Astronomy quiz question: old star cluster medium-mass stars

Astronomy 210 Quiz 6, fall semester 2015
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Medium-mass stars in an old star cluster will be in their __________ stage.
(A) protostar.
(B) red dwarf.
(C) white dwarf.
(D) supergiant.

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (C)

All stars in a star cluster are born at the same time, but undergo stellar evolution at different rates depending on their masses. In an old star cluster the medium-mass stars would have gone through their protostar, main-sequence and giant stages, such that they will have ultimately become white dwarfs.

Section 70158
Exam code: quiz06s7ll
(A) : 3 students
(B) : 12 students
(C) : 19 students
(D) : 6 students

Success level: 52% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.31