4 questions · 5 marks · ≈ 5 min
What is a light-year?
Choose your answer
the distance travelled by light in a vacuum in 1 year
the distance travelled by light in a vacuum in 100 000 years
the time taken for light to travel across the Universe
the time taken for light to travel across the Milky Way galaxy
Which sequence is part of the life cycle of a small star (about the same size as the Sun)?
Choose your answer
red giant → planetary nebula + white dwarf
red giant → supernova → black hole
red supergiant → planetary nebula + black hole
red supergiant → supernova → white dwarf
State the name of the galaxy that contains the Sun.
Billions of years in the future, the Sun will enter the next stage of its life cycle.
(i) State the next stage in the life cycle of the Sun.
(1 mark)
(ii) Explain why the Sun will not become a black hole at the end of its life cycle.
(1 mark)