Astronomy quiz question: the sun's destiny

Astronomy 210 Quiz 5, spring semester 2013
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

The sun, a medium-mass main-sequence star, will become a:
(A) nova.
(B) white dwarf.
(C) type Ia supernova.
(D) red dwarf.
(E) (More than one of the above choices.)
(F) (None of the above choices.)

Correct answer: (B)

In general, a medium-mass main-sequence star will become a giant after the end of its main-sequence lifetime, then shed its outer layers during its planetary nebula phase, while its core then becomes a white dwarf. If this white dwarf is able to take hydrogen from a close binary companion star, then it may undergo repeated nova explosions, and/or destroying itself in a type Ia supernova explosion. However, since the sun does not have a companion star, it can only become a white dwarf.

Section 30676
Exam code: quiz05s0uL
(A) : 2 students
(B) : 11 students
(C) : 8 students
(D) : 6 students
(E) : 8 students
(F) : 2 students

Success level: 37% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.55