Astronomy clicker question: main sequence to neutron star evolution

Astronomy 210, Fall Semester 2008
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Students were asked the following clicker question (Classroom Performance System, einstruction.com) at the end of their learning cycle:

A __________ main sequence star will eventually become a neutron star.
(A) massive.
(B) medium-mass.
(C) low-mass.
(D) (More than one of the above choices.)
(E) (None of the above choices.)
(F) (I'm lost, and don't know how to answer this.)

Section 70158
(A) : 33 students
(B) : 9 students
(C) : 1 students
(D) : 0 students
(E) : 0 students

Correct = 74%

Correct answer: (A)

Massive stars main sequence stars will become supergiants, undergo type II supernovae explosions, and then can either become black holes or neutron stars, depending on the mass of the remaining core.

Section 70160
(A) : 22 students
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 1 student
(D) : 0 students
(E) : 0 students

Correct = 85%