Astronomy current events question: white dwarf with companion star

Astronomy 210L, Fall Semester 2009
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Students are assigned to read online articles on current astronomy events, and take a short current events quiz during the first 10 minutes of lab. (This motivates students to show up promptly to lab, as the time cut-off for the quiz is strictly enforced!)

Astronomy.com editors, "XMM-Newton Telescope Uncovers a Celestial Rosetta Stone," September 3, 2009
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=8600

The European Space Agency XMM-Newton orbiting x-ray telescope has imaged a white dwarf circling a companion star. What is predicted to eventually happen to this white dwarf? Circle your answer below.
(A) Explode in a few million years, bright enough to be seen in daylight.
(B) Collapse into a black hole, swallowing up its companion star.
(C) Feeding on its companion star, becoming large enough to be a main sequence star.
(D) Slowly die off, falling into its companion star.
(E) Drift away after its companion star dies, on a collision course with Regulus.

Correct answer: (A).

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 24 students
(B) : 1 student
(C) : 5 students
(D) : 3 students
(E) : 0 students