergo gravitational collapse. The core of the star collapses under its own gravity, while the outer layers are expelled in a supernova explosion.

What is the Chandrasekhar Limit?

  1. The maximum mass a white dwarf can have before collapsing into a neutron star

  2. The minimum mass a star needs to have to become a white dwarf

  3. The mass at which a star's core becomes degenerate

  4. The mass at which a star's core reaches ignition


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Chandrasekhar Limit is the maximum mass a white dwarf can have before its electron degeneracy pressure can no longer support its own gravity. If the mass of a white dwarf exceeds the Chandrasekhar Limit, it will collapse into a neutron star.

What is the primary source of energy in a white dwarf?

  1. Nuclear fusion

  2. Electron degeneracy pressure

  3. Gravitational contraction

  4. Radiation from the core


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

White dwarfs are supported against gravitational collapse by electron degeneracy pressure. This pressure arises from the Pauli exclusion principle, which prevents electrons from occupying the same quantum state.

What is the typical size of a white dwarf?

  1. About the size of the Earth

  2. About the size of the Sun

  3. About the size of a city

  4. About the size of a grain of sand


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

White dwarfs are extremely dense objects, with masses comparable to that of the Sun but volumes comparable to that of the Earth.

What is the typical temperature of a white dwarf?

  1. A few thousand degrees Celsius

  2. A few million degrees Celsius

  3. A few hundred million degrees Celsius

  4. A few billion degrees Celsius


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

White dwarfs are hot objects, but their temperatures are much lower than those of stars. This is because they no longer undergo nuclear fusion and rely on residual heat from their formation.

What is the fate of a white dwarf?

  1. It will eventually cool down and become a black dwarf

  2. It will eventually explode as a supernova

  3. It will eventually merge with another white dwarf

  4. It will eventually be swallowed by a black hole


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

White dwarfs gradually cool over time as they radiate their heat into space. Eventually, they will reach a state where they are no longer visible and are known as black dwarfs.

What is the most massive white dwarf known to date?

  1. J0023+0923

  2. WD 0105-144

  3. Sirius B

  4. 40 Eridani B


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

J0023+0923 is a white dwarf with a mass of 2.15 solar masses. It is the most massive white dwarf known to date and is located in the constellation Pisces.

What is the closest white dwarf to Earth?

  1. Sirius B

  2. Procyon B

  3. 40 Eridani B

  4. GJ 1087 B


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Sirius B is a white dwarf located 8.6 light-years from Earth in the constellation Canis Major. It is the closest white dwarf to Earth and is a companion star to the bright star Sirius.

What is the role of white dwarfs in the formation of Type Ia supernovae?

  1. They can accrete matter from a companion star and exceed the Chandrasekhar Limit

  2. They can merge with another white dwarf and exceed the Chandrasekhar Limit

  3. They can explode due to a thermonuclear runaway

  4. They can collapse into a neutron star and trigger a supernova


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

White dwarfs can accrete matter from a companion star through a process known as Roche lobe overflow. If the mass of the white dwarf exceeds the Chandrasekhar Limit, it can trigger a Type Ia supernova.

How do white dwarfs contribute to the enrichment of heavy elements in the universe?

  1. They produce heavy elements through nuclear fusion

  2. They release heavy elements during supernova explosions

  3. They eject heavy elements through stellar winds

  4. They transfer heavy elements to other stars through binary interactions


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

White dwarfs can release heavy elements during Type Ia supernova explosions. These explosions eject large amounts of material into the interstellar medium, enriching it with heavy elements.

What is the significance of white dwarfs in studying stellar evolution?

  1. They provide insights into the final stages of stellar evolution

  2. They help determine the age of star clusters

  3. They can be used to estimate the mass of neutron stars

  4. They allow us to study the properties of degenerate matter


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

White dwarfs are the end products of stellar evolution for low- to intermediate-mass stars. Studying white dwarfs provides valuable insights into the final stages of stellar evolution and the processes that lead to the formation of these compact objects.

What is the role of white dwarfs in the formation of planetary nebulae?

  1. They expel their outer layers, creating a glowing shell of gas

  2. They merge with other white dwarfs, producing a bright flash

  3. They accrete matter from a companion star, triggering a nova outburst

  4. They undergo a thermonuclear runaway, leading to a supernova explosion


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

White dwarfs can expel their outer layers, creating a glowing shell of gas known as a planetary nebula. This process occurs as the white dwarf sheds its mass due to strong stellar winds or binary interactions.

How do white dwarfs contribute to the formation of double degenerate binary systems?

  1. They can merge with other white dwarfs, forming a binary system

  2. They can accrete matter from a companion star, increasing their mass

  3. They can eject mass through stellar winds, creating a binary system

  4. They can capture a passing star, forming a binary system


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

White dwarfs can merge with other white dwarfs, forming a double degenerate binary system. These systems are important progenitors of Type Ia supernovae and gravitational wave sources.

What is the role of white dwarfs in the formation of cataclysmic variables?

  1. They can accrete matter from a companion star, leading to outbursts

  2. They can merge with other white dwarfs, producing a bright flash

  3. They can eject mass through stellar winds, creating a binary system

  4. They can capture a passing star, forming a binary system


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

White dwarfs can accrete matter from a companion star through Roche lobe overflow. This process can lead to the formation of cataclysmic variables, which are binary systems that exhibit sudden outbursts due to the accretion of matter onto the white dwarf.

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