Date | May 2011 | Marks available | 3 | Reference code | 11M.3.HL.TZ2.3 |
Level | Higher level | Paper | Paper 3 | Time zone | Time zone 2 |
Command term | Suggest | Question number | 3 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
This question is about the evolution of stars.
State what is meant by the
(i) Chandrasekhar limit.
(ii) Oppenheimer–Volkoff limit.
[2]
a.
Suggest how your answers in (a) can be used to predict the fate of a main sequence star.
[3]
b.
Markscheme
(i) sets upper limit on mass of white dwarf;
(ii) sets upper limit on mass of neutron star;
a.
(if in the supernova phase) the mass blown leaves behind a mass of 1.4MSun / less than the Chandrasekhar limit;
the star will evolve to a white dwarf;
mass greater than about 1.4MSun, but less than the O–V limit, will evolve (because of the O–V limit) into a neutron star;
b.
Examiners report
[N/A]
a.
[N/A]
b.
Syllabus sections
Option D: Astrophysics » Option D: Astrophysics (Core topics) » D.2 – Stellar characteristics and stellar evolution
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