State one assumption made in your calculation.

Explain how neutron capture can produce elements with an atomic number greater than iron.

Describe the mechanism of formation of type II supernovae.

Describe the formation of a type Ia supernova.

Outline, with reference to star formation, what is meant by the Jeans criterion.

Massive stars that have left the main sequence have a layered structure with different chemical elements in different layers. Discuss this structure by reference to the nuclear reactions taking place in such stars.

In the proton–proton cycle, four hydrogen nuclei fuse to produce one nucleus of helium releasing a total of 4.3 × 10^–12 J of energy. The Sun will spend 10¹⁰ years on the main sequence. It may be assumed that during this time the Sun maintains a constant luminosity of 3.8 × 10²⁶ W.

Show that the total mass of hydrogen that is converted into helium while the Sun is on the main sequence is 2 × 10²⁹ kg.

The Sun is a second generation star. Outline, with reference to the Jeans criterion (M_J), how the Sun is likely to have been formed.

Proxima Centauri is a main sequence star with a mass of 0.12 solar masses.

Estimate $\frac{\mathrm{lifetime} \mathrm{on} \mathrm{main} \mathrm{sequence} \mathrm{of} \mathrm{Proxima} \mathrm{Centauri}}{\mathrm{lifetime} \mathrm{on} \mathrm{main} \mathrm{sequence} \mathrm{of} \mathrm{Sun}}$.

Discuss one process by which elements heavier than iron are formed in stars.

Outline, with reference to the Jeans criterion, why a cold dense gas cloud is more likely to form new stars than a hot diffuse gas cloud.

Show that the distance to the supernova is approximately 3.1 × 10¹⁸ m.