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    PHY3 AJune 2006

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    This document contains a physics exam question with multiple parts about astrophysics topics: 1) A Hertzsprung-Russell diagram showing different stars is provided, and students are asked to label the axes, identify stars as red giants or low mass main sequence stars, and calculate the luminosity of star ζ Tau. 2) Nuclear fusion is discussed, where students calculate the mass change and energy released in the fusion of hydrogen to helium. 3) Pulsars are introduced, with students identifying pulsar characteristics and explaining how double pulsars could be detected. It is suggested the two pulsars in the discovered double pulsar system will coalesce after 85 million years. 4) The density

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    PHY3 AJune 2006

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    api-3726022
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    This document contains a physics exam question with multiple parts about astrophysics topics: 1) A Hertzsprung-Russell diagram showing different stars is provided, and students are asked to label the axes, identify stars as red giants or low mass main sequence stars, and calculate the luminosity of star ζ Tau. 2) Nuclear fusion is discussed, where students calculate the mass change and energy released in the fusion of hydrogen to helium. 3) Pulsars are introduced, with students identifying pulsar characteristics and explaining how double pulsars could be detected. It is suggested the two pulsars in the discovered double pulsar system will coalesce after 85 million years. 4) The density

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    This document contains a physics exam question with multiple parts about astrophysics topics: 1) A Hertzsprung-Russell diagram showing different stars is provided, and students are asked to label the axes, identify stars as red giants or low mass main sequence stars, and calculate the luminosity of star ζ Tau. 2) Nuclear fusion is discussed, where students calculate the mass change and energy released in the fusion of hydrogen to helium. 3) Pulsars are introduced, with students identifying pulsar characteristics and explaining how double pulsars could be detected. It is suggested the two pulsars in the discovered double pulsar system will coalesce after 85 million years. 4) The density

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    11 views1 page

    PHY3 AJune 2006

    Uploaded by

    api-3726022
    This document contains a physics exam question with multiple parts about astrophysics topics: 1) A Hertzsprung-Russell diagram showing different stars is provided, and students are asked to label the axes, identify stars as red giants or low mass main sequence stars, and calculate the luminosity of star ζ Tau. 2) Nuclear fusion is discussed, where students calculate the mass change and energy released in the fusion of hydrogen to helium. 3) Pulsars are introduced, with students identifying pulsar characteristics and explaining how double pulsars could be detected. It is suggested the two pulsars in the discovered double pulsar system will coalesce after 85 million years. 4) The density

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    PHY3 JUNE 2006 - TOPIC A - ASTROPHYSICS 30 minutes 1

    1. (a) On the Hertzspmng-Russell diagram shown


    opposite X indicates the position of the Sun.
    (i) On a copy of this diagram, add labels
    and units to each axis. (2)
    (ii) Complete the scale on the y-axis by
    adding three further values where indicated. (2)
    (iii) Complete the scale on the x-axis by adding
    two further values where indicated. (1)
    (iv) Letters A, B, C, D and E represent different
    stars. Identify all stars which could be:
    (a) a red giant;
    (b) a low mass star on the main sequence (2)
    (v) Use the data given show that the luminosity of the star ζ Tau (Zeta Tauri) is approximately
    4 x 1030 W. DATA: Intensity = 1.9 x 10 -8 Wm-2 ; Distance from Earth = 4.0 x 1018 m. (3)
    (vi) One of the labelled stars on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram is ζ Tau. Calculate the luminosity
    of ζ Tau in terms of solar luminosities and thus deduce which letter must represent this star.
    Luminosity of the Sun L۞ == 3.9 x 1026 W. (3)

    (b) When stars undergo nuclear fusion, hydrogen


    is fused to form helium. As part of this process
    two 32He nuclei react to form 42He.
    (i) Calculate the change in mass in one such fusion reaction. (2)
    (ii) Hence calculate the energy released by this
    fusion reaction. (2)

    (c) In 2004 astronomers discovered a double pulsar: a system


    of two pulsars orbiting each other.
    (i) Identify the four options that can be used to correctly
    describe pulsars.
    A pulsar is a {neutron star / red giant / white dwarf/ core remnant}.
    A pulsar was previously a {white dwarf/ black hole / supernova}.
    A pulsar has a mass of at least {0.4 /1.4 / 2.5 / 8} solar masses. (4)
    (ii) Explain how astronomers detect pulsars and suggest how a double pulsar might be recognised.
    You may be awarded a mark for the clarity of your answer. (4)
    (iii) It is suggested that these two stars will spiral in towards each other and coalesce into a single
    mass after 85 million years. Suggest what might be formed by such an event. (1)

    (d) (i) Write an equation for the density


    of a star in terms of its mass and radius. (1)
    (ii) The graph shows the mass-radius
    relationship for white dwarf stars.
    The mass of the Sun M۞ = 2.0 x 1030 kg.
    Using the graph, calculate the density of two
    white dwarf stars and hence show that the density
    of a white dwarf increases as its mass increases. (3)
    (iii) Describe what eventually happens to a
    white dwarf star. (2)

    Total 32 marks

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